Decoding U.S. Cigar Taxes: A Complete Guide for American Smokers

70Cigars strictly complies with all tax obligations. 

Have you ever wondered why your total jumps significantly when you try to buy cigars online in the U.S.? The U.S. cigar tax system is notoriously complex, with a layered combination of federal, state, and local taxes that vary wildly by region. To help you navigate this maze, 70Cigars has broken down exactly what you are paying for. 

Part 1. Federal Tax: Already Baked In

All cigars sold in the U.S. already include a federal excise tax. For consumers, it is safe to assume this tax is already baked into the retail base price, so you don't need to worry about it. 

Part 2. State Excise Tax: The Real Culprit

This is what makes cigar pricing so complicated. Rates vary wildly by state—some tax the wholesale price, some the retail price, and some even exempt premium cigars entirely. 

Part 3. Sales Tax: The Standard Retail Tax

This is the general tax applied to retail sales  

Conclusion: The 70Cigars Tax-Shock-Free Guarantee 

By operating safely within these legal parameters, 70Cigars are able to offer our customers the purest base price, any taxes applicable will be displayed at checkout, based on the delivery location.There is no need to panic over unexpected fees the moment you hit checkout. Enjoy a smarter cigar lifestyle with the transparent pricing guaranteed by 70Cigars. 

(※ Please note: The obligation to report and pay any final Use Tax according to your local state regulations remains entirely your own choice and responsibility.) 

As a helpful reference, we have provided a table below estimating the taxes incurred when purchasing 50 cigar sticks for a total of $100, shipped from our warehouse located in Houston, Texas. We hope you find this general guide useful.  

Thank you. 

Disclaimer: The contents of the table below are not legally binding and are provided for informational purposes only. The estimates are based on the Federation of Tax Administrators' "Tobacco Uniformity Tax Information By State," data from the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), and various state sales tax records. 

The U.S. State Cigar Tax Table 

This table separates cigar excise tax from sales tax. 

Excise tax = the cigar-specific tax structure by state. 

Sales tax = the general state/local sales tax rate provided by the user. 

Estimated final total = $100 base purchase + estimated cigar excise tax + sales tax applied to the $100 base price.