Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Michigan busts nearly 9,000 who dodged cigarette tax

The Detriot Free Press reports:
Nearly 9,000 people who bought on the Internet to avoid the state's $2-a-pack cigarette tax have been snared in the first year of a state crackdown and forced to pay about $5.9 million in taxes.

The average tax bill was about $650, but some people have been ordered to pay much more. Thousands more smokers could be targeted as the program to find cigarette tax cheaters continues, said state Treasury Department spokesman Terry Stanton.

So far, only four of 13 Internet sellers the state subpoenaed last year agreed to turn over names of their clients. The state has not yet taken legal action against the vendors who haven't handed over their lists of buyers.
Michigan feels their smokers have an obligation to pay high taxes.Blue state compassion.