Bill Text: WV HB5535 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

West Virginia House Bill 5535

Introduced

Bill Title: Tobacco Products Excise Tax Act

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 8-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2024-02-09 - To House Finance [HB5535 Detail]

Download: West_Virginia-2024-HB5535-Introduced.html

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2024 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 5535

By Delegates Hornby, Chiarelli, Willis, Dean, Bridges, Rohrbach, Hite, and Heckert

[Introduced February 09, 2024; Referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then Finance]

A BILL to amend and reenact §11-17-2, §11-17-3, §11-17-4b, and §11-17-17 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to applying an excise tax to e-cigarettes and other heated nicotine products from the tobacco excise tax.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

Article 17. tobacco products excise tax act.

§11-17-2. Definitions.

(a) When used in this article, words, terms and phrases defined in subsection (b) of this section, and any variations thereof required by the context, have the meaning ascribed to them in this section, except where the context indicates a different meaning is intended.

(b) Definitions. --

(1) "Cigarette" means:

(A) Any roll for smoking made, wholly or in part, of tobacco, irrespective of size or shape and whether or not the tobacco is flavored, adulterated or mixed with any ingredient, the wrapping or cover of which is made of paper or any substance or material, except tobacco.

(B) Any roll of tobacco wrapped in any substance containing tobacco which, because of its appearance, the type of tobacco used in the filler, or its packing and labeling, is likely to be offered to, or purchased by, consumers as a cigarette described in paragraph (A) of this subdivision.

(C) "Cigarette", for tax purposes, does not include a "heated tobacco product", "heated nicotine product" "e-cigarette" or "e-cigarette liquid" as defined herein.

(2) "Commissioner" means the State Tax Commissioner and, where the meaning of the context requires, all deputies or agents and employees duly authorized by him or her.

(3) "Consumer" means a person who receives or in any way comes into possession of tobacco products for the purpose of consuming or giving them away or disposing of them in any way other than by sale, barter or exchange.

(4) "Counterfeit stamp" means any stamp, label or print, indicium or character, that evidences, or purports to evidence, the payment of any tax levied under this article and that has not been printed, manufactured or made by authority of the commissioner, as provided in this article, and has not been issued, sold or circulated by the commissioner.

(5) "Heated tobacco product" means a product containing tobacco that produces an inhalable aerosol (i) by heating the tobacco by means of a device without combustion of the tobacco or (ii) by heat generated from a combustion source that only or primarily heats rather than burns the tobacco.

(6) "Heated nicotine product" means a product that does not contain tobacco but does contain nicotine in solid or semi-solid form and not in a solution or liquid form that that produces an inhalable aerosol (i) by heating the tobacco by means of a device without combustion of the tobacco or (ii) by heat generated from a combustion source that only or primarily heats rather than burns the tobacco;

(5) (7) "Manufacturer" means a person who manufactures or produces a tobacco product.

(8) "Nicotine product" means any a "heated nicotine product", a "(oral/alternative/modern) nicotine product" or "E-cigarette liquid" that contains nicotine and does not contain tobacco.

(9) "(Oral/Alternative/Modern) Nicotine Product" means any noncombustible product containing nicotine that does not contain tobacco and that is intended for human consumption or placement in the oral cavity for absorption into the human body by any means other than inhalation. Oral nicotine products are not a substitute for tobacco nor is any oral nicotine product included in the definition of any other tobacco product, vapor product, cigarette, or any product regulated as a drug or device by the United States Food and Drug Administration under Chapter V of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

(6)(10) "Other tobacco product" or "tobacco products other than cigarettes" means snuff and chewing tobacco and any other tobacco product that is intended by the seller to be consumed by means other than smoking and any cigar, pipe tobacco or other tobacco product other than cigarettes.

"Other tobacco product" or "tobacco products other than cigarettes" for tax purposes, does not include a "heated tobacco product", a "heated nicotine product" or a "(oral/alternative/modern) nicotine product" as defined herein.

