Washington Smokers Run to the Border to Get Cheaper Cigarettes

After Washington's latest price increase, many Washington consumers are finding less-costly smokes in Idaho.

May 11, 2010

WORLEY, ID - Washington State smokers have begun stocking up on Idaho cigarettes, the result of a $1 per pack tax that took effect last week, KREM-TV reports. Experts estimate that Washington stands to lose more than $200 million in tax revenue because of the new tax increase.

Washington now charges more than $3 per pack in state cigarette taxes, among the highest state rates in the country. Statewide, Washington smokers now pay up to $8 a pack for in-state smokes, while in Idaho, they pay just under $5.

Federal law exempts active duty and retired military, as well as those in Native American tribes, from purchasing taxed cigarettes. For all others, it is a gross misdemeanor to possess or transport untaxed cigarettes. Violators are subject to fines up to $250.

Look for a NACS Magazine story that addresses the effects of convenience store cigarette sales in border states with higher and lower tax rates.

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