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Illinois Retailers: Speak Out and Say NO to HIGHER Tobacco Taxes!

Legislators in Springfield are considering increasing the state excise tax on cigarettes by $1.00 per pack!

UPDATE:

Despite the opposition of concerned citizens, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved an amendment to the tobacco tax ordinance to impose new excise taxes on smokeless tobacco products and all other tobacco products. Effective March 1, 2012, tobacco products sold in Cook County will be subject to the following in local excise taxes:

• Smokeless tobacco - $0.36/can and increasing to $0.72/can on 1/1/13
  
• Cigars - $0.25/unit and increasing to $0.30/unit on 1/1/13

Please bookmark this page and be sure to check back for future updates to this and other tobacco-related issues and news in Illinois.

Illinois law requires us to inform you that if you provide something of value to a public official while communicating with him or her about the excise tax legislation, you must disclose this expenditure to Altria Client Services Inc. and its Affiliates so that it may be properly reported. Accordingly, please use the enclosed ‘Grass Roots Lobbying Statement’ to notify us within three business days if you provide travel, meals, entertainment, or other gifts to a public official while communicating regarding the proposed legislation. Please do not complete this statement if you send an e-mail to or phone a public official or if you take another action that does not involve providing something of value to a public official. A copy of the Grass Roots Lobbying Statement can be found at: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/ipub28.pdf (pages 20-21).