Virginia Law

As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly shows otherwise, the term or phrase:

"Authorized holder" means (i) a manufacturer; (ii) a wholesale dealer who is not duly qualified as a wholesale dealer stamping agent, but who possesses, or whose affiliate possesses, a valid cigarette exemption certificate issued pursuant to § 58.1-623.2; (iii) a stamping agent; (iv) a retail dealer who possesses, or whose affiliate possesses, a valid cigarette exemption certificate issued pursuant to § 58.1-623.2; (v) an exclusive distributor; (vi) an officer, employee, or other agent of the United States or a state, or any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States, a state, or a political subdivision of a state, having possession of cigarettes in connection with the performance of official duties; (vii) a person properly holding cigarettes that do not require stamps or tax payment pursuant to § 58.1-1010; or (viii) a common or contract carrier transporting cigarettes under a proper bill of lading or other documentation indicating the true name and address of the consignor or seller and the consignee or purchaser of the brands and the quantities being transported. Any person convicted of (a) any criminal offense under this chapter; (b) any offense involving the forgery of any documents, forms, invoices, or receipts related to the purchase or sale of cigarettes or the purchase or sale of tobacco products as defined in § 58.1-1021.01; (c) any offense involving evasion or failure to pay a cigarette or tobacco product excise tax; or (d) any similar violation of an ordinance of any county, city, or town in the Commonwealth or the laws of any other state or of the United States is ineligible to be an authorized holder. For the purposes of this definition, "affiliate" means any entity that is a member of the same affiliated group, as such term is defined in § 58.1-3700.1.

"Carton" means 10 packs of cigarettes, each containing 20 cigarettes or eight packs, each containing 25 cigarettes.

"Cigarette" means any product that contains nicotine, is intended to be burned or heated under ordinary conditions of use, and consists of or contains (i) any roll of tobacco wrapped in paper or in any substance not containing tobacco; (ii) tobacco, in any form, that is functional in the product, which, because of its appearance, the type of tobacco used in the filler, or its packaging and labeling, is likely to be offered to, or purchased by, consumers as a cigarette; or (iii) any roll of tobacco wrapped in any substance containing tobacco which, because of its appearance, the type of tobacco used in the filler, or its packaging and labeling, is likely to be offered to, or purchased by, consumers as a cigarette described in clause (i) of this definition. The term "cigarette" includes "roll-your-own" tobacco, which means any tobacco which, because of its appearance, type, packaging, or labeling, is suitable for use and likely to be offered to, or purchased by, consumers as tobacco for making cigarettes. For purposes of this definition of "cigarette," 0.09 ounces of "roll-your-own" tobacco shall constitute one individual "cigarette."

"Cigarette intended to be heated" means a cigarette containing tobacco that produces an inhalable aerosol (i) by heating the tobacco by means of an electronic device without combustion of the tobacco or (ii) by heat generated from a combustion source that only or primarily heats rather than burns the tobacco.

"Exclusive distributor" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership with its principal place of business in the Commonwealth that has the sole and exclusive rights to sell to wholesale dealers in the Commonwealth a brand family of cigarettes manufactured by a tobacco product manufacturer as defined in § 3.2-4200.

"Manufacturer" means any tobacco product manufacturer as defined in § 3.2-4200.

"Pack" means a package containing either 20 or 25 cigarettes.

"Retail dealer" includes every person other than a wholesale dealer, as defined in this section, who sells or offers for sale any cigarettes and who is properly registered as a retail trade with the Commonwealth in accordance with the Virginia Department of Taxation Business Registration Application (Form R-1).

"Retail sale" or "sale at retail" includes all sales except sales by wholesale dealers to retail dealers or other wholesale dealers for resale.

"Stamping agent" has the same meaning as provided in § 3.2-4204. For the purposes of provisions relating to "roll-your-own" tobacco, "stamping agent" includes "distributor" as that term is defined in § 58.1-1021.01.

"Stamps" means the stamp or stamps by the use of which the tax levied under this chapter is paid and shall be officially designated as Virginia revenue stamps. The Department is hereby authorized to provide for the use of any type of stamp that will effectuate the purposes of this chapter, including but not limited to decalcomania and metering devices.

"Storage" means any keeping or retention in the Commonwealth of cigarettes for any purpose except sale in the regular course of business or subsequent use solely outside the Commonwealth.

"Tax-paid cigarettes" means cigarettes that (i) bear valid Virginia stamps to evidence payment of excise taxes or (ii) were purchased outside of the Commonwealth and either (a) bear a valid tax stamp for the state in which the cigarettes were purchased or (b) when no tax stamp is required by the state, proper evidence can be provided to establish that applicable excise taxes have been paid.

"Use" means the exercise of any right or power over cigarettes incident to the ownership thereof or by any transaction where possession is given, except that it does not include the sale of cigarettes in the regular course of business.

"Wholesale dealer" includes persons who are properly registered as tobacco product merchant wholesalers with the Commonwealth in accordance with the Virginia Department of Taxation Business Registration Application (Form R-1) and who (i) sell cigarettes at wholesale only to retail dealers for the purpose of resale only or (ii) sell at wholesale to institutional, commercial, or industrial users. "Wholesale dealer" also includes chain store distribution centers or houses that distribute cigarettes to their stores for sale at retail.

Code 1950, §§ 58-757.10, 58-757.18; 1960, c. 392, §§ 10, 18; 1984, c. 675; 2004, c. 1029; 2005, cc. 28, 856; 2006, c. 768; 2012, cc. 362, 472; 2014, cc. 422, 457; 2015, cc. 738, 754; 2017, cc. 112, 453; 2019, c. 790; 2024, c. 611.

A. 1. Except as provided in subdivision 2 or subsection B, in addition to all other taxes now imposed by law, every person within the Commonwealth who sells, stores, or receives cigarettes made of tobacco or any substitute thereof, for the purpose of distribution to any person within the Commonwealth, shall pay to the Commonwealth an excise tax of one and one-quarter mills on each such cigarette sold, stored, or received before August 1, 2004; an excise tax of one cent on each such cigarette sold, stored, or received on and after August 1, 2004, through midnight on June 30, 2005; an excise tax of 1.5 cents on each such cigarette sold, stored, or received on and after July 1, 2005, but before July 1, 2020; and an excise tax of three cents on each cigarette sold, stored, or received on and after July 1, 2020.

2. In addition to all other taxes now imposed by law, every person within the Commonwealth who sells, stores, or receives cigarettes intended to be heated for the purpose of distribution to any person within the Commonwealth shall pay to the Commonwealth an excise tax at the rate of 2.25 cents per stick on each such cigarette intended to be heated that is sold, stored, or received on and after July 1, 2024.

B. In addition to all other taxes now imposed by law, every person within the Commonwealth who sells, stores, or receives roll-your-own tobacco, for the purpose of distribution within the Commonwealth, shall pay to the Commonwealth a cigarette excise tax at the rate of 10 percent of the manufacturer's sales price of such roll-your-own tobacco.

C. The revenues generated by the taxes imposed under this section on and after August 1, 2004, shall be collected by the Department and deposited into the Virginia Health Care Fund established under § 32.1-366.

D. The provisions of this section shall not apply to members of federal, state, county, city, or town law-enforcement agencies when possession of unstamped cigarettes is necessary in the performance of investigatory duties.

Code 1950, § 58-757.1; 1960, c. 392, § 1; 1980, c. 633; 1984, c. 675; 2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3; 2006, c. 768; 2014, cc. 422, 458; 2024, c. 611.

The tax levied shall not apply to free distribution of sample cigarettes in packages containing five or fewer cigarettes or to any package of cigarettes customarily donated free of charge by manufacturers of cigarettes to employees in factories where cigarettes are manufactured in this Commonwealth, when such packages of cigarettes are not taxed by the federal government.

Code 1950, § 58-757.1; 1960, c. 392, § 1; 1980, c. 633; 1984, c. 675.

A. Except as otherwise specifically provided pursuant to § 58.1-1003.2, the taxes imposed by this chapter shall be paid by affixing stamps equaling the amount of the tax in the manner set forth. The stamps shall be affixed to each individual package, bag, box or can in such a manner that their removal will require continued application of water or steam. Every stamping agent in the Commonwealth shall affix to any unstamped cigarettes the requisite denominations and amount of stamp or stamps that represent the proper tax levied by this chapter prior to shipping to other wholesale dealers or retail outlets.

B. Every wholesale dealer shall at the time of shipping or delivering any cigarettes make and retain a true duplicate invoice of the same which shall show full and complete details of the sale or delivery of the taxable article. All stamping agents shall also keep a record of purchases of all cigarettes, and retain all books, records, and memoranda pertaining to the purchase and sale of such cigarettes for a period of five years, and such records shall be subject to examination by the Department upon request.

C. Every stamping agent shall be required to file a report between the first and twentieth of each month, covering all revenue stamps the stamping agent affixed to cigarettes during the preceding month. The report shall (i) list all brands of cigarettes to which the Virginia revenue stamp was affixed and the quantity, measured in packs, of all such brands to which the Virginia revenue stamp was affixed; (ii) list the name and address of both the manufacturer of the cigarettes and the entity from which the cigarettes were obtained; and (iii) include the required documentation for and detail the amount and source of any bad debt deductions being taken pursuant to § 58.1-1003.1. The Department may allow such reports to be filed electronically.

D. 1. For the purpose of compensating stamping agents for accounting for the tax imposed under this article on roll-your-own tobacco, such stamping agents shall be allowed when filing a monthly return and paying the tax to deduct 2 percent of the tax otherwise due if the amount due was not delinquent at the time of payment.

2. The Tax Commissioner shall prepare for each fiscal year an estimate of the total amount of all discounts allowed to stamping agents pursuant to this subsection and such amount shall be taken into consideration in preparing the official estimate of the total revenues to be collected during the fiscal year by the Virginia Health Care Fund established under § 32.1-366. Any reduction in funding available for programs financed by the Virginia Health Care Fund as a result of such discounts shall be made up by the general fund.

E. Any stamping agent who fails or refuses to comply with any of the above provisions shall have such agent's permit to affix revenue stamps revoked by the Commissioner. Additionally, a stamping agent may be subject to a civil penalty of $500 for each day after the due date that an agent fails or refuses to file a report required under subsection C. The penalty shall be assessed and collected by the Department as other taxes are collected.

Code 1950, §§ 58-757.1, 58-757.2; 1960, c. 392, §§ 1, 2; 1962, c. 473; 1980, c. 633; 1984, c. 675; 2004, c. 1029; 2005, c. 28; 2006, cc. 64, 229, 768; 2010, c. 701; 2013, c. 381.

