Tobacco Luxury Tax FAQs

The information provided below is contained in Luxury Tax Notice 17-03. LTN 17-03 is available in its entirety HERE. The purpose of this webpage is to provide general guidance to assist taxpayers in becoming familiar with Arizona tax laws. Relevant statute, case law or administrative rules, as well as a subsequent notice from the Arizona Department of Revenue, may modify or negate any or all of the information provided on this webpage. In the case of inconsistency or omission, the language of the Arizona Revised Statutes and the Arizona Administrative Code will prevail.

Every distributor acquiring or possessing for the purpose of making the initial sale or distribution in Arizona of any tobacco product with an imposed tax must obtain a license to sell tobacco products from the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR).

A tobacco distributor is any person who manufactures, produces, ships, transports, imports, acquires or possesses for the purpose of making the first sale of the following:

  • Cigarettes without Arizona tax stamps affixed;
  • Roll-your-own tobacco or other tobacco products in which Arizona tobacco taxes have not been paid.

Yes. ADOR is required to publish a list of the names of each person issued a tobacco distributor license.

View the current list.

No. A tobacco product manufacturer is not required to obtain a tobacco distributor license if selling or distributing products directly to an Arizona-licensed tobacco distributor.

Any tobacco product manufacturer, regardless of being located within Arizona, must be licensed by ADOR as a tobacco distributor and pay the applicable tax unless the manufacturer sells or distributes products to an Arizona-licensed distributor.

Applications for a tobacco distributor license must be submitted through Arizona Luxury Tax Online by selecting “New Business Registration” on the main screen. ADOR may not consider applications that do not comply with this requirement.

Yes. A fee of $25 for each place of business included in the license application must be paid by electronic funds transfer through Arizona Luxury Tax Online.

An applicant must include each business location from which it conducts any activity related to the initial sale or distribution of tobacco products in Arizona, regardless of where the business is located. An applicant owning or controlling at least 80 percent of more than one business engaged in the distribution of tobacco products must apply for a single license encompassing all such businesses and list each place of business on the application.

“Additional business locations” are all sites from which a single distributor conducts its distribution business. “Affiliated entities” are separate businesses engaged in tobacco distribution activities owned or controlled (at a threshold of at least 80 percent) by the same person.

No. Although “additional business locations” and “affiliated entities” must be disclosed in a license application, and a $25 application fee paid for each location, these business locations are not separately licensed by the department. However, a copy of the license issued by ADOR must be displayed at each location.

Yes. Tobacco distributor licenses are valid for one year unless revoked by ADOR. Licensed tobacco distributors must renew their licenses annually. Fees are assessed at the time of each renewal consistent with the fees associated with the original application. Licensed tobacco distributors must renew their licenses by accessing their accounts on Arizona Luxury Tax Online and paying all applicable fees.

No. Once a tobacco distributor license has expired, the distributor must cease all operations related to the distribution of tobacco products in Arizona until applying for and receiving a new license from ADOR.

Yes. A.R.S. § 42-3462(B) requires any person who sells, ships or transfers cigarettes or roll-your-own tobacco into Arizona to electronically file a report with ADOR through Arizona Luxury Tax Online.

The department may consider reports filed pursuant to the federal Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act (“PACT Act”) as satisfaction of this statutory requirement when filed electronically.

Compliance with the statute and the federal PACT Act reporting requirement can be achieved by registering for access to Arizona Luxury Tax Online and filing the required report electronically. The report must be filed by the 10th day of the month following any shipment, sale or transfer of cigarettes, roll-your-own or smokeless tobacco into Arizona. Failure to timely comply with the statute may result in the assessment of penalties.

The Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (“PACT”) Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 375, et seq., requires all persons who sell, transfer or ship (or advertise or offer to sell, transfer or ship) cigarettes (including roll-your-own tobacco) or smokeless tobacco in interstate commerce for profit to:

  • Register with the United States’ Attorney General and the tobacco tax administrator of the state into which the shipment, advertisement or offer is made (for Arizona, the administrator is ADOR); and
  • File monthly reports with the tobacco tax administrator, no later than the 10th of each month, identifying the brands, quantities and recipients of cigarette and smokeless tobacco shipments into the state during the previous month.

 

These provisions apply to any individuals meeting the above criteria, including manufacturers, distributors and delivery sellers. The registration statement must include:

  • the registrant's name and trade name, if any;
  • the address of the registrant's principal place of business and of any other place of business;
  • the telephone number for each place of business;
  • a principal electronic mailing address;
  • any website addresses; and                      
  • the name, address, and telephone number of an agent in Arizona authorized to accept service on behalf of the person.

 

The report is due on the 10th day of each month and must include a memorandum or copies of invoices covering each and every shipment made into Arizona during the previous calendar month. The report must provide at least the following information, organized by city or town and by zip code:

  • the name and address of the person to whom the shipment was made;
  • the invoice or memoranda information relating to the specific customer including brand and quantity of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco shipped; and
  • the name, address and phone number of the person delivering the shipment to the recipient on behalf of the delivery seller.