(7) (11) "Package" means the individual package, box or other container in or from which retail sales of tobacco products are normally made or intended to be made.

(8) (12) "Person" means and includes any individual, firm, association, company, partnership, corporation, joint-stock company, club, agency, syndicate, limited liability company, other legal entity, municipal corporation or other political subdivision of this state, trust, receiver, trustee, fiduciary or conservator, and when used in connection with any penalties imposed by this article, means and includes officers, directors, trustees or members of any firm, copartnership, association, corporation, trust or any other unit acting as a group.

(9) (13) "Place of business" means a place where a tobacco product is sold or where a tobacco product is brought or kept for the purpose of sale or consumption, including a vessel, airplane, train or vending machine.

(10) (14) "Retail dealer" includes every person in this state, other than a wholesaler or subjobber, engaged in the selling of tobacco products at retail to a consumer or to any person for any purpose other than resale.

(11) (15) "Sale" means selling, exchange, transfer of title, barter, gift, offer for sale or distribution or disposition of cigarettes or other tobacco products.

(12) (16) "Sale at retail" or "retail sale" means a sale to a consumer or to any person for any purpose other than resale.

(13) (17) "Sale by wholesaler" means and includes any bona fide transfer of title to tobacco products by a wholesaler for a valuable consideration, made in the ordinary course of trade or in the usual conduct of the wholesaler's business.

(14) (18) "Stamp" or "meter impression" means any cigarette stamp or any meter or ink impression or other indicia authorized by the Tax Commissioner to serve as a stamp and shall be of the design and color as prescribed by the Tax Commissioner.

(15) (19) "Stamped cigarettes" means that the stamp or meter impression, as required by this article, has been affixed to the bottom of the package of cigarettes.

(16) (20) "Subjobber" or "subjobber dealer" includes any person who purchases stamped cigarettes or tax-paid tobacco products from a wholesaler or from any other person who purchases from the manufacturer or importer and who purchases the tax-paid tobacco products solely for the purpose of bona fide resale to retail dealers.

(17) (21) "Tax-not-paid tobacco product" means a tobacco product upon which the tax imposed by this article has not been paid.

(18) (22) "Tax-paid tobacco products" means a tobacco product upon which the tax imposed by this article has been paid.

(19) (23) "Tobacco product" includes cigarettes and any other tobacco product. "heated tobacco product."

(20) (24) "Transportation company" means a person operating or supplying to common carriers, cars, boats or other vehicles for the transportation or accommodation of passengers and engaged in the sale of a tobacco product at retail.

(21) (25) "Transporter" means a person importing or transporting into this state a tobacco product obtained from a source located outside this state or transporting within this state tobacco products belonging to another person.

(22) (26) "Unstamped cigarettes" means that the stamp or impression as required by this article has not been affixed to the bottom of the package of cigarettes.

(23) (27) "Vending machine operator" means any person operating one or more vending machines for the sale of tobacco products. The sale of tobacco products through a vending machine will be construed as sales at retail and subjects the vending machine operator to this article and rules pertaining to retail dealers.

Whenever any tobacco products vending machine operator purchases tax-not-paid tobacco products directly from the manufacturer or any other person, the vending machine operator shall be considered to be a wholesaler and is liable for payment of the excise tax imposed by this article and the affixing of the required stamps.

(24) (28) "Wholesale price" means the gross invoice price, including all federal excise taxes, at which the manufacturer of the tobacco product sells the tobacco product to unaffiliated distributors, excluding all trade discounts and other reductions in the manufacturer's price. If the taxpayer buys from other than a manufacturer, "wholesale price" means the gross invoice price, including all federal excise taxes and excluding all trade discounts and other similar reductions in price.