A. Any stamping agent may deduct the amount of bad debts from the tax imposed by this chapter. The amount deducted shall be charged off as uncollectible on the books of the stamping agent. If a person pays all or part of a bad debt that a stamping agent claimed as a deduction under this section, the stamping agent shall be liable for the amount of taxes deducted in connection with that portion of the debt for which payment is received and shall remit these taxes together with its next report to the Department pursuant to subsection C of § 58.1-1003.

B. Any claim for a bad debt deduction under this section shall be supported by all of the following:

1. A copy of the original invoice;

2. Evidence that the cigarettes described in the invoice were delivered to the person who ordered them; and

3. Evidence that the person who ordered and received the cigarettes did not pay the stamping agent for the cigarettes and that the stamping agent used reasonable collection practices in attempting to collect the debt.

C. As used in this section, "bad debt" means the taxes under this chapter attributable to any portion of a debt that is related to a sale of cigarettes subject to tax under this chapter that is not otherwise deductible or excludable, that has become worthless or uncollectible in the time period between the date when taxes accrue to the Department for the stamping agents' preceding tax return and the date when taxes accrue to the Department for the present return, and that is eligible to be claimed, or could be eligible to be claimed if the stamping agent kept accounts on an accrual basis, as a deduction pursuant to § 166 of the Internal Revenue Code. A bad debt shall not include (i) any interest on the wholesale price of cigarettes, (ii) uncollectible amounts on property that remains in the possession of the stamping agent until the full purchase price is paid, (iii) expenses incurred in attempting to collect any account receivable or any portion of the debt recovered, (iv) any accounts receivable that have been sold to a third party for collection, and (v) repossessed property.

2006, cc. 64, 229.

A. The taxes imposed by subsection B of § 58.1-1001 shall be paid by the stamping agent at the time he files the return required pursuant to this section. Upon payment of the tax and production and transmission of the documentation required by this section, the subject roll-your-own tobacco shall be deemed to bear the Virginia revenue stamp otherwise required by this article.

B. Unless specifically provided otherwise in this section, the requirements for paying tax and filing returns relating to roll-your-own tobacco with the Department shall be as provided in Article 2.1 (§ 58.1-1021.01 et seq.) of this chapter.

C. Any manufacturer of roll-your-own tobacco who ships, delivers, or otherwise causes roll-your-own tobacco to be transported to a wholesale dealer, retail dealer, or stamping agent located within the Commonwealth shall include on an invoice accompanying each such shipment a listing of all roll-your-own tobacco included in the shipment by manufacturer, brand family, and brand style and the total weight in ounces of each such brand style. The manufacturer shall also include on the invoice the manufacturer's sales price, as that term is defined in § 58.1-1021.01, for all roll-your-own tobacco included in the shipment by manufacturer, brand family, and brand style.

D. Any stamping agent who pays the cigarette excise tax imposed by this article on roll-your-own tobacco shall include, on an invoice accompanying each shipment he initiates that includes roll-your-own tobacco, a listing of all roll-your-own tobacco included in the shipment by manufacturer, brand family, and brand style and the total weight in ounces of each such brand style. In addition, the stamping agent shall note on each such invoice that he has paid or will pay the cigarette excise tax imposed by this article. An invoice prepared in accordance with this subsection shall be deemed the cigarette revenue stamp otherwise required by this article. Any wholesaler, distributor, or entity of any kind that subsequently ships the roll-your-own tobacco, or some portion of it, shall (i) cause a copy of the invoice to accompany such subsequent shipment, and (ii) indicate on an invoice prepared by the subsequent shipper any changes in quantity from that reflected in the initial invoice.

2006, c. 768.

Any person who maintains, operates, or rents a machine at a retail establishment for use by a consumer that enables any person to process at the establishment a product that is made or derived from tobacco into a roll or tube shall be deemed to be a manufacturer of cigarettes, and the resulting product produced at such establishment shall be deemed to be manufactured cigarettes sold to a consumer for purposes of this title, Chapter 42 (§ 3.2-4200 et seq.) of Title 3.2, and Chapter 2.1 (§ 9.1-209 et seq.) of Title 9.1. A retail establishment may purchase tobacco that has not been subject to tax pursuant to this title or the requirements of Chapter 42 of Title 3.2, provided that (i) such tobacco may only be sold to consumers for the purpose of making cigarettes on the machines described herein in the establishment, (ii) the retail establishment pays the taxes due on such cigarettes pursuant to this title, and (iii) the retail establishment maintains compliance with the requirements of Chapter 42 of Title 3.2 with respect to such cigarettes. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the sale and use of cigarette rolling machines purchased for personal use by an individual consumer to make cigarettes for personal consumption and not for rental or use by other consumers.

2012, cc. 48, 68; 2014, cc. 370, 418.

Repealed by Acts 2004, c. 1029.

The Department shall provide by rules and regulations forms and kinds of containers, the methods of breaking packages and methods of affixing stamps that shall be employed by persons subject to the cigarette tax, thereby making possible the enforcement of payment of the cigarette tax by inspection. Any person subject to this tax engaging in or permitting such practices as are prohibited by rules and regulations of the Department or any person who upon demand of the Department or any of its officers or agents refuses to allow full inspection of the premises or any part thereof, or in any way interferes with any agent of the Department in the performance of his duties in enforcing this chapter, shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Further, a stamping agent shall have such agent's stamping permit suspended and be subject to a penalty of $1,000 for each day the stamping agent engages in or permits practices that are prohibited by rules and regulations of the Department or refuses to allow full inspection of the premises or any part thereof, or in any way interferes with any agent of the Department in the performance of his duties in enforcing this chapter. Such penalty shall be assessed and collected by the Department as other taxes are collected.

Code 1950, § 58-757.5; 1960, c. 392, § 5; 1984, c. 675; 2005, c. 28.

It shall be the duty of every person receiving, storing, selling, handling or transporting cigarettes in any manner whatsoever, to preserve all invoices, books, papers, cancelled checks, or other documents relating to the purchase, sale, exchange, receipt or transportation of all cigarettes for a period of three years. All such invoices, books, papers, cancelled checks or other memoranda and records shall be subject to audit and inspection at all times by any duly authorized representative of the Department, the Office of the Attorney General, or the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control or by a local cigarette tax administrative or enforcement official. Any person who fails or refuses to keep and preserve the records as required in this section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Any person who, upon request by a duly authorized agent who is entitled to audit and inspect such records, fails or refuses to allow an audit or inspection of records as provided in this section shall have his stamping permit suspended until such time as the audit or inspection is allowed. The Department may impose a penalty of $1,000 for each day that the person fails or refuses to allow an audit or inspection of the records. The penalty shall be assessed and collected by the Department as other taxes are collected.

Code 1950, §§ 58-757.4, 58-757.6; 1960, c. 392, §§ 4, 6; 1984, c. 675; 2005, c. 28; 2015, cc. 738, 754.

In addition to the reporting requirements imposed by § 58.1-1003, every stamping agent qualifying as such with the Department shall be required to file a report between the first and twentieth of each month, covering the purchase or receipt by them of all cigarettes during the preceding month. The report shall give in detail the different kinds and quantities of cigarettes so purchased or received by them during the preceding month. The report shall also list all orders for cigarettes purchased through such wholesale dealer from without this Commonwealth on a drop shipment and consigned direct to the person ordering such cigarettes through such stamping agent. The Department may allow such reports to be filed electronically. If, upon examination of invoices of any stamping agent, such agent is unable to furnish evidence to the Department of sufficient stamp purchases to cover unstamped cigarettes purchased by him, the prima facie presumption shall arise that such cigarettes were sold without the proper stamps affixed thereto in violation of § 58.1-1003. The Department may impose a penalty of $250, to be assessed and collected by the Department as other taxes are collected, on any stamping agent for each failure or refusal to file the report, or portion thereof, required by this section or by § 3.2-4209 in the manner and time allowed. The Department may revoke a stamping permit for up to one year if the stamping agent fails to file more than one of the required reports in a timely manner in any calendar year. After such time, the stamping agent must reapply to the Department for a stamping permit. The Department may also impose a penalty, to be assessed and collected by the Department as other taxes are collected, of $250 per pack of cigarettes on any person found to be selling cigarettes in Virginia after his stamping permit has been revoked. Each pack of cigarettes sold shall be considered a separate offense. Where willful intent exists, as defined in § 58.1-1013, the penalty shall be $2,500 per pack.

Code 1950, §§ 58-757.2, 58-757.7; 1960, c. 392, §§ 2, 7; 1962, c. 473; 1984, c. 675; 1992, c. 763; 2005, c. 28; 2013, c. 381.

Every manufacturer producing cigarettes in or shipping cigarettes into or within the Commonwealth shall file a report with the Department between the first and tenth day of each month identifying all purchasers of cigarettes by name and address with the quantities and brands of cigarettes purchased during the preceding month, and shall provide any other information the Department deems appropriate for the administration of this title or Article 1 (§ 3.2-4200 et seq.) of Chapter 42 of Title 3.2. The Department may allow such reports to be filed electronically. The Department shall have the power to enter upon the premises of any such manufacturer during its regular business hours to examine or cause to be examined, by any agent or representative designated by the Department for that purpose, any books, papers, records, invoices, or memoranda, etc., relating to (i) the information required in such report, or (ii) the manufacturer's compliance with this section.

Any manufacturer subject to the provisions of this section who fails or refuses to file the report required by this section, or who upon request by a duly authorized agent or representative of the Department fails or refuses to allow an audit or inspection of records as provided herein, is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. In addition, the Department may impose a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 against any manufacturer subject to the provisions of this section for such failure or refusal. Each failure or refusal shall constitute a separate violation.

For the purposes of this section:

"Manufacturer" means tobacco product manufacturer, as that term is defined in § 3.2-4200.

"Purchasers" means any person or persons purchasing or receiving cigarettes for resale, including wholesalers and retailers, or any other person or persons purchasing cigarettes directly from a manufacturer within the Commonwealth.

2002, cc. 683, 722; 2013, c. 381.

Any tobacco product manufacturer, stamping agent, or importer of cigarettes, or any officer, employee, or agent of any such entity, who knowingly and with the intent to defraud, mislead, or deceive makes any materially false statement in any record required by this article or Article 2.1 (§ 58.1-1021.01 et seq.) of this chapter to be kept, or in any report or return required by this article or Article 2.1 of this chapter to be filed with the Department is guilty of a violation of § 18.2-498.3. Each record kept and each report or return filed containing one or more false statements shall constitute a separate offense.

