(a) Each vendor must pay to the Director a tax in the amount listed in subsection (c) for cigars, cigarette tobacco, pipe tobacco, snuff, or spit tobacco that the vendor receives at a site in Montgomery County from which the vendor intends to sell the taxable tobacco product to a consumer.
(b) The Director must calculate the tax on each cigar and package of cigarette tobacco, pipe tobacco, snuff, and spit tobacco that the vendor intends to offer for sale to a consumer. If the vendor does not intend to offer to sell the taxable tobacco product in a pre-packaged quantity, the Director must calculate the tax on the smallest packages in which the vendor receives the taxable tobacco product.
(c) The tax rate on:
(1) Cigars is:
(A) 3 cents for each cigar that weighs 3 pounds or less per 1000 cigars; and
(B) 6 cents for each cigar that weighs more than 3 pounds per 1000 cigars.
(2) Cigarette tobacco is:
(A) 36 cents for each package containing 1.5 ounces or less; or
(B) for each package containing more than 1.5 ounces, 36 cents for each unit or fraction or a unit containing 1.5 ounces.
(3) Pipe tobacco is:
(A) 36 cents for each package containing 1.5 ounces or less; or
(B) for each package containing more than 1.5 ounces, 36 cents for each unit or fraction or a unit containing 1.5 ounces.
(4) Snuff is:
(A) 36 cents for each package containing 1.5 ounces or less; or
(B) for each package containing more than 1.5 ounces, 36 cents for each unit or fraction of a unit containing 1.5 ounces.
(5) Spit tobacco is:
(A) 36 cents for each package containing 3 ounces or less; or
(B) for each package containing more than 3 ounces, 36 cents for each unit or fraction of a unit containing 3 ounces.
The County Council, by resolution, after holding a public hearing advertised under Section 52-17(c), may increase or decrease the tax rate on any product taxed under this Article.
(d) The tax imposed under this Article is due when the vendor takes physical possession of the taxable tobacco product.
(e) Each vendor must pay to the Director the tax imposed under this Article, along with a monthly report of all tobacco products subject to tax under this Article that the vendor received during a calendar month, by the 25th day of the next month. The monthly report must be submitted on a form approved by the Director, and must identify the quantity and number of items of each taxable product which the vendor received during the preceding calendar month.
(f) If a vendor sells the business from which taxable products are sold or otherwise stops doing business, the vendor must pay all taxes due under this Article, and submit any monthly report not previously submitted, within 3 days.
(g) If a vendor does not pay all taxes due under this Article, or does not keep accurate records as required by this Article, the Director may obtain other information on which the Director may base an estimate of the tax due. The Director may then calculate the tax due and assess that amount, and all applicable interest and penalties, against the vendor or any other person liable for the tax. The Director must notify the person from whom the tax is due by mail to that person's last known address, and the person must pay all tax due within 10 days after receiving the notice. (1998 L.M.C., ch. 34, § 1; 2001 L.M.C., ch. 28, §§ 13, 15 and 16; 2016 L.M.C., ch. 7, § 2.)
Editor’s noteThe effective date of the amendments made to this section by 2001 L.M.C., ch. 28, § 13, is the same effective date as 1998 L.M.C., ch. 34, § 1.