(25) (29) "Wholesaler" or "wholesale dealer" includes any person in this state who purchases tax-not-paid tobacco products directly from the manufacturer, or such other seller as may be approved by the Tax Commissioner. Any distributor, dealer, subjobber, subjobber dealer, retailer or any other person that imports or transports tax-not-paid tobacco products into this state, or that causes tax-not-paid tobacco products to be imported or transported into this state is a wholesaler liable for the tax imposed under this article and, in the case of cigarettes purchased, is liable for affixing tax indicia in accordance with the requirements of this article. No wholesaler or other person may purchase tax-not-paid tobacco products from any seller not approved by the Tax Commissioner.

§11-17-3. Levy of tax; ratio; dedication of proceeds.

(a) Tax on cigarettes and tobacco products other than cigarettes. — For the purpose of providing revenue for the General Revenue Fund of the state, an excise tax is hereby levied and imposed on sales of cigarettes and tobacco products other than cigarettes.

(b) Tax rate on cigarettes. — Effective May 1, 2003, the excise tax rate levied and imposed on the sale of cigarettes is 55 cents on each twenty cigarettes or in like ratio on any part thereof: Provided, That on and after July 1, 2016, the excise tax rate levied and imposed on the sale of cigarettes is $1.20 on each twenty cigarettes or in like ratio on any part thereof. Only one sale of the same article shall be used in computing the amount of tax due under this subsection.

(c) Tax on tobacco products other than cigarettes. — Effective January 1, 2002, the excise tax levied and imposed on the sales or use of tobacco products other than cigarettes at the rate equal to seven percent of the wholesale price of each article or item of tobacco products other than cigarettes sold by the wholesaler or subjobber dealer, whether or not sold at wholesale, or if not sold, then at the same rate upon the use by the wholesaler or dealer: Provided, That on and after July 1, 2016, the excise tax rate levied and imposed on the sales or use of tobacco products other than cigarettes is at the rate equal to twelve percent of the wholesale price of each article or item of tobacco products other than cigarettes sold by the wholesaler or subjobber dealer, whether or not sold at wholesale, or if not sold, then at the same rate upon the use by the wholesaler or dealer. Only one sale of the same article shall be used in computing the amount of tax due under this subsection.

(d) Tax rate on "heated tobacco products" and "heated nicotine products" — Effective July 1, 2024, the excise tax rate levied and imposed on the sale of "heated tobacco products" and heated nicotine products at the rate is 60 cents on each 20 heat sticks or in like ratio on any part thereof:

(d) (e) Effective date of amendments. — Amendments to this section enacted in the year 2003 apply in determining tax imposed under this article from May 1, 2003, through June 30, 2016. Amendments to this section enacted in the year 2016 apply in determining tax imposed under this article effective on and after July 1, 2016.

§11-17-4b. Levy of tax on e-cigarette liquid; definitions; rate; invoice; report; payment; authority of the Tax Commissioner to inspect and examine witnesses; presumption; bond.

(a) Definitions. — When used in this section, words, terms and phrases defined in this subsection, and any variations thereof required by the context, have the meaning ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context indicates a different meaning is intended.

(1) "E-cigarette" means an electrical or electronic device that provides a smoke, vapor, fog, mist, gas or aerosol suspension of nicotine or another substance that, when used or inhaled, simulates the activity of smoking. The term e-cigarette includes, but is not limited to, a device that is composed of a heating element, battery or electrical or electronic circuit, or a combination of heating element, battery and electrical or electronic circuit, which works in combination with e-liquid to produce an inhalable product. The term e-cigarette includes, but is not limited to, any so designed, or similarly designed, product that is manufactured, distributed, marketed or sold as an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe or under any other name or descriptor. The term "simulates the activity of smoking", in the context of this definition, means replicating, mimicking or reproducing an experience similar to inhaling, or otherwise drawing into the mouth or nose, or exhaling the smoke or combustion product of burning tobacco or any other product or material that can be used in a similar fashion. "E-cigarette" does not include a "heated tobacco product" or a "heated nicotine product" for tax purposes, as defined in §11-17-2 of this code.