2009, c. 847.

A. The Department is hereby authorized and directed to have prepared and to sell stamps suitable for denoting the tax on all cigarettes. The Department shall design, adopt and promulgate the form and kind of stamps to be used and may allow for electronic purchase and payment when selling such stamps. Stamps so adopted and promulgated shall be known as and termed "Virginia revenue stamps," and in any information or indictment, it shall be sufficient to describe the stamps as "Virginia revenue stamps."

Any person other than the Department who sells such revenue stamps, not affixed to cigarettes sold and delivered by them, whether the said stamps be genuine or counterfeit, shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. Any person who purchases revenue stamps from anyone other than the Department, unless such stamps are already affixed to cigarettes being purchased by and delivered to him, or who uses or affixes, or causes to be used or affixed, any revenue stamps not purchased from the Department by the owner of the cigarettes being handled or stamped, whether such stamps are genuine or counterfeit, shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. When stamping agents have qualified as such with the Department, as provided in § 58.1-1011, and purchase stamps as prescribed herein for use on taxable cigarettes sold and delivered by them, the Department shall allow to each stamping agent on such sales of revenue stamps a discount equal to two percent of the total charged to the stamping agent by the Department for the purchase of the revenue stamps. The Tax Commissioner shall prepare for each fiscal year an estimate of the total amount of all discounts allowed to stamping agents pursuant to this subsection and such amount shall be taken into consideration in preparing the official estimate of the total revenues to be collected during the fiscal year by the Virginia Health Care Fund established under § 32.1-366. Any reduction in funding available for programs financed by the Virginia Health Care Fund as a result of such discounts shall be made up by the general fund.

All stamps prescribed by the Department shall be designed and furnished in such a fashion as to permit identification of the wholesale dealer or retail dealer that affixed the stamp to the particular package of cigarettes, by means of a serial number or other mark on the stamp. The Department shall maintain for not less than three years information identifying which wholesale dealer or retail dealer affixed the revenue stamp to each package of cigarettes.

B. 1. The Department shall provide Virginia revenue stamps to certain wholesale dealers holding a current permit issued pursuant to § 58.1-1011 prior to collecting the tax imposed under this chapter from such wholesale dealer. Such wholesale dealers shall be allowed to obtain the stamps from the Department without concurrent payment of the tax only if the conditions of this subsection are satisfied.

In order to obtain Virginia revenue stamps without concurrent payment of the tax imposed under this chapter, a wholesale dealer shall (i) file a bond with a corporate surety licensed to do business in Virginia, or (ii) file an irrevocable letter of credit satisfactory to the Tax Commissioner as to the bank or savings institution, the form and substance, and payable to the Commonwealth in a face amount determined by the Tax Commissioner to be satisfactory to cover possible losses resulting from the failure to remit taxes due but not exceeding two times the anticipated average monthly amount in purchases of Virginia revenue stamps by the wholesale dealer as determined by the Commissioner. The letter of credit shall be from a bank incorporated or authorized to conduct banking business under the laws of the Commonwealth or authorized to do business in the Commonwealth under the banking laws of the United States, or a federally insured savings institution located in the Commonwealth. Such bond or irrevocable letter of credit shall be conditioned upon payment of the tax imposed by this chapter relating to Virginia revenue stamps obtained by the wholesale dealer from the Department (without concurrent payment of the tax) for which such tax, net of any applicable discount described in subsection A, shall be paid within the 30 days immediately following the date that the related revenue stamp or stamps were provided by the Department to such wholesale dealer. Any such bond shall be so written that, on timely payment of the premium thereon, it shall continue in force from year to year unless sooner terminated.

2. Any surety on a bond filed by any wholesale dealer shall be released and discharged from any and all liability to the Commonwealth accruing on such bond after the expiration of 60 days from the date upon which such surety shall have lodged with the Commissioner written request to be released and discharged. But such request shall not operate to relieve, release or discharge such surety from any liability already accrued or which shall accrue before the expiration of such 60-day period. The Commissioner shall, promptly on receipt of such notice, notify the wholesale dealer who furnished such bond. Unless such dealer on or before the expiration of such 60 days' notice files with the Commissioner a new bond or letter of credit that meets all the conditions described in subdivision 1, the Commissioner shall forthwith require the wholesale dealer to pay the tax imposed under this chapter concurrent with obtaining revenue stamps from the Department.

In the event that liability upon the bond or letter of credit filed by the wholesale dealer with the Commissioner shall be discharged or reduced, whether by judgment rendered, payment made or otherwise, or if in the opinion of the Commissioner any surety on the bond becomes unsatisfactory or unacceptable, then the Commissioner may require the filing of a new bond or letter of credit. Unless such new bond or letter of credit meets all the conditions described in subdivision 1, the Commissioner shall forthwith require the wholesale dealer to pay the tax imposed under this chapter concurrent with obtaining revenue stamps from the Department.

3. Notwithstanding any other provision in this subsection, the Tax Commissioner, for good cause, shall require a wholesale dealer to pay the tax imposed under this chapter concurrent with obtaining revenue stamps from the Department, regardless of whether or not such dealer has filed or agreed to file the bond or letter of credit described in this subsection.

C. In addition to any other penalties provided by law, the Department may revoke the permit issued, in accordance with § 58.1-1011, to any person who violates any provision of this section.

Code 1950, §§ 58-757.8, 58-757.10; 1960, c. 392, §§ 8, 10; 1973, c. 3; 1984, c. 675; 2000, cc. 880, 901; 2002, cc. 683, 722, 821; 2004, c. 1029; 2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3; 2005, c. 925; 2013, cc. 311, 381, 389.

A. A wholesale dealer who is duly qualified as a wholesale dealer stamping agent under § 58.1-1011 may sell cigarettes without the Virginia revenue stamps affixed thereto, provided such cigarettes are sold and shipped or delivered in interstate commerce to a person outside this Commonwealth. Such wholesale dealer shall have on file a record of such sale, the original purchase order, a copy of the invoice therefor, and a receipt from a common carrier, contract carrier, or post office showing shipment for delivery in such other state, or, if delivered by such wholesale dealer to the purchaser at a point outside of this Commonwealth, a receipt showing such delivery in addition to the record, original purchase order and copy of the invoice relating to such sale.

B. Such duly qualified wholesale dealer may sell cigarettes without the Virginia revenue stamps affixed thereto, provided:

1. Such cigarettes are sold to a person who is engaged in business as a dealer in cigarettes in another state;

2. Such cigarettes are purchased exclusively for resale in the other state; and

3. Such cigarettes are at the time of sale properly stamped by the Virginia wholesale dealer with revenue stamps authorized and issued by the other state for use upon such cigarettes. A wholesale dealer shall have on file a record of each such sale, the original purchase order, a copy of the invoice therefor, a receipt from the purchaser showing that such purchase was made exclusively for resale in the other state, and a record showing the purchase and use of such revenue stamps of the other state, and shall set forth in his or its monthly report to the Department the quantity of cigarettes, measured in packs, so set aside for sale outside of the Commonwealth. If upon examination of invoices of any wholesale dealer, such dealer is unable to furnish evidence to the Department of sufficient stamp purchases from such other state to cover unstamped cigarettes set aside for sale in such other state, the prima facie presumption shall arise that such cigarettes were sold without the proper stamps affixed thereto in violation of § 58.1-1003.

C. Cigarettes may be sold by duly qualified wholesale dealers, without revenue stamps affixed thereto, when sold to the United States or to any instrumentality thereof for resale to or for the use or consumption by members of the armed services of the United States, or when sold to the Veterans Canteen Service of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for resale to veterans of the armed services of the United States who are hospitalized or domiciled in hospitals and homes of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, provided the books and records, including original purchase orders and copies of invoices showing such sales, are kept on file and shall set forth in his or its monthly report to the Department the quantity of cigarettes, measured in packs, so sold.

D. Cigarettes may be sold by duly qualified wholesale dealers, without revenue stamps affixed thereto, when sold and delivered to ships regularly engaged in foreign commerce or coastwise shipping between points in this Commonwealth and points outside of this Commonwealth for resale to or for use or consumption upon such ship or in foreign commerce.

E. The Department is authorized to adopt rules and regulations with respect to the enforcement of the provisions of this section to prevent any evasion of the tax herein imposed.

A failure to comply with any provision of this section with respect to any sale of unstamped cigarettes shall subject the wholesale dealer to the payment of the tax thereon imposed by this chapter. The Department may impose a penalty, to be assessed and collected by the Department as other taxes are collected, of up to $500 per pack of cigarettes on any stamping agent it finds not in compliance with any provision of this section with respect to the sale of unstamped cigarettes. The Department may also suspend the stamping permit of such stamping agent until the tax and penalties have been paid to the Department. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Code 1950, § 58-757.9; 1960, c. 392, § 9; 1962, c. 473; 1984, c. 675; 2004, c. 1029; 2005, c. 28.

A. Only manufacturers, wholesale dealers and retail dealers may be permitted as stamping agents. It shall be unlawful for any person to purchase, possess or affix Virginia revenue stamps without first obtaining a permit to do so from the Department. Every manufacturer, wholesale dealer or retail dealer who desires to qualify as a stamping agent with the Department shall make application to the Department on forms prescribed for this purpose, which shall be supplied upon request. The application forms will require such information relative to the nature of business engaged in by the applicant as the Department deems necessary to the qualifying of the applicant as a stamping agent. The Department shall conduct a background investigation, to include a Virginia Criminal History Records search, and fingerprints of the applicant, or its responsible principals, managers, and other persons engaged in handling and stamping cigarettes at the licensable locations, that shall be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation if the Department determines a National Criminal Records search is necessary, on applicants for licensure as cigarette tax stamping agents. The Department may refuse to issue a stamping permit or may suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a stamping permit issued to any person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or business trust, if it determines that any principal, manager, or other persons engaged in handling and stamping cigarettes at the licensable location of the applicant has been (i) found guilty of any fraud or misrepresentation in any connection, (ii) convicted of robbery, extortion, burglary, larceny, embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, gambling, perjury, bribery, treason, or racketeering, or (iii) convicted of a felony. Anyone who knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals or misrepresents a material fact or knowingly and willfully makes a false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or representation in any application for a stamping permit to the Department is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The Department may establish an application or renewal fee not to exceed $750 to be retained by the Department to be applied to the administrative and other costs of processing stamping agent applications, conducting background investigations and issuing stamping permits. Any application or renewal fees collected pursuant to this section in excess of such costs as of June 30 in even-numbered years shall be reported to the State Treasurer and deposited into the state treasury. If the Department after review of his application believes the manufacturer, wholesale dealer or retail dealer is qualified, the Department shall issue to the applicant a permit qualifying him as a stamping agent, as defined in this chapter, and he shall be allowed the discount on purchases of Virginia revenue stamps as set out herein for stamping agents purchasing stamps for their individual use. Such stamping agent shall be authorized to affix Virginia revenue stamps, and in addition, if the applicant qualifies as a wholesale dealer, that shall be so noted on the permit issued by the Department. Permits issued pursuant to this section shall be valid for a period of three years from the date of issue unless revoked by the Department in the manner provided herein. The Department shall not sell Virginia revenue stamps to any person or entity unless and until the Department has issued that person or entity a permit to affix Virginia revenue stamps. The Department may promulgate regulations governing the issuance, suspension and revocation of stamping agent permits. The Department may at any time revoke the permit issued to any stamping agent as herein provided who is not in compliance with any of the provisions of this chapter or any of the rules of the Department adopted and promulgated under authority of this chapter.

