Discount cigarettes online
A new report identified 147 Web sites that sell cigarettes in the United
States and there is no evidence that any of them identify their customers
. as required . to the states where the products are sold so sales tax
can be collected. This is particularly relevant to Massachusetts, which
just raised cigarette taxes 75 cents a pack in an effort to raise discount
cigarettes online another $190 million.
The question, though, is: Should states have a right to count on these
taxes or are they being hypocritical?It may seem like a simple and reasonable
position: Massachusetts officials are upset about losing possibly millions
of dollars in taxes because more people are turning to the Internet
to buy cigarettes.
Acting Gov. Jane Swift is opposed to taxes on Internet purchases, but
she and other state officials still want the taxes that Internet cigarette
sales would bring in. Why the inconsistency, discount cigarettes online
especially when brick-and-mortar businesses that sell discount cigarettes
online other products and are hurt by Internet sales because
they have to pay taxes, while Internet companies do not, cannot get
any satisfaction? Is this another case of government wanting its "share"
of revenue without showing much concern for revenue for private businesses?
If Swift wants a level playing field for stores in the state that sell
cigarettes, why not a level playing field for everyone?
The government will use every law at its disposal to capture every penny
of potential revenue, but when it comes to private businesses, it is
hands off. That is why there remains a general moratorium on taxes on
Internet businesses. Even though it remains unfair, it is generally
believed that Internet-only businesses are still nascent discount cigarettes
online and discount cigarettes online need coddling,
in the form of tax-freedom. That is not always a valid argument and
it is a matter of time before the tax man steps in for his share.
A more valid argument for clamping down on Internet cigarette sales
is to ensure that they are not sold to minors. The government has made
it more difficult to sell alcohol online; it can do the same with cigarettes.
The revenue argument, however, is less reasonable. Smokers should have
to bear more of the cost of their discount cigarettes
online health care in the form of taxes, but the government also has
to be fair in its search for more revenue. Clamping down on cigarette
sales while ignoring other products is unfair to the brick-and-mortar
businesses that don't peddle carcinogens to their customers.