Can the police stop you and make you pay taxes for cigarettes you purchased in another state? Is it legal?

grand lake bum

your mom in law is an idiot. (but you knew that already)

vampira53

Yes, its possible. Many people were going out of state to buy cigarettes because they are cheaper and the taxes are lower, but your state doesnt want to get jipped out of their taxes. If you buy ciggs out of state you have to pay an excise tax in the state that you are returning to. Many people buy large amounts (multiple cases of ciggs) for personal use, and do it often, and this requires all federal and local state taxes to be paid. Whether its considered for personal use or not depends on the amount and the discretion of whoever's questioning you. If its for commercial use you need a license to bring them into the state.

For example in California, you are allowed to bring under 400 ciggs into the state for personal use. without paying tax, but any more than that and you must pay the taxes. The tax in CA is 87cents per 20pack of ciggs. You will be stopped at the border and required to pay the tax, the people there will provide the necessary forms. If you dont pay the tax you cannot clear customs and the product will be siezed.

As for if its legal, yes it is.. but not always. There are sometimes state laws as to how much product you can bring into the state from another state without a permit. It is not legal to bring product into another state without paying the excise tax. If you get pulled over by a police officer who searches your car and finds cartons of ciggs from another state, you can get heavily fined and the products can be siezed.

You can notice that if you buy anything online from another state, the state it is being shipped to adds on taxes.

It is against the law if you purchase over a certain amount (I don't know what that is). The idea is that they do not want you buying and then selling for a profit. You will receive a fine and FYI the police do have random checks at certain points.

Andy

(EXAMPLE) If you drive from NC to SC and buy cigarettes in SC, then return to NC, than the police have no right to stop you for taxes. If you attempt to resell the product, like you buy in bulk, and have a business, than yes, you are supposed to pay your state sales tax.

Vmanders

I don't think so. I have friends who go to the Reservations to buy cigarettes and I have never heard of them being taxed on them again. It wouldnt really make sense. That is like if you got gas cheaper and then you were pulled over and they made you pay the taxes. I dont even know how that could come up in conversation. The cop pulls you over and says excuse me, can I see the receipt for those cigarettes...it seems here you owe another 2.00 since we are in this state now. It wouldn't really make sense.

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