B. The Department shall compile and maintain a list of licensed cigarette stamping agents. The list shall be updated monthly and shall be available upon request to any federal, state, or local law-enforcement agency.

Code 1950, § 58-757.10; 1960, c. 392, § 10; 1984, c. 675; 2004, c. 1029; 2005, c. 28; 2016, cc. 227, 344.

A. Every wholesale dealer in the Commonwealth shall, before shipping, delivering or sending out any cigarettes to any dealer in the Commonwealth or for sale in the Commonwealth, cause the same to have the requisite denominations and amount of stamps to represent the tax affixed as stated herein, and every other wholesale dealer shall at the time of shipping or delivering any cigarettes make a true duplicate invoice of the same, showing the date, amount and value of each class of articles shipped or delivered, and retain a duplicate thereof. Wholesale dealers in the Commonwealth who ship, deliver, or send any cigarettes to the United States government for sale or distribution to any military, naval or marine reservation owned by the United States government within the Commonwealth shall be required to carry out the provisions set out in this chapter for such sales or deliveries.

B. Any manufacturer or exclusive distributor shall not be required to affix Virginia revenue stamps as required by subsection A, if such manufacturer or exclusive distributor is shipping, sending, selling, or delivering the cigarettes to a wholesale dealer in the Commonwealth who is a duly qualified wholesale dealer stamping agent in accordance with § 58.1-1011 or to a law-enforcement agency for use in the performance of its duties. The manufacturer or exclusive distributor who qualifies under this section and ships, sends, sells, or delivers cigarettes to a wholesale dealer shall keep on file a record of each such shipment, sale, or delivery and shall maintain such record for a period of three years.

Code 1950, § 58-757.11; 1960, c. 392, § 11; 1984, c. 675; 2005, c. 856; 2014, cc. 422, 458.

Any person who has been issued a permit to affix revenue stamps by the Department and fails to properly affix the required stamps to any cigarettes pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be required to pay as part of the tax imposed hereunder, a civil penalty, to be assessed and collected by the Department as other taxes are collected, of (i) $2.50 per pack, up to $500, for the first violation by a legal entity within a 36-month period; (ii) $5.00 per pack, up to $1,000, for the second violation by the legal entity within a 36-month period; and (iii) $10 per pack, up to $50,000, for the third and any subsequent violation by the legal entity within a 36-month period. Where willful intent exists to defraud the Commonwealth of the tax levied under this chapter, such person shall be required to pay a civil penalty of $25 per pack, up to $250,000. It shall be prima facie evidence of intent to defraud when the number of such unstamped cigarettes exceeds either 30 packs or five percent of the cigarettes in the place of business of such person, whichever is greater. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding threshold limits, if the number of unstamped packs exceeds 500 packs, it shall be prima facie evidence of intent to defraud.

Any cigarettes in the place of business of any person required by the provisions of this chapter to stamp the same shall be prima facie evidence that they are intended for sale.

No civil penalty shall be imposed under this section for any unstamped cigarettes if a civil penalty under § 58.1-1017 has been paid for such unstamped cigarettes.

Code 1950, § 58-757.12; 1960, c. 392, § 12; 1984, c. 675; 2004, c. 1029; 2006, c. 409; 2010, cc. 35, 471.

Repealed by Acts 2004, c. 1029.

A. Whoever removes or otherwise prepares any Virginia revenue stamp with intent to use, or cause the same to be used, after it has already been used, or buys, sells, offers for sale, or gives away any such washed or removed or restored stamps to any person for using or who used the same, or has in his possession any washed or restored or removed or altered stamp that has been removed from the article to which it has been previously affixed, or whoever for the purpose of indicating the payment of any tax hereunder reuses any stamp which has heretofore been used for the purpose of paying any tax provided in this article, or whoever manufactures, buys, sells, offers for sale, or has in his possession any reproduction or counterfeit of the Virginia revenue stamps provided for in this article, or whoever sells any Virginia revenue stamps not affixed to taxable cigarettes shall be subject to the penalty provided for in this section.

B. It shall be unlawful to sell or possess cigarettes that are affixed with a reproduction or counterfeit of Virginia revenue stamps. Such cigarettes and stamps shall be subject to seizure, forfeiture and destruction by the Department or any law-enforcement officer of the Commonwealth. All fixtures, equipment, materials and personal property used in substantial connection with the sale or possession of cigarettes that are affixed with a reproduction or counterfeit of Virginia revenue stamps in a knowing and intentional violation of this article shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture according to the procedures contained in Chapter 22.1 (§ 19.2-386.1 et seq.) of Title 19.2, applied mutatis mutandis.

C. Any person who knowingly violates subsection A with a total quantity of less than 40 revenue stamps shall be punished by a civil penalty of no more than $1,000. Any person who knowingly violates subsection B shall, for a second or subsequent offense involving a total quantity of less than 40 revenue stamps, be punished by a civil penalty of no more than $5,000 and, if applicable, the revocation by the Department of Taxation of his wholesale dealer license.

D. Any person who knowingly violates subsection B with a total quantity of 40 or more revenue stamps shall be punished by a civil penalty of no more than $2,000. Any person who knowingly violates subsection B shall, for a second or subsequent offense involving a total quantity of 40 or more revenue stamps, be punished by a civil penalty of no more than $50,000 and, if applicable, the revocation by the Department of Taxation of his wholesale dealer license.

The Attorney General is authorized to enforce the provisions of this section.

Code 1950, § 58-757.14; 1960, c. 392, § 14; 1984, c. 675; 2003, c. 1010.

The Department shall administer and enforce the tax imposed by this article. It shall have the power to enter upon the premises of any person and to examine, or cause to be examined, by any agent or representative designated by it for that purpose, any books, papers, records, invoices, or memoranda, etc., bearing upon the amount of taxes payable, and to secure other information directly or indirectly concerned in the enforcement of this chapter.

Code 1950, § 58-757.15; 1960, c. 392, § 15; 1984, c. 675.

A. Any person, except as otherwise provided by law, who sells, purchases, transports, receives, or possesses unstamped cigarettes shall be required to pay any tax owed pursuant to this chapter. In addition, such person shall be required to pay a civil penalty of (i) $2.50 per pack, up to $500, for the first violation by a legal entity within a 36-month period; (ii) $5 per pack, up to $1,000, for the second violation by the legal entity within a 36-month period; and (iii) $10 per pack, up to $50,000, for the third and any subsequent violation by the legal entity within a 36-month period, to be assessed and collected by the Department as other taxes are collected. In addition, where willful intent exists to defraud the Commonwealth of the tax levied under this chapter, such person shall be required to pay a civil penalty of $25 per pack, up to $250,000.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person, except as otherwise provided by law, to sell, purchase, transport, receive or possess less than 500 packages of cigarettes unless the same have been stamped in the manner required by law, for the purpose of evading the payment of the taxes on such products. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this subsection is guilty of a Class 6 felony, provided that the accused was at liberty as defined in § 53.1-151 between each conviction and it is admitted, or found by the jury or judge before whom the person is tried, that the accused was previously convicted of a violation of this subsection.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person, except as otherwise provided by law, to sell, purchase, transport, receive or possess 500 or more packages of cigarettes unless the same have been stamped in the manner required by law, for the purpose of evading the payment of the taxes on such products. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. Any person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this subsection is guilty of a Class 5 felony, provided that the accused was at liberty as defined in § 53.1-151 between each conviction and it is admitted, or found by the jury or judge before whom the person is tried, that the accused was previously convicted of a violation of this subsection.

D. If a person who (i) has not been issued a permit to affix revenue stamps by the Department, as provided in § 58.1-1011, or (ii) is not a retail dealer who has lawfully purchased cigarettes from such permit holder has in his possession within the Commonwealth more than 30 packages of unstamped cigarettes, such possession shall be presumed to be for the purpose of evading the payment of the taxes due thereon. No civil penalty shall be imposed under this section for any unstamped cigarettes if a civil penalty under § 58.1-1013 has been paid for such unstamped cigarettes.

Code 1950, § 58-757.17; 1960, c. 392, § 17; 1984, c. 675; 1992, c. 763; 2004, cc. 883, 996; 2005, c. 28; 2006, c. 409; 2010, cc. 35, 471; 2013, cc. 570, 624.

Any person who possesses, with intent to distribute, more than 5,000 (25 cartons) but fewer than 40,000 (200 cartons) tax-paid cigarettes is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense and is guilty of a Class 6 felony for any second or subsequent offense. Any person who possesses, with intent to distribute, 40,000 (200 cartons) or more tax-paid cigarettes is guilty of a Class 6 felony for a first offense and is guilty of a Class 5 felony for a second or subsequent offense. Additionally, any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be assessed a civil penalty of (i) $2.50 per pack, but no less than $5,000, for a first offense; (ii) $5 per pack, but no less than $10,000, for a second such offense committed within a 36-month period; and (iii) $10 per pack, but no less than $50,000, for a third or subsequent such offense committed within a 36-month period. The civil penalties shall be assessed and collected by the Department as other taxes are collected.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to an authorized holder.

2012, cc. 362, 472; 2013, cc. 567, 623; 2014, cc. 422, 463, 751; 2015, cc. 273, 290.

