Tobacco.org

Cost of lighting up is going up: Cigarette tax hike takes effect soon 

LAS CRUCES -- Smokers and chewers could discover on April 1 that the health of their pocketbooks may be at risk with the increase of federal taxes on their favorite tobacco products. The recent expansion of a federal children's health program could insure as many as 11 million youngsters, but the almost $33 billion piece of legislation will have tobacco consumers footing the bill.

On April 1, a 61-cents-per-pack increase will be added to cigarettes, bringing the total federal tax to about $1, from 39 cents. Consumers also will see tax increases on other tobacco products, including a jump of more than 30 percent for large cigars, an increase of about 7 cents for moist snuff and a spike of nearly $1.50 on roll-your-own tobacco.

Although New Mexico now imposes a tax of about 91 cents per pack of cigarettes, recently-introduced legislation aimed to further increase the state tax. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Roberto Gonzales, D-Taos, was tabled in the House Taxation and Revenue Committee and never voted on.

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