Cigarette Tax

  1. What are the definitions of "cigarettes," "person" and "permittee?"
  2. What requirements does a distributor need to meet to sell cigarettes to retailers or other permitted wholesalers for sale in the state of Wisconsin?
  3. What requirements does a retailer need to meet to sell cigarettes to consumers in the state of Wisconsin?
  4. What is the tax rate on cigarettes?
  5. When is there an inventory tax?
  6. If I file a late return, will I be charged?
  7. Do I need a permit to handle cigarettes?
  8. Who pays the cigarette tax?
  9. Who pays the cigarette use tax?
  10. How do I pay the cigarette tax?
  11. How do distributors report and pay for a cigarette stamp order that is different from what they actually received?
  12. How do I file my cigarette return?
  13. What should I do if filing electronically causes a hardship?
  14. When are the cigarette returns due?
  15. Are any cigarettes exempt from the cigarette tax?
  16. Will the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) refund any cigarette taxes I paid?
  17. How do I correct a cigarette return I already filed?
  18. If I file an incorrect cigarette return, will I have to pay interest or penalties?
  19. Should I notify DOR if the business has a change to its name, address, or ownership or if the business no longer operates in Wisconsin?
  20. What records should I keep for Wisconsin tax purposes, and how long should I keep them?
  21. How can I get additional information or forms about the cigarette tax?
  1. What are the definitions of "cigarettes, "person" and "permittee"?
    • Cigarettes - Wisconsin law defines cigarettes as any roll of tobacco which is wrapped in paper or any substance other than tobacco [sec. 139.30(1), Wis. Stats.].
    • Person - The term includes a natural person, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or association.
    • Permittee - A person who holds a cigarette permit issued by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR).
  2. What requirements does a distributor need to meet to sell cigarettes to retailers or other permitted wholesalers for sale in the state of Wisconsin?

    You may find the requirements for the legal sale of cigarettes in Wisconsin in subch. II of ch. 139 and sec. 995.12, Wis. Stats.

    Any distributor permittee who violates any of the following requirements is subject to revocation of its cigarette permit, fines/forfeitures, and/or confiscation of illegal cigarettes.

    Requirements:

    1. Direct buy of cigarettes by distributors

      Wisconsin distributors (both in-state and out-of-state) may affix Wisconsin tax stamps only to cigarettes purchased directly from the manufacturer of those cigarettes. For cigarettes imported into the U.S., unstamped cigarettes must be purchased directly from the manufacturer's authorized first importer of record of those cigarettes. Wisconsin distributors may also purchase cigarettes with the Wisconsin tax stamp affixed from other distributors who have department approval for those brand(s) and supplier(s).

      Note: Any cigarettes purchased from another source are illegal and are subject to confiscation in Wisconsin.

    2. Department approval prior to receipt or sale of cigarettes in Wisconsin

      Wisconsin distributors must have the approval of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for the direct purchase of all cigarettes they will receive in Wisconsin or to which they will affix Wisconsin tax stamps for sale in Wisconsin prior to receipt or sale in Wisconsin.

      Distributors must provide to the department a Letter of Direct Buy (LDB) from the manufacturer or authorized importer. The department will notify the distributor of approval to purchase those cigarettes unstamped from the manufacturer or authorized importer. No cigarettes may be brought or shipped into Wisconsin without the department's approval. To be approved, the cigarettes must meet all state and federal requirements for legal sale, including appearance of good standing in the Attorney General's Directory of Certifying Manufacturers.

    3. Continued legal sale after department approval

      For continued legal sale after receiving department approval, the manufacturer's products must continue to:

      • Appear in good standing in the Attorney General's Directory.
      • Maintain federal requirements for legal sale (such as FTC and HHS).
      • Be direct bought from approved legal source. Invoices must validate this requirement.
    4. Directory of Certifying Manufacturers

      A distributor may affix Wisconsin tax stamps only to department-approved cigarettes that appear in good standing in the Attorney General's Directory of Certifying Manufacturers. Distributors may not affix stamps to any product or sell any stamped product on or after the date a product is delisted from the Attorney General's Directory and is not available to Wisconsin consumers.

    5. Reporting requirement for all distributor permittees

      All distributors must properly report all transactions of cigarette products, including Roll-Your-Own (RYO) tobacco and Little Cigars, by manufacturer, brand, and single sticks/ounces to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue on their monthly reporting forms and maintain all records for at least five years.