In any prosecution for violations of this title, where a sealed pack is labeled as containing cigarettes, such labeling shall be prima facie evidence that the contents of the pack meet the definition of "cigarette" as defined by § 58.1-1000. Nothing shall preclude the introduction of other relevant evidence to establish the contents of a pack, whether sealed or not.

2014, cc. 301, 422.

Any person who purchases 5,000 (25 cartons) cigarettes or fewer using a forged business license, a business license obtained under false pretenses, a forged or invalid Virginia sales and use tax exemption certificate, a forged or invalid Virginia cigarette exemption certificate, or a Virginia sales and use tax exemption certificate obtained under false pretenses is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 6 felony for a second or subsequent offense. Any person who purchases more than 5,000 (25 cartons) cigarettes using a forged business license, a business license obtained under false pretenses, a forged or invalid Virginia sales and use tax exemption certificate, a forged or invalid Virginia cigarette exemption certificate, or a Virginia sales and use tax exemption certificate obtained under false pretenses is guilty of a Class 6 felony for a first offense and a Class 5 felony for a second or subsequent offense. Additionally, any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be assessed a civil penalty of (i) $2.50 per pack, but no less than $5,000, for a first offense; (ii) $5 per pack, but no less than $10,000, for a second such offense committed within a 36-month period; and (iii) $10 per pack, but no less than $50,000, for a third or subsequent such offense committed within a 36-month period. The civil penalties shall be assessed and collected by the Department as other taxes are collected.

The provisions of this section shall not preclude prosecution under any other statute.

2015, cc. 273, 290; 2017, cc. 112, 453.

A. Any person, except as provided in subsection C, who ships, sells, or distributes any quantity of cigarettes in excess of 10,000 sticks or 50 cartons, or with a value greater than $10,000 in any single transaction or multiple related transactions, shall (i) obtain a copy of the cigarette exemption certificate issued to the purchaser pursuant to § 58.1-623.2 and (ii) maintain such information about the shipment, receipt, sale, and distribution of such cigarettes on a form prescribed by the Office of the Attorney General. Such form may be in electronic format in a manner prescribed by the Office of the Attorney General. Such form shall be transmitted to the Office of the Attorney General upon request, as determined by the Office of the Attorney General.

B. For purposes of complying with subsection A, the seller may maintain an electronic copy of the purchaser's cigarette exemption certificate.

C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a stamping agent when delivering cigarettes to the purchaser's physical place of business.

D. Prior to completing the sale, the purchaser shall complete the form for the seller and present a valid photo identification issued by a state or federal government agency. The purchaser shall sign the form acknowledging an understanding of the applicable sales limit and that providing false statements or misrepresentations may subject the purchaser to criminal penalties.

E. Prior to completing the sale, the seller shall verify that the identity of the purchaser listed on the form matches the identity on the photo identification provided pursuant to subsection D and that the form is completed in its entirety.

F. The records required to be completed by this section shall be preserved for three years at the location where the purchase was made and shall be available for audit and inspection as described in § 58.1-1007. A violation of these requirements shall be punished under the provisions of § 58.1-1007.

G. The Department, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the Office of the Attorney General, a local cigarette tax administrative or enforcement official, or any other law-enforcement agency of the Commonwealth or any federal law-enforcement agency conducting a criminal investigation involving the trafficking of cigarettes may access these records required to be completed and preserved by this section at any time. Failure to supply the records upon request shall be punished under the provisions of § 58.1-1007. Copies of the records required to be completed and preserved by this section shall be provided to such officials or agencies upon request. Any court, investigatory grand jury, or special grand jury that has been impaneled in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 13 (§ 19.2-191 et seq.) of Title 19.2 may access such information if relevant to any proceedings therein.

H. The records required to be completed and preserved by this section shall be exempt from disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.).

2017, cc. 112, 453.

An excise tax is hereby imposed on the storage, use or other consumption in this Commonwealth of cigarettes purchased at retail in an amount equal to that set out in § 58.1-1001. Every person storing, using or otherwise consuming in this Commonwealth cigarettes purchased at retail shall be liable for the tax imposed by this article, and the liability shall not be extinguished until the tax has been paid to this Commonwealth; however, if such cigarettes have attached thereto the requisite stamps or if the excise tax imposed by Article 1 (§ 58.1-1000 et seq.) has been paid by the seller of such cigarettes, then the tax imposed by this article shall not be due.

The revenues generated by the tax imposed under this section on and after August 1, 2004, shall be collected by the Department and deposited into the Virginia Health Care Fund established under § 32.1-366.

Code 1950, § 58-757.19; 1960, c. 392, § 19; 1984, c. 675; 2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3.

Every person owning or having in his possession or custody cigarettes, the storage, use or other consumption of which is subject to the tax imposed by this article, shall, on or before the tenth day of the month following, file with the Department a return for the preceding month in such form as may be prescribed by the Department showing the cigarettes purchased by such person, and such other information as the Department may deem necessary for the proper administration of this article. The return shall be accompanied by a remittance of the amount of tax herein imposed.

Code 1950, § 58-757.20; 1960, c. 392, § 20; 1984, c. 675.

In case any person subject to the tax imposed by this article fails to make such a return, or makes an incorrect return, the Department, from the best information available to it, shall assess the amount of tax due from such person and mail notice thereof to the taxpayer. Collection of such assessment may be enforced by legal process.

Code 1950, § 58-757.21; 1960, c. 392, § 21; 1984, c. 675.

It shall be the duty of every person storing, using or otherwise consuming in this Commonwealth cigarettes subject to the provisions of this article to keep and preserve all invoices, books, papers, cancelled checks, or other memoranda touching the purchase, sale, exchange, receipt, ownership, storage, use or other consumption of such cigarettes for a period of three years. All such invoices, books, papers, cancelled checks, or other memoranda shall be subject to audit and inspection by any duly authorized representative of the Department at any reasonable time. Any person who fails or refuses to keep and preserve the records as herein required shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Any person who fails or refuses to allow an audit or inspection of the records as herein provided, shall be assessed a penalty of $1,000 for each day he fails or refuses to allow an audit or inspection of the records, to be assessed and collected by the Department as other taxes are collected.

Code 1950, § 58-757.22; 1960, c. 392, § 22; 1984, c. 675; 2005, c. 28.

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Actual cost" means the actual price paid by a remote retail seller for each individual stock keeping unit or SKU.

"Alternative nicotine product" means any noncombustible product containing nicotine that is not made of tobacco and is intended for human consumption, whether chewed, absorbed, dissolved, or ingested by any other means. "Alternative nicotine product" does not include any nicotine vapor product or any product regulated as a drug or device by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under Chapter V (21 U.S.C. § 351 et seq.) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

"Cigar" means any roll of tobacco wrapped in leaf tobacco or in any substance containing tobacco, other than any roll of tobacco that is a cigarette as such term is defined in § 58.1-1000.

"Closed system" means any nicotine vapor product capable of utilizing a disposable container that is (i) prefilled with liquid nicotine and sealed by the manufacturer, (ii) not easily refillable or intended or designed to be refillable, and (iii) intended or used to dispense liquid nicotine for use in a nicotine vapor product that is intended or designed for reuse. "Closed system" does not include any open system.

"Consumer" means the person who is the end or final user of tobacco products or liquid nicotine.

"Delivery sale" means a sale of liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products to a consumer in the Commonwealth in which the consumer submits the order for the sale by telephone, over the Internet, or through the mail or another delivery system, and where the liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products are shipped through a delivery service. "Delivery sale" does not include a sale of liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products not for personal consumption to a person who is a manufacturer, distributor, or retail dealer.

"Distributor" means (i) any person engaged in the business of selling tobacco products in the Commonwealth who brings, or causes to be brought, into the Commonwealth from outside the Commonwealth any tobacco products for sale; (ii) any person who makes, manufactures, fabricates, or stores tobacco products in the Commonwealth for sale in the Commonwealth; (iii) any person engaged in the business of selling tobacco products outside the Commonwealth who ships or transports tobacco products to any person in the business of selling tobacco products in the Commonwealth; or (iv) any retail dealer in possession of untaxed tobacco products in the Commonwealth.

"Heated tobacco product" means a product other than a cigarette intended to be heated, as such term is defined in § 58.1-1000, containing tobacco that produces an inhalable aerosol (i) by heating the tobacco by means of an electronic device without combustion of the tobacco or (ii) by heat generated from a combustion source that only or primarily heats rather than burns the tobacco.

"Liquid nicotine" means a liquid or other substance containing nicotine in a concentration that is sold, marketed, and intended for use in a nicotine vapor product.

"Loose leaf tobacco" means any leaf tobacco that is not intended to be smoked but does not include moist snuff. Loose leaf tobacco weight unit categories shall be as follows:

1. "Loose leaf tobacco half pound-unit" means a consumer-sized unit, pouch, or package containing at least four ounces but not more than eight ounces of loose leaf tobacco, by net weight, produced by the manufacturer to be sold to consumers as a single unit and not produced to be divided or sold separately and containing one individual package.

2. "Loose leaf tobacco pound-unit" means a consumer-sized unit, pouch, or package containing more than eight ounces of loose leaf tobacco, by net weight, produced by the manufacturer to be sold to consumers as a single unit and not produced to be divided or sold separately and containing one individual package.

3. "Loose leaf tobacco single-unit" means a consumer-sized unit, pouch, or package containing less than four ounces of loose leaf tobacco, by net weight, produced by the manufacturer to be sold to consumers as a single unit and not produced to be divided or sold separately and containing one individual package.

"Manufacturer" means a person who manufactures or produces tobacco products and sells tobacco products to a distributor.

"Manufacturer's representative" means a person employed by a manufacturer to sell or distribute the manufacturer's tobacco products.

"Manufacturer's sales price" means the actual price for which a manufacturer, manufacturer's representative, or any other person sells tobacco products to an unaffiliated distributor.

"Moist snuff" means a tobacco product consisting of finely cut, ground, or powdered tobacco that is not intended to be smoked but does not include any finely cut, ground, or powdered tobacco that is intended to be placed in the nasal cavity.

"Nicotine vapor product" means any noncombustible product containing nicotine that employs a heating element, power source, electronic circuit, or other electronic, chemical, or mechanical means, regardless of shape or size, that can be used to produce vapor from nicotine in a solution or other form, including liquid nicotine. "Nicotine vapor product" includes any electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, closed system, open system, or similar product or device and any cartridge or other container of nicotine in a solution or other form, including liquid nicotine, that is intended to be used with or in an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, or similar product or device. "Nicotine vapor product" does not include any product regulated by the FDA under Chapter V (21 U.S.C. § 351 et seq.) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

"Open system" means a nicotine vapor product designed and intended by the manufacturer to be reusable and refilled with liquid nicotine of the end user's choice. "Open system" does not include any closed system.

