The State of Washington Sees Tobacco Tax Increases

Cigar smokers in the northwest part of the United States, more specifically Washington, will have to fork over a bit more money when purchasing cigars. Thanks to a tax increase approved last April, House Bill 2493, Washington's cigar tax cap will jump from its current level of 50 cents per cigar up to a maximum level of 65 cents. This fifteen percent increase, while not good news for smokers, is still better than if legislators had approved the proposed increase of $2.52 per stick. If that tax had been accepted, you would be seeing a tax that, by itself, would almost equal the cost of the cigars themselves.

In addition to the cigar tax cap increase, the bill also noted that smaller cigars, or those that specifically contained cellulose acetate integrated filters, would fall under the category of little cigars, and would be subject to the same tax as cigarettes. Bill 2493 also increased the tax rate on packs of cigarettes by one dollar, making the new rate $3.025 per pack. Therefore, smokers who enjoy what are now classified as little cigars can look to be spending $3.025 in taxes on each pack. Luckily, the new tax rates do not go into effect until October 1, 2010, so all you Washington residents have a little time to enjoy cheaper smokes.