      Important: All Subsequent Participating Manufacturers' (SPM) and Non-Participating Manufacturers' (NPM) brands must currently be reported, with no exceptions.

    3. Caution: Appearance of a manufacturer's brand(s) in the Attorney General's Directory of Certifying Manufacturers, does not, on its own, constitute legal sale of that product to Wisconsin consumers.

  3. What requirements does a retailer need to meet to sell cigarettes to consumers in the state of Wisconsin?

    As a retailer, you must meet the following requirements for all cigarettes sold to Wisconsin consumers:

    • You must purchase and sell cigarettes with Wisconsin excise tax included (in the purchase/sales price) as evidenced by the Wisconsin cigarette tax stamp affixed to each pack of cigarettes.
    • You must hold a valid license to sell cigarettes to consumers in Wisconsin. Licenses are issued by the municipality (city, village or town) for each location where cigarettes are received and stored for sale to consumers. You must contact the clerk for the city, village or town where you want to do business and apply for the cigarette retail license with the clerk.
    • You may not sell, or offer or possess for sale cigarettes not included in the Attorney General's Directory of Certified Tobacco Manufacturers and Brands at: doj.state.wi.us/dls/tobacco/index.html.  Only those manufacturer's brands listed on the directory may be advertised, solicited, marketed or sold as cigarettes. Pursuant to the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) statute, little cigars may not be advertised, solicited, marketed or sold as cigarettes or cigarette alternatives, sec. 995.12(2)(b)4.(c), Wis. Stats.
    • You may not sell/transfer cigarettes to another retailer, wholesaler or location, even if owned by the same person, unless you hold a valid cigarette wholesale (distributor or subjobber) permit with the department. All sales/transfers of cigarettes require an invoice showing the seller to the purchaser as permitted or licensed (legal name, doing business as name, and business address).

    As a licensed retailer, you are required to purchase your cigarettes for sale to Wisconsin consumers from permitted wholesalers (distributors or jobbers) who sell cigarettes on which the Wisconsin excise taxes have been paid, evidenced by the Wisconsin Cigarette Tax Stamp affixed to each pack of cigarettes. If the wholesaler is not reimbursed by the retailer for the sale of the tax-included cigarettes, the department may bill the retailer for the portion of tax unpaid to the wholesaler on which they claimed credit from the state. Cigarettes possessed and/or offered for sale to consumers in this state without the proper Wisconsin tax stamp affixed are untaxed and illegal contraband cigarettes subject to seizure. Such sales of cigarettes via direct marketing (i.e. internet or mail order, etc.) to consumers in the state of Wisconsin are not legal. Wisconsin tax-stamped cigarettes sold via direct marketing must meet all requirements under sec. 139.345. Wis. Stats. [See sec. 134.65, subch. II of ch. 139, and sec. 995.12, Wis. Stats.]

    Appearance of a manufacturer's brand(s) in the Attorney General's Directory of Certifying Manufacturers, does not, on its own, constitute legal sale of that product to Wisconsin consumers. Any retailer who violates the requirements for the legal sale of cigarettes in this state is subject to confiscation of those cigarettes and/or criminal charges.

  4. What is the tax rate on cigarettes?
    Period Per Single Cigarette Per 20-Pack
    October 1, 2001 to December 31, 2007
    3.85¢
    77¢
    January 1, 2008 to August 31, 2009
    8.85¢
    $1.77
    September 1, 2009 and thereafter
    12.6¢
    $2.52
  5. When is there an inventory tax?
    • When the cigarette tax rate increases, an inventory tax is charged to all permittees and retailers who possess stamped cigarettes held for resale on which the cigarette tax was paid at the prior rate and upon unaffixed stamps in the possession of distributors.
    • The inventory tax is the amount by which the cigarette tax rate increases.
    • The inventory tax return is due 30 days after the effective date of the tax increase.
  6. If I file a late return, will I be charged?

    Yes. If you file your return late, you will be charged:

    • Late-filing fee - $10
    • Delinquent interest - 1.5% of the amount of tax due per month
    • Penalty - a false or fraudulent return may be charged equal to the tax that the person evaded or attempted to evade [sec. 139.315, Wis. Stats.].
  7. Do I need a permit to handle cigarettes?

    Yes. If you handle cigarettes at the wholesale level in Wisconsin, you must have a cigarette permit from DOR. If you apply for a cigarette permit, you must hold a Business Tax Registration (BTR) Certificate [sec. 73.03(50), Wis. Stats.].