"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, association, company, business, trust, joint venture, or other legal entity.

"Pipe tobacco" means any tobacco that, because of its appearance, type, packaging, or labeling, is suitable for use and likely to be offered or purchased by consumers as tobacco to be smoked in a pipe.

"Remote retail sale" means any sale of cigars or pipe tobacco to a consumer in the Commonwealth when (i) the consumer submits the order for the sale by means of a telephone or other method of voice transmission, the mail, or the Internet or other online service, or the seller is otherwise not in the physical presence of the consumer when the request for the purchase or order is made, or (ii) the cigars or pipe tobacco are delivered to the consumer by common carrier, private delivery service, or other method of remote delivery, or the seller is not in the physical presence of the consumer when the buyer obtains possession of the cigars or pipe tobacco.

"Remote retail seller" means a person located within or outside of the Commonwealth that makes remote retail sales of cigars or pipe tobacco.

"Retail dealer" means every person that sells or offers for sale any tobacco product or liquid nicotine to consumers at retail in a transaction other than a remote retail sale and includes any person that holds an approved Retail Sales and Use Tax Exemption Certificate for Stamped Cigarettes Purchased for Resale or an Other Tobacco Products Distributor's License issued by the Department of Taxation.

"SKU" means an individual stock keeping unit identifier used for tracking inventory.

"Tobacco product" or "tobacco products" means (i) "cigar" as defined in § 5702(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, and as such section may be amended; (ii) "smokeless tobacco" as defined in § 5702(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, and as such section may be amended; or (iii) "pipe tobacco" as defined in § 5702(n) of the Internal Revenue Code, and as such section may be amended. "Tobacco products" also includes loose leaf tobacco.

2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3; 2005, c. 71; 2006, c. 768; 2010, cc. 191, 804; 2019, c. 790; 2022, cc. 738, 779; 2024, cc. 611, 796, 821.

A. In addition to all other taxes now imposed by law, there is hereby imposed a tax upon the privilege of selling or dealing in tobacco products and liquid nicotine in the Commonwealth by any person engaged in business as a distributor or remote retail seller thereof, at the following rates:

1. Upon each package of moist snuff, at the rate of $0.18 per ounce with a proportionate tax at the same rate on all fractional parts of an ounce. The tax shall be computed based on the net weight as listed by the manufacturer on the package in accordance with federal law.

2. For purposes of the tax under this article, loose leaf tobacco shall be classified as loose leaf tobacco single-units, loose leaf tobacco half pound-units, and loose leaf tobacco pound-units. Such tax shall be imposed upon the distributor for loose leaf tobacco as follows:

a. $0.21 for each loose leaf tobacco single-unit;

b. $0.40 for each loose leaf tobacco half pound-unit;

c. $0.70 for each loose leaf tobacco pound-unit; and

d. For any other unit, pouch, or package of loose leaf tobacco, the tax shall be by net weight and shall be $0.21 per unit, pouch, or package plus $0.21 for each increment of four ounces or portion thereof that the loose leaf tobacco exceeds 16 ounces.

The tax for each unit, pouch, or package of loose leaf tobacco shall be in accordance with the provisions of subdivisions a through d only and regardless of sales price.

3. Except as otherwise provided, upon tobacco products other than moist snuff or loose leaf tobacco, at the rate of 10 percent of the manufacturer's sales price of such tobacco products.

Upon cigars and pipe tobacco products sold by remote retail sellers, the tax rates delineated in this subdivision shall apply to:

a. The actual cost; or

b. If the actual cost is not available, the average of the actual cost over the 12 calendar months before January 1 of the year in which the sale occurs.

4. a. Upon the privilege of selling or dealing in liquid nicotine in the Commonwealth by any person engaged in business as a distributor of liquid nicotine, at the following rates:

(1) Upon liquid nicotine in closed systems at the rate of $0.066 per milliliter beginning July 1, 2024, for taxable sales or purchases occurring on and after such date.

(2) Upon liquid nicotine in open systems at the rate of 10 percent of the wholesale price beginning July 1, 2024, for taxable sales or purchases occurring on and after such date.

b. For any transaction involving liquid nicotine between a distributor and a retail dealer, both the distributor and the retail dealer shall maintain and retain records of any invoice or sales receipt that shall include itemized lists of the types of products included in such transaction, the tax due on each product pursuant to this subsection, and the total amount of taxes paid. In every instance, a distributor shall be responsible for paying the tax on liquid nicotine pursuant to this subdivision 4 at the time of sale to a retail dealer. Such taxes shall apply only to liquid nicotine and not to any batteries, filters, or other mechanical or aesthetic components of liquid nicotine in a closed system or an open system.

Such tax shall be imposed at the time the remote retail seller located within or outside the Commonwealth makes a remote retail sale to a consumer within the Commonwealth. It is the intent and purpose of this subdivision that the remote retail seller be liable for the tax. It is further the intent and purpose of this article to impose the tax once, and only once on all tobacco products, including cigars and pipe tobacco sold in the Commonwealth.

Except as otherwise provided, such tax shall be imposed on tobacco products (i) at the time of retail sale by a retail dealer or distributor; (ii) at the time the distributor makes, manufactures, or fabricates tobacco products in the Commonwealth for sale in the Commonwealth; or (iii) at the time the distributor ships or transports tobacco products to retailers in the Commonwealth to be sold by those retailers. It is the intent and purpose of this article that the distributor who first possesses the tobacco product subject to this tax in the Commonwealth shall be the distributor liable for the tax. It is further the intent and purpose of this article to impose the tax once and only once on all tobacco products for sale in the Commonwealth.

B. No tax shall be imposed pursuant to this section upon tobacco products not within the taxing power of the Commonwealth under the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution.

C. A distributor that calculates and pays the tax pursuant to subdivision A 1 or A 2 in good faith reliance on the net weight listed by the manufacturer on the package or on the manufacturer's invoice shall not be liable for additional tax, or for interest or penalties, solely by reason of a subsequent determination that such weight information was incorrect.

2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3; 2005, c. 71; 2010, cc. 191, 804; 2022, cc. 738, 779; 2024, cc. 796, 821.

Each manufacturer that ships tobacco products to any person located in the Commonwealth shall file a report with the Department no later than the twentieth of each month identifying all such shipments made by the manufacturer during the preceding month. The Department may allow such reports to be filed electronically. Such reports shall identify the names and addresses of the persons within the Commonwealth to whom the shipments were made and the quantities of tobacco products shipped, by type of product and brand. The Tax Commissioner may authorize any manufacturer to file such reports for a period less frequently than monthly when, in the opinion of the Tax Commissioner, doing so would improve the efficiency of the administration of the tax imposed by this article. If a manufacturer is allowed to file other than on a monthly basis, each such report shall be due no later than the twentieth day of the month that immediately follows the close of the reporting period. Each such report shall contain the same information as required herein for monthly reporting.

2010, cc. 191, 804; 2013, c. 381.

Each remote retail seller that makes a remote retail sale of cigars and pipe tobacco products to any consumer located in the Commonwealth shall keep all records of remote retail sales as follows: (i) each remote retail seller that ships tobacco products to any consumer located in the Commonwealth shall file a report with the Department no later than the twentieth of each month identifying the total quantity, date, and dollar value of all such remote retail sale shipments made during the preceding month and (ii) every licensed remote retail seller outside the Commonwealth that is not a licensed distributor shall in a like manner file a return showing the quantity and actual cost of each cigar or pipe tobacco product shipped or transported to consumers in the Commonwealth during the preceding calendar month. The return shall be made on forms furnished or prescribed by the Department and shall contain or be accompanied by such further information as the Department shall require. The remote retail seller, at the time of filing the return, shall pay to the Department the tax imposed under subsection A of § 58.1-1021.02 for each such package sold in remote retail sales into the Commonwealth in the preceding month on which tax is due. The Department may allow such reports to be filed electronically.

2022, cc. 738, 779.

A. Every distributor subject to the tax imposed under this article shall file a monthly return no later than the twentieth of each month on a form prescribed by the Department, covering the purchase of tobacco products by such distributor during the preceding month, for which tax is imposed pursuant to subsection A of § 58.1-1021.02, during the preceding month. Each return shall show the quantity and manufacturer's sales price of each tobacco product (i) brought, or caused to be brought, into the Commonwealth for sale; and (ii) made, manufactured, or fabricated in the Commonwealth for sale in the Commonwealth during the preceding calendar month. Every licensed distributor outside the Commonwealth shall in a like manner file a return showing the quantity and manufacturer's sales price of each tobacco product shipped or transported to retailers in the Commonwealth to be sold by those retailers, during the preceding calendar month. The return shall be made on forms furnished or prescribed by the Department and shall contain or be accompanied by such further information as the Department shall require. The distributor, at the time of filing the return, shall pay to the Department the tax imposed under subsection A of § 58.1-1021.02 for each such package of tobacco product purchased in the preceding month on which tax is due.

B. For the purpose of compensating dealers for accounting for the tax imposed under this article, a retail dealer or wholesale dealer shall be allowed when filing a monthly return and paying the tax to deduct two percent of the tax otherwise due if the amount due was not delinquent at the time of payment.

The Tax Commissioner shall prepare for each fiscal year an estimate of the total amount of all discounts allowed to retail or wholesale dealers pursuant to this subsection and such amount shall be taken into consideration in preparing the official estimate of the total revenues to be collected during the fiscal year by the Virginia Health Care Fund established under § 32.1-366. Any reduction in funding available for programs financed by the Virginia Health Care Fund as a result of such discounts shall be made up by the general fund.

2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3; 2005, cc. 71, 925; 2010, cc. 191, 804.

A. When any distributor or remote retail seller fails to make any return or pay the full amount of the tax required by this article, there shall be imposed a specific penalty to be added to the tax in the amount of five percent if the failure is for not more than one month, with an additional two percent for each additional month, or fraction thereof, during which the failure continues, not to exceed 20 percent in the aggregate. In no case, however, shall the penalty be less than $10 and such minimum penalty shall apply whether or not any tax is due for the period for which such return was required. If such failure is due to providential or other good cause shown to the satisfaction of the Tax Commissioner, such return with or without remittance may be accepted exclusive of penalties. In the case of a false or fraudulent return where willful intent exists to defraud the Commonwealth of any tax due under this article, or in the case of a willful failure to file a return with the intent to defraud the Commonwealth of any such tax, a specific penalty of 50 percent of the amount of the proper tax shall be assessed. All penalties and interest imposed by this article shall be payable by the distributor or remote retail seller and collectible by the Department in the same manner as if they were a part of the tax imposed.

