Connecticut Could See Cigar Taxes Go Up

A bill introduced into the Connecticut General Assembly could have cigars costing more this summer, as the governor is calling for a $1 increase on the current tax cap amongst a number of other increases that are part of his proposed budget.

Currently, premium cigars and other tobacco products are taxed at a rate of 50 percent of the wholesale price, though it is capped at 50 cents per cigar. Should S.B. 787 pass, that cap would increase to $1.50, which means that a cigar with a suggested retail price of $9.50 would jump from $10.50 at the register to $12.50, by halfwheel estimates and before sales taxes are added.

Via the bill, Gov. Dannel “Dan” Malloy is also seeking an increase in the state’s cigarette tax, from $1.95 to $2.17 per pack, as well as an increase on the snuff tax, from $1 to $3 per ounce.

Should it be passed, the increase would go into effect on July 1, 2017. The bill has been referred to Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding, with no date for a hearing set as of yet.

The Connecticut General Assembly is also considering an increase to the minimum age to purchase tobacco products, as H.B. 5384. Earlier this week, that bill passed a voice vote in the Joint Committee on Public Health.

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, the G-League's Valley Suns, and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.