    To apply for a BTR Certificate and a cigarette permit:

    • Call the Excise Tax Section at DOR, (608) 266-6701.

    BTR Certificate

    • There is a $20 registration fee for the BTR Certificate.
    • The certificate is renewable every two years for $10.

    Note: The BTR certificate and cigarette permits are valid until canceled by the permittee or until we revoke them. You only need one BTR certificate regardless of the number of permits or licenses you hold with DOR.

    DOR issues these wholesale cigarette permits

    Types of Wholesale Permits/Prefix Statute Fee Term of Permit
    Wisconsin distributor (400) sec. 139.34 none 2 years
    Wisconsin jobber (401) sec. 139.34 none 2 years
    Wisconsin multiple retailer (402) sec. 139.34 none 2 years
    Wisconsin vendor (403) sec. 139.34 none 2 years
    Wisconsin cigarette warehouse (404) sec. 139.34 none 2 years
    Out-of-state distributor (407) sec. 139.34 none 2 years
    Out-of-state jobber (408) sec. 139.34 none 2 years
    Out-of-state multiple retailer (409) sec. 139.34 none 2 years
    Out-of-state vendor (410) sec. 139.34 none 2 years
    Manufacturer (412) sec. 139.34 none 2 years
    Importer (413) sec. 139.34 none 2 years
    Wisconsin and out-of-state cigarette salespersons sec. 139.37 none 2 years

    If you are a permittee or retailer and purchased cigarettes from sources that do not hold a permit with DOR, our Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement Unit may confiscate the cigarettes [secs. 139.321(2) and 139.40, Wis. Stats.].

    • Security required
      • Security is required (e.g., cash, bond) from cigarette distributors who do not file their monthly returns and/or do not pay the cigarette tax due in a timely manner.
      • The Secretary of Revenue will determine the amount of security required [sec. 139.322, Wis. Stats.].
  8. Who pays the cigarette tax?

    Cigarette distributors must pay the cigarette tax. They are required to purchase tax stamps from DOR and apply a stamp to each pack of cigarettes.

    How to purchase cigarette tax stamps
    A cigarette distributor must purchase stamps on credit and must submit payment along with their monthly cigarette tax returns on or before the 15th day after the month they receive the stamps.

    Cigarette tax stamps [sec. 139.32, Wis. Stats.]

    • As a distributor, you receive a 0.7% tax discount when you purchase stamps to help offset the costs you incur when you apply the stamps to packs of cigarettes [sec. 139.32(5), Wis. Stats.]. However, as a distributor, you must pay the costs for printing and shipping the stamps [sec. 139.32(5m), Wis. Stats.].
    • If you have questions about stamps, call (608) 266-3282.
    • NOTE: You cannot order cigarette stamps by phone.

    Cigarette use tax [secs. 139.321 and 139.33, Wis. Stats.]

    • Only cigarette distributors licensed by DOR, are allowed to bring cigarettes into Wisconsin when the Wisconsin cigarette tax has not been paid.
    • To show the tax was paid, a distributor must apply the cigarette tax stamp to all packs of cigarettes to be sold in Wisconsin.
    • Cigarettes brought into Wisconsin that are not stamped with a Wisconsin cigarette tax stamp (or stamped with another state's tax stamp) are untaxed cigarettes.
  9. Who pays the cigarette use tax?

    Persons other than cigarette distributors who bring untaxed cigarettes into Wisconsin must pay a use tax on the cigarettes.

    • These persons must contact us in writing within 15 days of bringing in untaxed cigarettes declaring the number of cigarettes brought in and remitting the use tax due (see Form CT-121s).
    • The use tax rate is the same rate as the Wisconsin cigarette tax (see question #4).
    • If the use tax is not paid when due, we charge delinquent interest of 1.5% of the amount of use tax due per month. We may also charge a penalty of $25 per each 200 cigarettes (1 carton).
    • A Wisconsin Combined Cigarette Use Tax and Sales and Use Return, Form CT-121s may be printed from our website.

    Note:

    • Members of the Armed Forces of the United States are not required to report and pay the use tax on cigarettes issued to them by the federal government or purchased in any Armed Forces post exchange or service store.
    • Cigarettes sold to state or federally operated veterans' hospitals are also not subject to the use tax.
  10. How do I pay the cigarette tax?