B. It shall be prima facie evidence of intent to defraud the Commonwealth of any tax due under this article when any distributor or remote retail seller reports his purchases at 50 percent or less of the actual amount.

C. Interest at a rate determined in accordance with § 58.1-15 shall accrue on the tax until the same is paid.

No deficiency, interest or penalty shall be assessed for any month after the expiration of three years from the date set for the filing of the return for such month, except in cases of fraud, or where no return has been filed for such month.

D. If the Tax Commissioner determines that the amount paid the Commonwealth under this article in regard to any monthly return was greater than the amount of tax due the Commonwealth, the excess may be taken as a credit by the distributor or remote retail seller against a subsequent month's tax imposed under this article. However, if such distributor or remote retail seller requests a refund, such excess shall be refunded to the distributor or remote retail seller within 45 days of the request. The refund shall include interest at the rate provided in § 58.1-15. Interest on such refunds shall accrue from the due date of the return to which such excess is attributable to or the date such excess was paid to the Department, whichever is later, and shall end on a date determined by the Department preceding the date of the refund check by not more than seven days.

2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3; 2005, c. 71; 2022, cc. 738, 779.

A. 1. No person shall engage in the business of selling or dealing in tobacco products as a distributor in the Commonwealth without first having received a separate license from the Department for each location or place of business. Each application for a distributor's license shall be accompanied by a fee to be prescribed by the Department. Every application for such license shall be made on a form prescribed by the Department and the following information shall be provided on the application:

a. The name and address of the applicant. If the applicant is a firm, partnership, or association, the name and address of each of its members shall be provided. If the applicant is a corporation, the name and address of each of its principal officers shall be provided;

b. The address of the applicant's principal place of business;

c. The place or places where the business to be licensed is to be conducted; and

d. Such other information as the Department may require for the purpose of the administration of this article.

2. A person outside the Commonwealth who ships or transports tobacco products to retailers in the Commonwealth, to be sold by those retailers, may make application for license as a distributor, be granted such a license by the Department, and thereafter be subject to all the provisions of this article. Once a license is granted pursuant to this section, such person shall be entitled to act as a licensed distributor and, unless such person maintains a registered agent pursuant to Chapter 9 (§ 13.1-601 et seq.), 10 (§ 13.1-801 et seq.), 12 (§ 13.1-1000 et seq.), or 14 (§ 13.1-1200 et seq.) of Title 13.1 or Chapter 2.1 (§ 50-73.1 et seq.) or 2.2 (§ 50-73.79 et seq.) of Title 50, shall be deemed to have appointed the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission as the person's agent for the purpose of service of process relating to any matter or issue involving the person and arising under the provisions of this article.

The Department shall conduct a background investigation, to include a Virginia criminal history records search, and fingerprints of the applicant, or the responsible principals, managers, and other persons engaged in handling tobacco products at the licensable locations, that shall be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation if the Department deems a national criminal records search necessary, on applicants for licensure as tobacco products distributors. The Department may refuse to issue a distributor's license or may suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a distributor's license issued to any person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or business trust if it determines that the principals, managers, and other persons engaged in handling tobacco products at the licensable location of the applicant have been (i) found guilty of any fraud or misrepresentation in any connection; (ii) convicted of robbery, extortion, burglary, larceny, embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, gambling, perjury, bribery, treason, or racketeering; or (iii) convicted of a felony. Anyone who knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals, or misrepresents a material fact or knowingly and willfully makes a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation in any application for a distributor's license to the Department, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The Department may establish an application or renewal fee not to exceed $750 to be retained by the Department to be applied to the administrative and other costs of processing distributor's license applications, conducting background investigations, and issuing distributor's licenses. Any amount collected pursuant to this section in excess of such costs as of June 30 in even-numbered years shall be reported to the State Treasurer and deposited into the state treasury.

3. No person inside or outside the Commonwealth shall make a remote retail sale of cigars or pipe tobacco to consumers in the Commonwealth without (i) completing an application for and being granted a license as a remote retail seller; (ii) determining whether economic nexus activity thresholds have been met to register for a dealer's certificate under § 58.1-613; (iii) if economic nexus thresholds are met, collecting and remitting the excise tax pursuant to subsection A of § 58.1-1021.02; (iv) providing for age verification through an independent, third-party age verification service that compares information available from a commercially available database, or aggregate of databases, that is regularly used by government agencies and businesses for the purpose of age and identity verification to the personal information entered by the individual during the ordering process that establishes that the individual is of age; and (v) if economic nexus thresholds are met and excise tax is being remitted using the actual cost list method to calculate the excise tax, providing the remote retail seller's certified actual cost list to the Department for each SKU to be offered for remote retail sale in the subsequent calendar year. The actual cost list shall be updated quarterly as new SKUs are added to a remote retail seller's inventory. New SKUs will be added using the actual cost first paid for the SKU.

B. Upon receipt of an application in proper form and payment of the required license fee, the Department shall, unless otherwise provided by this article, issue to the applicant a license, which shall permit the licensee to engage in business as a distributor at the place of business shown on the license. Each license, or a copy thereof, shall be prominently displayed on the premises covered by the license. No license shall be transferable to any other person. Distributor's licenses issued pursuant to this section shall be valid for a period of three years from the date of issue unless revoked by the Department in the manner provided herein. The Department may at any time revoke the license issued to any distributor who is found guilty of violating or noncompliance with any of the provisions of this chapter or any of the rules of the Department adopted and promulgated under authority of this chapter. The Department shall suspend or revoke the license issued to any distributor who is found guilty of a second or subsequent violation of subsection A or B of § 18.2-371.2.

C. 1. No person shall engage in the business of selling or dealing liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products or who ships or transports liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products to retailers in the Commonwealth, to be sold by those retailers, as a manufacturer, distributor, or retail dealer in the Commonwealth without first having received a separate license from the Department for each location or place of business. Each application for a manufacturer's, distributor's, or retail dealer's liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products license shall be accompanied by a fee to be prescribed by the Department. Any retail dealer who holds an approved Retail Sales and Use Tax Exemption Certificate for Stamped Cigarettes Purchased for Resale or an Other Tobacco Products (OTP) Distributor's License issued by the Department shall not be required to obtain a license under this subsection. Every application for such liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products license shall be made on a form prescribed by the Department and the following information shall be provided on the application:

a. The name and address of the applicant. If the applicant is a firm, partnership, or association, the name and address of each of its members shall be provided. If the applicant is a corporation, the name and address of each of its principal officers shall be provided;

b. The address of the applicant's principal place of business;

c. The place or places where the business to be licensed is to be conducted; and

d. Such other information as the Department may require for the purpose of the administration of this article.

2. The Department shall conduct a background investigation, to include a Virginia criminal history records search of the applicant, or the responsible principals and managers of liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products at the licensable locations that shall be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation if the Department deems a national criminal records search necessary, on applicants for licensure as a liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products manufacturer, distributor, or retailer, as applicable. The Department may refuse to issue a license or may suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a license issued to any person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or business trust if it determines that the principals and managers at the licensable location of the applicant have been (i) found guilty of any fraud or misrepresentation in any connection; (ii) convicted of robbery, extortion, burglary, larceny, embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, gambling, perjury, bribery, treason, tax evasion, or racketeering; or (iii) convicted of a felony within the last five years. Anyone who knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals, or misrepresents a material fact or knowingly and willfully makes a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation in any application for a license to the Department is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The Department may establish an application or renewal fee to be retained by the Department to be applied to the administrative and other costs of processing license applications, conducting background investigations, and issuing licenses. Any amount collected pursuant to this section in excess of such costs as of June 30 in even-numbered years shall be reported to the State Treasurer and deposited into the state treasury.

3. Upon receipt of an application in proper form and payment of the required license fee, the Department shall, unless otherwise provided by this article, issue to the applicant a liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products license, which shall permit the licensee to engage in business as a manufacturer, distributor, or retail dealer at the place of business shown on the license. Each license, or a copy thereof, shall be prominently displayed on the premises covered by the license. No license shall be transferable to any other person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or business trust; however, the Department may grant a temporary license to any applicant that has purchased the business of any manufacturer, distributor, or retail dealer licensed pursuant to this section while such applicant's application for licensure is pending. Licenses, other than temporary licenses, issued pursuant to this section shall be valid for two years from the date of issue unless revoked by the Department in the manner provided in this section. The Department may at any time suspend or revoke the approved license, permit, or registration issued in accordance with this subsection to any person who is found guilty of violating or noncompliance with any of the provisions of this chapter or any of the rules of the Department adopted and promulgated under authority of this chapter. Any person authorized to sell liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products pursuant to this subsection shall, as a condition of renewing or extending an approved license, permit, or registration, be required to submit to the Department an accurate record of any taxes paid on liquid nicotine pursuant to § 58.1-1021.02.

4. No person shall make a sale of liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products (i) to any person who has not attained the legal age for purchasing liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products and (ii) without a valid liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products license issued pursuant to this subsection. Any person who is found guilty of violating or noncompliance with this subdivision shall be subject to the following penalties:

a. For the first violation in a 36-month period, a penalty of no less than $1,000;

b. For a second violation in a 36-month period, a penalty of no less than $5,000 and a 30-day suspension of the liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products license. If the person is found to be in violation of clause (i) of this subdivision 4, such person shall be required to verify that any consumer who appears to be under 30 years of age is of legal age by verifying such consumer's government-issued photographic identification using fraud detection software, technology, or a scanner that confirms the authenticity of such identification; and

c. For a third violation in a 36-month period, a penalty of no less than $10,000, revocation of the liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products license, and ineligibility to possess a liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products license for a period of three years from the date of the most recent violation.

5. No person inside or outside the Commonwealth shall make a retail sale of liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products without verifying that the consumer is of legal age by examining from any person who appears to be under 30 years of age a government-issued photographic identification that establishes that the person is of legal age or providing for age verification through an independent age verification service that compares information available from a commercially available database, or aggregate of databases, that is regularly used by government agencies and businesses for the purpose of age and identity verification to the personal information entered by the individual during the ordering process that establishes that the individual is of age.

