Website set up ahead of spike in tobacco tax

TALLAHASSEE­­ -- The 2009 Florida Legislature passed "Protecting Florida's Health Act," which levies a surcharge on both cigarettes and tobacco products, excluding cigars.

The surcharge on both cigarettes and tobacco products will be administered, collected and enforced by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation's Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.

In preparation for the July 1, 2009 effective date, ABT launched a new Web page to help educate cigarette manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers and the public. The new Web page provides helpful information about the new legislation including frequently asked questions, payment options, required documents and much more.

The new surcharge on cigarettes is at the rate of one dollar per standard pack of 20 cigarettes, or five cents per cigarette. The surcharge on other tobacco products is 60 percent of the wholesale sales price. The surcharge on both cigarettes and tobacco products will be administered, collected, and enforced in the same manner as the excise taxes on these products.