STATES CONSIDER HIGHER CIGARETTE TAXES [12/02]

In the wake of a new study showing that increased cigarette taxes substantially reduce teen smoking as well as raise large amounts of revenue, several states including Maryland and Alaska are considering new increases in cigarette taxes.

Below is a table showing the current taxes in the various states, arranged both in order of descending amounts and in alphabetical order.

Why not write to your state senator and legislator and ask them to consider raising the state's cigarette tax!

STATE CIGARETTE EXCISE TAX RATES --
ARRANGED IN DESCENDING AMOUNTS
Cents-per-20-pack as of December 1, 1996,
see notes below:
Washington    (81.5) 82.5
Massachusetts (51.0) 76.0
Michigan             75.0
Dist. Col            65.0
Rhode Island  (56.0) 61.0
Hawaii               60.0
Arizona              58.0
New York             56.0
Connecticut          50.0
Minnesota            48.0
Illinois             44.0
North Dakota         44.0
Vermont       (20.0) 44.0
Wisconsin     (38.0) 44.0
Texas                41.0
New Jersey           40.0
Oregon*              38.0
California           37.0
Maine                37.0
Iowa                 36.0
Maryland             36.0
Nevada               35.0
Nebraska             34.0
Florida              33.9
South Dakota  (23.0) 33.0
Arkansas             31.5
Pennsylvania         31.0
Alaska               29.0
Idaho                28.0
Utah                 26.5
New Hampshire        25.0
Delaware             24.0
Kansas               24.0
Ohio                 24.0
Oklahoma             23.0
New Mexico           21.0
Colorado             20.0
Louisiana            20.0
Mississippi          18.0
Montana              18.0
Missouri             17.0
West Virginia        17.0
Alabama              16.5
Indiana              15.5
Tennessee            13.0
Georgia              12.0
Wyoming              12.0
South Carolina       07.0
North Carolina       05.0
Kentucky             03.0
Virginia             02.5
( ) figures in parentheses are 1995 excise tax rates
* = Oregon's tax increases by 30% from 38% to 68% effective December 5, 1996.


STATE CIGARETTE EXCISE TAX RATES --
ARRANGED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
Cents-per-20-pack as of December 1, 1996,
see notes below:
Alabama              16.5
Alaska               29.0
Arizona              58.0
Arkansas             31.5
California           37.0
Colorado             20.0
Connecticut          50.0
Delaware             24.0
Dist. Col            65.0
Florida              33.9
Georgia              12.0
Hawaii               60.0
Idaho                28.0
Illinois             44.0
Indiana              15.5
Iowa                 36.0
Kansas               24.0
Kentucky             03.0
Louisiana            20.0
Maine                37.0
Maryland             36.0
Massachusetts (51.0) 76.0
Michigan             75.0
Minnesota            48.0
Mississippi          18.0
Missouri             17.0
Montana              18.0
Nebraska             34.0
Nevada               35.0
New York             56.0
New Hampshire        25.0
New Mexico           21.0
New Jersey           40.0
North Dakota         44.0
North Carolina       05.0
Ohio                 24.0
Oklahoma             23.0
Oregon*              38.0
Pennsylvania         31.0
Rhode Island  (56.0) 61.0
South Carolina       07.0
South Dakota  (23.0) 33.0
Tennessee            13.0
Texas                41.0
Utah                 26.5
Vermont       (20.0) 44.0
Virginia             02.5
Washington    (81.5) 82.5
West Virginia        17.0
Wisconsin     (38.0) 44.0
Wyoming              12.0
Cents-per-20-pack as of December 1, 1996,
see notes below: 

ASH - ACTION ON SMOKING AND HEALTH 2013 H Street, NW / Washington, DC 20006 / (202) 659-4310