6. For any transaction between a distributor and a retail dealer involving liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products, both the distributor and the retail dealer shall maintain and retain records of any invoice or sales receipt involved that shall include itemized lists of the types of products included in such transaction, the tax due on each product pursuant to subsection B of § 58.1-1021.02, and the total amount of taxes paid. Such records shall be produced and provided to the Department as necessary for auditing, compliance, and enforcement purposes.

D. The Department shall compile and maintain a current list of licensed distributors and remote retail sellers of tobacco products and of manufacturers, distributors, and retail dealers of liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products. The list shall be updated on a monthly basis and published on the Department's website, available to any interested party.

2005, c. 71; 2022, cc. 738, 779; 2024, cc. 796, 821.

A. Each distributor or remote retail seller shall keep in each licensed place of business complete and accurate records for that place of business, including itemized invoices of: (i) tobacco products held, purchased, manufactured, brought in or caused to be brought in from outside the Commonwealth, or shipped or transported to retailers in the Commonwealth; (ii) all sales of tobacco products made; (iii) all tobacco products, including cigars and pipe tobacco, transferred to other retail outlets owned or controlled by that licensed distributor or remote retail seller; and (iv) any records required by the Department.

All books, records and other papers and documents required by this subsection to be kept shall be preserved, in a form prescribed by the Department, for a period of at least three years after the date of the documents or the date of the entries thereof appearing in the records, unless the Department authorizes, in writing, their destruction or disposal at an earlier date.

B. At any time during usual business hours, duly authorized agents or employees of the Department may enter any place of business of a distributor and inspect the premises, the records required to be kept under this article and the tobacco products contained therein, to determine whether all the provisions of this article are being complied with fully. Refusal to permit such inspection by a duly authorized agent or employee of the Department shall be grounds for revocation of the license.

C. Each person who sells tobacco products to persons other than an ultimate consumer shall render with each sale itemized invoices showing the seller's name and address, the purchaser's name and address, the date of sale and all prices. Such person shall preserve legible copies of all such invoices for three years after the date of sale.

D. Each distributor or remote retail seller shall procure itemized invoices of all tobacco products purchased. The invoices shall show the name and address of the seller and the date of purchase. The distributor or remote retail seller shall preserve a legible copy of each invoice for three years after the date of purchase. Invoices shall be available for inspection by authorized agents or employees of the Department at the distributor's place of business or remote retail seller's place of business. If the remote retail seller cannot produce the required invoice information and the excise tax is being remitted using the actual cost list method to calculate the excise tax, the remote retail seller shall provide the remote retail seller's certified actual cost list to the Department for each SKU to be offered for remote retail sale in the subsequent calendar year. The actual cost list shall be updated quarterly as new SKUs are added to a remote retail seller's inventory. New SKUs will be added using the actual cost first paid for the SKU. This method shall not be used unless the actual cost list has been filed with the Department for the previous calendar year.

E. Any violation of § 58.1-1021.04:1, 58.1-1021.04:2, 58.1-1021.04:3, or 58.1-1021.04:4 of this article shall be grounds for revocation of the license.

2005, c. 71; 2022, cc. 738, 779.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person who is not a licensed distributor in the Commonwealth pursuant to this article to import, transport, or possess, for resale, any tobacco products in the Commonwealth, or under circumstances and conditions that indicate that tobacco products are being imported, transported, or possessed in a manner as to knowingly and intentionally evade or attempt to evade the tax imposed by this article. Such tobacco products shall be subject to seizure, forfeiture, and destruction by any law-enforcement officer of the Commonwealth. All fixtures, equipment, materials, and personal property used in substantial connection with the sale or possession of tobacco products involved in a knowing and intentional violation of this article shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture according to the procedures contained in Chapter 22.1 (§ 19.2-386.1 et seq.) of Title 19.2, applied mutatis mutandis.

B. Any person, except as otherwise provided by law, who imports, transports, or possesses for resale tobacco products upon which the tax imposed by this article has not been paid shall be required to pay any tax owed pursuant to this article. In addition, if such person imports, transports, or possesses such tobacco products in such a manner as to knowingly and intentionally evade or attempt to evade the tax imposed by this article, he shall be required to pay a civil penalty of (i) $2.50 per tobacco product, up to $500, for the first violation by the person within a 36-month period; (ii) $5 per tobacco product, up to $1,000, for the second violation by the person within a 36-month period; and (iii) $10 per tobacco product, up to $50,000, for the third or subsequent violation by the person within a 36-month period, to be assessed and collected by the Department as other taxes are collected. In addition, where willful intent exists to defraud the Commonwealth of the tax levied under this article, such person shall be required to pay a civil penalty of $25 per tobacco product, up to $250,000.

2005, c. 71; 2014, cc. 38, 177.

No retail dealer shall purchase tobacco products, for resale to consumers, from any person within or outside the Commonwealth of Virginia, except as follows:

1. A retail dealer purchases from a distributor licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

2. A retail dealer applies for and is granted a license as a distributor, and files returns and maintains records as required of licensed distributors under this article.

2005, c. 71.

The Tax Commissioner shall establish guidelines and rules, including recordkeeping requirements, for implementation of the tax on tobacco products under this article. The establishment of the guidelines and rules by the Tax Commissioner shall be exempt from the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.).

2005, c. 71; 2024, cc. 796, 821.

The revenues generated by the taxes imposed under this article shall be collected by the Department and deposited into the Virginia Health Care Fund established under § 32.1-366.

2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3.

A. A retail dealer shall not make a delivery sale of liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products without a license issued pursuant to § 58.1-1021.04:1. Such delivery sales and any shipment shall be made only to a legal consumer.

B. A retail dealer may not ship for delivery sale any liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products without first making a good faith effort to verify the age of the purchaser of the liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products through an independent age verification software, service, or technology that compares information available from public records to the personal information entered by the purchaser during the ordering process that establishes the purchaser is of legal age or older.

C. Prior to shipment of liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products for a delivery sale, a retail dealer shall be fully paid for the purchase and shall accept payment from the consumer by a check drawn on an account in the consumer's name, by a credit card issued in the consumer's name, or by a debit card issued in the consumer's name. A retail dealer taking a delivery sale may request the electronic mail address of the consumer as a condition of completing such delivery sale.

2024, cc. 796, 821.

Before a retail dealer may sell liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products to any consumer, the person selling, offering for sale, giving, or furnishing the liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor product shall verify that the consumer is of legal age by:

1. For any retail sale by a retail dealer, examining from any person who appears to be under 30 years of age a government-issued photographic identification that establishes the person is of legal age or, if required pursuant to subdivision C 4 b of § 58.1-1021.04:1 or subdivision B 2 b of § 59.1-293.12, verifying the identification presented using identification fraud detection software, technology, or scanner that confirms the authenticity of such identification; or

2. For any delivery sale by a retail dealer to a consumer in the Commonwealth, performing an age verification through an independent, age verification software, service, or technology that compares information available from public records to the personal information entered by the purchaser during the ordering process that establishes that the purchaser is of legal age or older.

2024, cc. 796, 821.

A. A retail dealer shall procure liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products only from distributors duly permitted to operate in the Commonwealth pursuant to this article.

B. A retail dealer shall sell liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products only to consumers and is prohibited from selling to manufacturers, distributors, other retailer dealers, and any other commercial entities.

C. A retail dealer shall not sell more than two packages of nicotine vapor products and five bottles or packages of liquid nicotine in any one transaction to a consumer.

D. In every instance, a distributor shall be responsible for paying the tax on liquid nicotine pursuant to § 58.1-1021.02 at the time of sale to a retail dealer.

E. A manufacturer may use as an ingredient in liquid nicotine and a distributor or retail dealer may sell liquid nicotine containing a flavoring or food grade additive or synthetic flavoring substance that is used to add flavor and that is not prohibited by the federal Food and Drug Administration as an additive in nicotine vapor products.

2024, cc. 796, 821.

A. 1. Any retail dealer shall comply with the following requirements:

a. Any liquid nicotine container shall use a child-resistant cap that has the child-resistant effectiveness set forth in the poison prevention packaging standards under 16 C.F.R. § 1700.15(b)(1);

b. Any liquid nicotine container shall use a tamper-evident package feature that is designed to remain intact and that does remain intact when handled in a reasonable manner during the manufacture, distribution, and retail display of such liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor product container; and

c. Any label on a liquid nicotine container shall meet the nicotine addictiveness warning statement requirements under 21 C.F.R. § 1143.3.

2. Any retail dealer selling liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products shall also be required to display signage clearly indicating "products are not for sale to minors" or "underage sales prohibited" and to display vapor products behind a counter or in an enclosed display that is inaccessible without the assistance of a sales representative of the retailer.

B. No person may sell, offer for sale, or otherwise distribute any liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor product with labeling or packaging that is not in compliance with 21 C.F.R. § 1143.3 or that:

1. Imitates or mimics a trademark of any kind or trade dress of any food products, including candy, cookies, cereal, juice boxes, or soft drinks, that are or have primarily been marketed to minors;

2. Depicts images or references to video games, movies, videos, celebrity endorsements, or animated television shows known to appeal to minors;

3. Depicts the actual consumption of liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products or a minor using liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products;

4. Makes any health, medicinal, or therapeutic claims about liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products; or

5. Otherwise promotes overconsumption of liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products.

C. Any person shall advertise or market any liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products only where consistent with the following requirements:

1. All advertisements and marketing shall accurately and legibly identify the person responsible for its content, shall be truthful and appropriately substantiated, shall not be presented in a manner that is materially false or untrue, and shall not be presented in a manner that imitates or mimics a trademark of any kind or trade dress of any food products, including candy, cookies, cereal, juice boxes, or soft drinks, that are or have primarily been marketed to minors;

2. Any advertising or marketing in broadcast, cable, radio, print, and digital communications or any event marketing or sponsorships shall be made only where at least 85 percent of the audience is reasonably expected to be at least 21 years of age, as determined by reliable, up-to-date audience composition data;

3. No advertising or marketing may contain any statement concerning a brand or product that is inconsistent with any statement or images on its labeling; and

4. No advertising or marketing may contain any health-related statement that is untrue in any particular manner or tends to create a misleading impression as to the health benefits of consumption of liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products.

2024, cc. 796, 821.

Erroneous assessments under this chapter may be corrected and refunds ordered as provided in Article 2 (§ 58.1-1820 et seq.), Chapter 18 of this title.

Code 1950, § 58-757.23; 1960, c. 392, § 23; 1980, c. 633; 1984, c. 675.

Reserved.