    As a distributor, you pay the cigarette tax with a monthly return [sec. 139.38, Wis. Stats.].

    There are three types of cigarette tax returns:

    1. Wisconsin Distributor's Cigarette Tax Return, Form CT-100.
    2. Wisconsin Distributor's Cigarette Tax Return - Out-of-State Permittees, Form CT-105.
    3. Quarterly Report of Wisconsin Tax-Paid Cigarettes Purchased, Form CT-114 (informational report, no tax due).

    Note:

    • You can pay your taxes by electronic funds transfer (EFT).
      If you are a distributor with $1,000 or more annual tax liability, you must make their cigarette tax payments by EFT.
    • For more information, visit the Electronic Funds Transfer page or call (608) 264-9918.
  11. How do distributors report and pay for a cigarette stamp order that is different from what they actually received?

    If you did not receive all of the cigarette stamps you ordered, report your order as invoiced by DOR on Form CT-104, Monthly Schedule of Purchases and Ending Inventory of Unaffixed Wisconsin Cigarette Stamps, and:

    • Report the purchase on lines 2-18.
    • Complete an affidavit for the missing stamps and obtain witness signatures.
    • Attach affidavit to Form CT-104.
    • Deduct the lost, stolen, or missing cigarette stamps on line 21 of Form CT-104.

    As a distributor, you are liable for the cigarette tax on lost, stolen, or missing stamps. If you find errors with your order, you should:

    • Call the Wisconsin Department of Revenue immediately with any discrepancy you find in your stamp order. Contact DOR at (608) 266-3282 or (608) 266-6701.
    • If the carrier doesn't have documentation on the order weight, weigh the order when you receive it, and note any discrepancies, visual defects, etc.
    • Keep all packaging and make sure the order is untouched until you are notified that DOR released it.
    • Take photos and document the names of all personnel who had contact with the stamp order from the time you received the order.

    If you received more cigarette stamps than you ordered, contact DOR at (608) 266-3282 or (608) 266-6701 for further instructions.

  1. How do I file my cigarette return?

    You are required to file all cigarette tax reports and returns electronically with DOR. For more information, visit the cigarettes and tobacco products tax page revenue.wi.gov/html/cigtob1.html.

  2. What should I do if filing electronically causes a hardship?

    If the Secretary of Revenue determines the requirement causes a hardship, the Secretary may waive your requirement to file electronically. If you feel filing electronically causes you a hardship, you must request a waiver.

    To request a waiver, you must do the following:

    • Request the waiver in writing. Mail your written request to:

      Mandate Waiver Request
      Wisconsin Department of Revenue
      PO Box 8949, Mail Stop 5-77
      Madison, Wisconsin
    • Clearly state why the requirement causes a hardship.
    • The Secretary of Revenue may consider the following factors when deciding if this requirement causes a hardship:
      1. An unusual circumstance that may prevent you from filing electronically.
        Example: You do not have access to a computer connected to the internet.
      2. Any other factor the Secretary determines is relevant.
    • If you have any questions, contact us at (608) 266-6701.

    Note: The Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) between the 46 signatory states and the cigarette manufacturers required the passage of a model statute by the State of Wisconsin. The model statute was passed and became effective on May 23, 2000, placing Wisconsin in compliance with the MSA. The passage of the model statute puts additional reporting requirements on distributors.

  3. When are the cigarette returns due?

    All cigarette returns are due by the 15th day of the month following the month or quarter covered by the return [sec. 139.38(2), Wis. Stats.]. Example: a return for October is due November 15.

    If you file a late return, you will be charged:

    • Late-filing fee - $10 [sec. 139.38(5), Wis. Stats.].
    • Delinquent interest - 1.5% per month [sec. 139.44(11), Wis. Stats.].

    Note: If you are unable to file a cigarette tax return and pay any cigarette tax you owe by the due date, we will not grant an extension.

  4. Are any cigarettes exempt from the cigarette tax?

    Yes. The following are exempt from the Wisconsin cigarette tax [sec. 139.31(3), Wis. Stats.]:

    • Cigarettes shipped by interstate commerce to customers in other states for sale outside Wisconsin.
    • Cigarettes sold to the Armed Forces (e.g., Fort McCoy, Coast Guard stations, etc.) or state or federally operated veterans' hospitals.
    • Cigarettes sold to interstate carriers of passengers for hire to be resold to bona fide passengers being transported.
  5. Will DOR refund any cigarette taxes I paid?

