N.Y. asks online cigarette buyers to cough up tax

Mayor Bloomberg asks 3,700 smokers to fork over $1.3 million in city taxes from Net tobacco purchases.

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For many it is not a conscience avoidance of taxes

For many people who buy cigarettes online, it is not a conscience avoidance of taxes, it is the need and the desire to reduce costs. Our state and federal governments have unfairly chosen cigarettes/tobacco as one of the most sought after means to raise revenue. Why arent taxes put into affect and raised at the same rate on other fringe items, such as alcohol, foods with high sugar content, chocolate, high-end merchandise, high-end vehicles, recreational equipment, firearms, ammunition (just to name a few) and other items that are not necessities of life. Smokers are tired of being the governments scrape goat and are tired of the constant raising of prices. They are seeking means to save themselves money. I dont believe it is a conscience thought when they are seeking out better prices, that they are purposely avoiding taxes, they are trying to make their budgets work. If someone is purchasing large quantity online which makes it apparent they are reselling for a profit, I do feel this is different and should fall under different statutes. However, if a person is buying for personal use only, they should be left alone. And it is about time the government starts looking at the other un-necessities of life to impose higher taxes on at the same rate as they have tobacco products.

[Not Bugged]

Beware what you ask for

You sarcastically ask why they aren't taxing all those other items but are apparently ignorant of the fact that others have already laid plans to tax those other "sins". The groundwork is being laid right now to tax "unhealthy" foods, gas guzzling vehicles (actually, this tax is already in place at the Federal level). The only reason many of those things aren't being taxed already is that the politicos can't get too many people mad at them at the same time or they'll get kicked out.

[Harry OJam]

How do they get away with this?

I'm glad I quit smoking. I'm very glad I don't live in New York! New Yorkers it's time for a New Government...............

millennium falcon

oh yeah?
i had the titular line in star wars
"boy, i sure am tired of all these star wars..."

[sportav]

How do they know who they are?

Where does the city get the information regarding who bought cigs through an online vendor? Isn't this an invasion of privacy?