 

In addition to the registration and reporting requirements, the PACT Act requires that each delivery seller comply with “all state, local, tribal and other laws generally applicable to sales of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco as if the delivery sales occurred entirely within the specific state and place, including laws imposing (A) excise taxes; (B) licensing and tax-stamping requirements; (C) restrictions on sales to minors; and (D) other payment obligations or legal requirements relating to the sale, distribution or delivery of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco” (15 U.S.C. § 376a(a)(3)).

Violators of the PACT Act may be subject to criminal and civil penalties.

The PACT Act report may be submitted electronically through Arizona Luxury Tax Online. In order to submit a PACT Act report online, a business owner will first need to register the company and establish an account through Arizona Luxury Tax Online by selecting “New Business Registration” on the main screen.

Yes. Retailers must register with the department if the business sells tobacco products at retail and is located on tribal lands. Once registered, the business will be assigned a retailer identification number to be used by Arizona-licensed tobacco distributors when reporting sales.

Retailers can register retail locations through Arizona Luxury Tax Online by selecting “New Business Registration” on the main screen. They can also register by contacting the Tobacco Tax Unit at (602)716-7808, or by emailing [email protected].

Licensed tobacco distributors are required to electronically submit all documents to ADOR through Arizona Luxury Tax Online. Documents include, but are not limited to, monthly tax returns and reports, license applications and renewals, refund and rebate requests and cigarette stamp orders. ADOR may not consider applications or requests that do not comply with this requirement.

The payment of tobacco taxes, license application fees and cigarette stamp orders must be made by electronic funds transfer (“EFT”) through Arizona Luxury Tax Online.

Any person who ships, sells or transfers cigarettes or roll-your-own tobacco into Arizona is required to electronically file a report with ADOR through Arizona Luxury Tax Online.

To access and use Arizona Luxury Tax Online, businesses must create a logon profile. Detailed instructions on how to create a logon profile are available on ADOR’s website.

Detailed instructions on how to change a password are available on ADOR’s website.

Distributors can access their accounts on Arizona Luxury Tax Online and select any field highlighted in blue. This is a hyperlink to edit those fields. Enter the correct information and click “save.” Licensed distributors are required to update their account information within 30 days of any change to a business address.

Licensed tobacco distributors are required to file a return for each place of business on or before the 20th day of the month following the month reported in the return.

For tobacco products other than cigarettes, each distributor is required to submit the return, together with payment of any tax due, on or before the 20th day of the month following the month in which the tax accrues. Payment must be submitted within 10 calendar days of the due date to avoid penalties and interest.

Yes. Failure to file a tobacco tax return by the statutory deadline will subject those distributors to a penalty under A.R.S. § 42-1125(K).

For distributors of tobacco products other than cigarettes, failure to pay tax due on tobacco products other than cigarettes within 10 days of the statutory deadline will subject distributors to a penalty under A.R.S. § 42-1125(D) and interest pursuant to A.R.S. § 42-3501(D).

To file a tobacco tax return and remit payment of tax, navigate to Arizona Luxury Tax Online and follow these steps:

 

  • Enter your username and password on the main screen.
  • You will receive an authentication code by electronic mail or text. Enter the code on the main screen.
  • Select the account you wish to file a tax return for.
  • Click the “File Now” link for the period for which you want to file the return.
  • You can choose the method by which you would like to file your return. You may upload an Excel file, complete the return manually (enter the data directly into Arizona Luxury Tax Online) or file a return with zero activity. Select the chosen filing method from the drop-down menu on the screen.
  • Follow the instructions on the screen to complete your return and remit payment for any tax due.

 

Detailed instructions on how to upload return information and make an online payment through Arizona Luxury Tax Online are available on the ADOR’s website.

Yes. For each type of OTP (excluding cigars, which are reported as individual units), businesses are required to report the exact number of ounces received or sold. The information must be separated and supported by an invoice. Reported ounces must be exact and may not be rounded.

Generally, the luxury privilege tax (A.R.S. § 42-3052), three Tobacco Taxes for Health Care (A.R.S. §§ 42-3251, 3251.01, 3251.02) and Tobacco Tax for Early Childhood Development and Health (A.R.S. § 42-3371) are applicable to all tobacco sales occurring off of tribal lands and those made on tribal lands between retailers and purchasers not enrolled as members of that tribe.

The current combined tax rate on cigarettes is $0.10 per cigarette ($2.00 per pack of 20 cigarettes and $2.50 per pack of 25 cigarettes).

The current combined tax rates for other tobacco products (“OTP”) are as follows:

  • Small cigars (weighing not more than three pounds per 1,000 cigars) - $0.441 per 20 cigars.
  • Cigars retailing at more than $0.05 each - $0.218 per cigar.
  • Cigars retailing at not more than $0.05 each - $0.218 per 3.
  • Smoking tobacco, snuff, fine cut chewing, etc. - $0.223 per ounce.
  • Cavendish, plug or twist - $0.055 per ounce.