    Yes. There are distributor and Indian Tribe refunds:

    1. Distributor Refunds [sec. 139.36, Wis. Stats.]
      Licensed cigarette distributors may file Form CT-624 to obtain the following refunds:
      • Unsalable cigarettes - If you are a cigarette distributor and return packs of unsalable cigarettes to the manufacturer, you can receive a refund of the Wisconsin stamps tax you paid for the Wisconsin stamps affixed to those packs. You must fill out Wisconsin Form CT-624 and include verification of the returned cigarettes from the manufacturer.
      • Unaffixed stamps - If you are a distributor and are going out of business or selling a business, you may receive a refund of the tax you paid for Wisconsin stamps not affixed to packs of cigarettes. If you are a distributor who no longer sells cigarettes to Indian tribes, you can also receive a refund for unaffixed distinctive stamps. However, we do not issue refunds to distributors who, in error, order too many stamps for current use.
    2. Indian Tribe Refund
      If your Tribe entered into agreements with the State of Wisconsin, your tribe is eligible for two refunds:
      • 30% refund – the Tribal council can receive a 30% refund of the cigarette tax paid for cigarettes sold by authorized retailers to enrolled tribal members living on the reservation or on trust land over which the Tribe has jurisdiction. The land must have been designated a reservation or trust land on or before January 1, 1983, or on a later date as determined by an agreement between DOR and the Tribal council. The Tribe must send the refund claim to DOR at the end of each quarter [sec. 139.325, Wis. Stats., and sec. Tax 9.08, Wis. Admin. Code].
      • 70% refund – your tribal council can receive a 70% refund of the cigarette tax paid on cigarettes, sold by authorized retailers on reservation or trust land, over which your Tribe has jurisdiction. The land must have been designated a reservation or trust land on or before January 1, 1983, or on a later date as determined by an agreement between DOR and the tribal council. You cannot file more than two refund claims (Form CT-001) within a calendar month [sec. 139.323, Wis. Stats., and sec. Tax 9.08, Wis. Adm. Code].
  6. How do I correct a cigarette return that I previously filed?
    • You must electronically file an amended return. You are required to electronically file all cigarette tax reports, returns and amended returns, with us (see question #10).
    • If you are filing an amended cigarette tax return, you must file a true, corrected and complete return. Include all previously reported unchanged transactions.
    • Do not file a return that only reports the changes.
  7. If I file an incorrect cigarette return, will I have to pay interest or penalties?

    Yes. If you file an incorrect cigarette tax return, you will be charged:

    • Unpaid taxes – 12% interest per year [sec. 139.44(9), Wis. Stats.].
    • Refunded taxes - 3% interest per year [sec. 139.44(9), Wis. Stats.].
    • Negligence penalty - 25% of the tax if there was negligence in filing a return [sec. 139.44(12), Wis. Stats.].
  8. Should I notify DOR if the business has a change to its name, address, or ownership or if the business no longer operates in Wisconsin?

    Yes. You must notify us when your business has any change to its name, address, or ownership or when you stop operating in Wisconsin.

    • You can tell us by letter or attach a note to your return.
    • If your name or ownership changes and you receive a different Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), you must file a new application with us and update your security.
    • When you end operations, you must file a cigarette return for the last month (or quarter) of operations even if you were in business only a few days during that period. You must file a report until you have no inventories of cigarettes and/or stamps.
    • If you have any questions about your cigarette tax permit, contact us at (608) 266-6701.
  9. What records should I keep for Wisconsin tax purposes, and how long should I keep them?
    • You must keep a complete copy of your cigarette returns and all records about your business for at least five years so we can determine how you calculated your tax liabilities and MSA requirements [secs. 139.38(1), 139.39(6), and 995.12, Wis. Stats.].
    • Required records include, but are not limited to: purchases, receipts, inventories, sales (whether taxable or exempt), distribution, and consumption of products.
    • You must keep your records organized and in a place available for review by DOR at all reasonable hours, including all business hours.
    • If you do not maintain your records, all the products you purchase or receive are subject to tax without benefit of any deductions.
  10. How can I get additional information or forms about the cigarette tax?

    FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

      Excise Tax Section 6-107
      Wisconsin Department of Revenue
      PO Box 8900
      Madison, WI 53708-8900
      Phone: (608) 266-6701
      Fax: (608) 261-7049
      Email Additional Questions

Last updated July 2, 2013