(2) "E-cigarette liquid" means any of the liquids or liquid mixtures used in e-cigarettes and is also known as e-juice, e-fluid, e-liquid or e-liquid product. E-cigarette liquid includes e-cigarette liquid mixing kits and e-cigarette liquid mixing kit components. When used in, or with, an e-cigarette, e-cigarette liquid is vaporized or otherwise converted into an inhalable product. E-cigarette liquid may or may not include, without limitation, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, nicotine from any source or flavorings. "E-cigarette liquid" does not include a "heated tobacco product" or a "heated nicotine product" for tax purposes, as defined in §11-17-2 of this code.

(b) Levy of tax; rate. —

(1) On and after July 1, 2016, an excise tax is levied and imposed on sales of e-cigarette liquid at the rate of 7.5 cents per milliliter or fraction thereof, or if not sold, then at the same rate upon the use by the wholesaler or dealer. For purposes of this article, any distributor, dealer, subjobber, subjobber dealer, retailer or any other person that imports or transports e-cigarette liquids into this state, or that causes e-cigarette liquids to be imported or transported into this state, is hereby deemed to be a wholesaler for purposes of this section and is liable for the tax imposed under this article. No wholesaler or other person may purchase e-cigarette liquids from any seller not approved by the Tax Commissioner. E-cigarette liquid mixing kits and e-cigarette liquid mixing kit components shall be taxed in accordance with the amount of e-cigarette liquid, in milliliters, that can be produced by or from the kit or components thereof, as determined by the Tax Commissioner.

(2) Only one sale of e-cigarette liquid shall be used in computing the amount of tax due under this section.

(1) The tax imposed in this section on e-cigarette liquid shall be paid using an invoice method prescribed by the Tax Commissioner.

(2) The tax will be paid on any and all e-cigarette liquid coming into the state for the purpose of sale or use in this state on and after July 1, 2016.

(3) Contents of delivery ticket or invoice. — Unless otherwise permitted in writing by the Tax Commissioner, each delivery ticket or invoice for each purchase or sale of e-cigarette liquid must be recorded upon a serially numbered invoice showing:

(A) The name and address of the seller and the purchaser;

(B) The point of delivery;

(D) (i) The number of e-cigarette cartridges, apparatus, containers or other devices; (ii) the quantity in milliliters of each cartridge, apparatus, container or other device; (iii) the wholesale price of each e-cigarette cartridge, apparatus, container or other device delivered in this state; or (iv) if sold outside of a cartridge or other device or container, the total quantity in milliliters of e-cigarette liquid not in cartridges, apparatus or other device or container delivered in this state and the wholesale price of the e-cigarette liquid;

(E) The invoice must either set out the amount of tax imposed by this article separately on the invoice or the invoice may instead indicate that the tax imposed under this article is included in the total price; and

(F) Any other information required by the Tax Commissioner.

(4) Reports and payments due date. — On or before the fifteenth day of each month, manufacturers, importers, every place of business as defined in this article, retail dealers, subjobbers, vending machine operators and wholesale dealers and their agents, shall file a report covering the business transacted in the previous month providing any information the Tax Commissioner determines necessary for the ascertainment or assessment of the taxes imposed by this article. Reports shall be signed under penalty of perjury and be in a form as prescribed by the Tax Commissioner. The amount of tax shown to be due on the monthly report, if any, shall be remitted on or before the due date of the monthly report. The first report due for e-liquid sales is August 15, 2016, for the sales completed in July 2016.

(5) Reports required. — The reports prescribed in this article are required, although a tax may not be due or no business transacted, for the period covered by the report. In the case of any failure to file a report on the date prescribed for filing when no tax is due, unless it is shown that the failure was due to reasonable cause, there is hereby imposed a penalty of $25 for each month or fraction of a month that such report is delinquent, until the report is filed, in addition to any penalties imposed under section nineteen-a of this article.

(6) Records. — Each person required to file a report shall make and keep the records necessary to substantiate the accuracy of the reports required by this section including, but not limited to, records of inventories, receipts, disbursements and sales. Records shall be retained for a period of time not less than three years from the time the report is due or the time when the report is filed, whichever is later.