 

The Indian Reservation Tobacco Tax (A.R.S. § 42-3302) is applicable to tobacco sales made by a retail business owned and operated either by a tribe on whose reservation the retail sale takes place, or a member of that tribe, to purchasers not enrolled as members of that tribe.

 

The current tax rate on cigarettes subject to the Indian Reservation Tobacco Tax is $0.05 per cigarette ($1.00 per pack of 20 cigarettes and $1.25 per pack of 25 cigarettes).

The current tax rates for other tobacco products (“OTP”) subject to the Indian Reservation Tobacco Tax are as follows:

  • Small cigars (weighing not more than three pounds per 1,000 cigars) - $0.223 per 20 cigars.
  • Cigars retailing at more than $0.05 each - $0.11 per cigar.
  • Cigars retailing at not more than $0.05 each - $0.11 per 3.
  • Smoking tobacco, snuff, fine cut chewing, etc. - $0.113 per ounce.
  • Cavendish, plug or twist - $0.028 per ounce.

Licensed tobacco distributors pay tax on cigarettes through the purchase of tax stamps from ADOR. These stamps are then affixed to packs of cigarettes intended for sale in Arizona. An affixed stamp is evidence that taxes have been paid on that product (or pre-collected in the case of the Indian Reservation Tobacco Tax).

Arizona cigarette stamps are available in four colors. The color of the stamp reflects the classification of tax paid or collected. The color legend includes:

  • Blue stamps that represent the payment of the combined tax rate for general sales.
  • Red stamps that represent the pre-collection of the Indian Reservation Tobacco Tax.
  • Yellow stamps that represent sales to enrolled members of a tribe exempt from state taxation but subject to tribal tobacco tax.
  • Green stamps that represent sales to enrolled members of a tribe exempt from state and tribal tobacco taxation.

For more information on tobacco tax rates and the various types of tobacco tax stamps issued by ADOR, please see Publication 541 available on the department’s website.

Only Arizona-licensed distributors may purchase, possess or affix cigarette tax stamps. Licensed distributors must purchase tobacco tax stamps through Arizona Luxury Tax Online. Detailed instructions on how to place a stamp order through Arizona Luxury Tax Online are available on the ADOR’s website.

“Affixed stamps” references tobacco tax stamps that have been placed on a pack of cigarettes. “Unaffixed stamps” references tobacco tax stamps not yet removed from the original roll as issued by ADOR.

No. Distributors may not sell or provide tobacco tax stamps to any other distributor or person.

Direct Deposit information is stored in the Account Manager user profile under My Accounts.

Requests for rebates of taxes paid on tobacco products sold by retailers located on reservation lands must be submitted electronically through Arizona Luxury Tax Online. ADOR may not consider requests that do not comply with this requirement.

Licensed distributors are required to establish entitlement to a rebate by providing a report executed by the retailer that purchased the tobacco products upon which the request is based. ADOR has issued Arizona Form 845-CIG and Arizona Form 845-OTP to facilitate compliance with this requirement.

In the event the retailer is uncooperative or has gone out of business, a licensed distributor may request authorization to submit proof other than the required retailer report by completing Arizona Form 850 and submitting the form to ADOR. For more information on this requirement, please see Luxury Tax Procedure 15-3.

Licensed distributors may request a refund for cigarette tax stamps or taxes paid on other tobacco products exported from the state, have become unfit for sale due to breakage or spoilage, or have been returned to the manufacturer. Distributors are required to provide proof to ADOR to establish entitlement to the refund. The department will not refund tax for cigarette tax stamps affixed to articles deemed as contraband under A.R.S. Title 42, Chapter 3.

Requests for a refund of tobacco taxes paid on cigarettes and other tobacco products must be submitted electronically through Arizona Luxury Tax Online. The required proof must be uploaded with the online request. ADOR may not consider requests that do not comply with this requirement.

Yes. Samples of cigarettes packaged in quantities of 20 or 25 can lawfully be distributed in Arizona, provided that an Arizona-licensed distributor has reported and affixed the proper Arizona tax stamps to the packs. Samples of tobacco products other than cigarettes can be lawfully distributed in Arizona, provided that an Arizona-licensed distributor first receives the samples, timely reports them to ADOR and remits payment of all applicable state tobacco taxes.

For more information on the treatment of samples of cigarettes and other tobacco products in Arizona, please see Arizona Luxury Tax Notice 15-4 available on the ADOR’s website.

No. With limited exceptions for licensed tobacco distributors, no person may sell, transfer or otherwise distribute tobacco products from a vehicle. Licensed tobacco distributors are prohibited from holding or storing tobacco products in a vehicle for purposes of sale or distribution.

No. Licensed distributors may not store tobacco products for sale or distribution in Arizona at a residential location.

Arizona Luxury Tax Online Direct Deposit information is available on this page.

Retailers may visit the following online resources for additional information regarding tobacco tax in Arizona:

You may contact the Tobacco Tax Unit by calling (602) 716-7808 or by sending questions by email to [email protected].

For general information, please refer to Publication 541, available on ADOR’s website.