The New York Post reports this morning that Governor Paterson may include a $1-a-pack tax hike on cigarettes in his next round of emergency spending legislation.
According to the New York City government’s website “[t]here is a combined City and State cigarette tax of $4.25 per pack on all cigarettes possessed for sale or use in New York City.” $2.75 reflects the New York State tax and $1.50 reflects the New York City tax. According to a June 2010 New York State Senate Investigations Report, “New York State convenience store owners pay a license fee to sell tobacco products and comply with the myriad of regulations surrounding tobacco sales. Cigarette sales are a core product of the convenience store product line. These retailers provide employment, risk capital, and work seven days a week. Nevertheless, these small business owners are confronted with a State policy which chases their customers away…”
Read the entire report at: Senate Report: Why New York Fails to Collect Cigarette Taxes on Native American Reservations.
Enough is enough.
Gotham Government Relations has been working tirelessly on behalf of the New York Tobacconist Association, tobacco distributors and other small businesses to get Albany’s butt out of their businesses. What can you do? Join the conversation by posting a comment on this morning’s article in the New York Post.
Don’t stop there… send a letter or e-mail to your elected officials telling them to oppose the tobacco tax. To find the address of your elected officials, visit this link.
Related posts:
- Senate Report: Why New York Fails to Collect Cigarette Taxes on Native American Reservations
- Do New York Businesses Need Any More Hardship?
- New York State Tobacconists Association Makes First Trip to Albany
- NY Senate Hearing Today to Discuss Illegal Cigarette Sales
- Proposed NY Tax Claims First Small Business Victim