(d) Inspection of records and stocks; examination of witnesses; registration of e-cigarette sellers; presumption of nontax paid. —

(1) The Tax Commissioner has the authority to inspect or examine the records, books and papers, and any equipment or e-cigarette apparatus, and any stock of e-cigarette liquid kept in or upon the premises of persons who sell, possess or store e-cigarette liquid, for the purpose of determining the quantity and value of e-cigarette liquid acquired, on hand or disbursed, to verify the truth and accuracy of any statement, return, form or report and to ascertain whether the tax imposed by this article has been properly paid.

(2) In addition to the Tax Commissioner’s powers set forth in article ten of this chapter, the Tax Commissioner or the Tax Commissioner’s agent may examine witnesses under oath in order to ascertain the amount of taxes and reports due under this article. If a witness or person fails or refuses to testify or grant access to records, books, papers, equipment or e-cigarette apparatus, or any stock of e-cigarette liquid, necessary or useful to ascertain the amount of taxes and reports due under this article, the Tax Commissioner shall certify the facts and names to the circuit court of the county having jurisdiction of the party and the court shall issue a summons to the party to appear before the Tax Commissioner at a place designated within the jurisdiction of the court, on a day fixed, to be continued as the occasion may require for good cause shown, to testify and give evidence and to produce for inspection any books, records and papers that may be required and to grant access to records, books, papers, equipment or e-cigarette apparatus, or any stock of e-cigarette liquid, for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of tax and reports due, if any.

(3) Each wholesale dealer of e-cigarette liquid must register with the Tax Commissioner and maintain a business registration certificate, showing the wholesale dealer of e-cigarette liquid to be registered as a seller of tobacco products or seller of both cigarettes and tobacco products prior to the sale or delivery of e-cigarette liquid to any retail dealer or subjobber in this state. A wholesale dealer may sell tax-paid e-cigarette liquid only to another wholesaler or a retail dealer or subjobber in this state. No person may purchase nontaxed e-cigarette liquid from any seller not approved by the Tax Commissioner.

(4) Whenever e-cigarette liquid is found in the place of business of any retail dealer, without evidence that the tax imposed by this section has been paid, it shall be presumed that the e-cigarette liquid is kept on the premises in violation of this article.

(e) Bond. — The Tax Commissioner may require wholesalers, subjobbers or retail dealers to file a continuous surety bond in an amount to be fixed by the Tax Commissioner but no less than $1,000. The bond shall be conditioned upon faithfully complying with the provisions of this article including the filing of the returns and payment of all taxes prescribed by this article.

(f) Administration and enforcement. — The provisions of this article and articles nine and ten of this chapter apply to administration and enforcement of the excise tax on e-cigarette liquid in the same manner and to the same extent as they apply to administration and enforcement of the excise tax on tobacco products, as imposed under this article.

(g) Criminal sanctions. — The criminal sanctions imposed in section nineteen-a of this article are hereby imposed with equal force and application with relation to actions, transactions and responsibilities prescribed under this section and under this article. For the purpose of applying and interpreting the provisions of section nineteen-a of this article, the words "container of tobacco products" shall be interpreted to mean and include the words "container of tobacco products or e-cigarette liquid".

§11-17-17. Enforcement powers.

Any employee or agent of the Tax Commissioner, so designated by the Tax Commissioner, shall have all the lawful powers delegated to members of the department of public safety to enforce the provisions of this article in any county or municipality in this state.

Such employee shall execute a bond with security in the sum of $3,500, payable to the State of West Virginia conditioned for the faithful performance of his or her duties, as such, and such bond shall be approved as to form by the Attorney General, and the same shall be filed with the Secretary of State and preserved in his or her office.

The state department of public safety or any county sheriff or his or her deputy is, upon request of the commissioner, hereby authorized and required to assist in the enforcement of the provisions of this article.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to apply an excise tax to e-cigarettes and other heated nicotine products excise tax.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.