Tobacco Tax Administration

The traders must account the Revenue Commission in respect of all materials.  The Revenue may require the tax to be paid on quantities which have not been accounted for in respect of the amount s of tobacco tax as might reasonably be expected to be charges on tobacco  manufactured from such materials.

The receipt, manufacture and delivery of unstamped tobacco products, under duty suspension, are subject to Revenue conditions in respect of tax warehouses.

Notice must be given to the Revenue of a proposal to dispose of the refuse.  Certain details are required.  Provided the refuse does not contain any consumable material, the trader may dispose of the refuse a certain period after notice of delivery, unless otherwise instructed. If consumable material is included, specific instructions from Revenue is required.

Manufacturers must preserve records, books and accounts relating to the purchase, receipt, disposal and manufacture of materials for taxable products for a period of six years.

Manufacturers and importers must pay the charges and costs incurred by Revenue Commissions in attending at premises.

Tax stamp labels are issued by the Revenue to collect the tax on cigarettes and fine-cut tobacco for the rolling of cigarette.  They are applied to cigarette packets beneath the wrapper.

There are rules regarding the affixation of the stamps to the pack.

Stamps are supplied on reels and sheets for adhesion. Each is numbered sequentially with a code. A reel contains 50,000 stamps. Sheets are supplied in sequentially numbered batches containing 30,000 stamps.

The stamp has a unique design, intended to validate the payment of excise duty in Ireland.  There is a code which includes stamp code of the trade, quantity of cigarettes in each pack or weight, numerals denoting the retail selling price and indicating whether home-produced or imported.

There are also codes dealing with batching and indicating the position of each stamp within the reel or batch supplied together with security marking.

Tax is paid by means of the stamp, which is purchased by the manufacturer or importer.  Packs of cigarettes or fine-cut tobacco for rolling of cigarettes for retail in the State must have the tax stamp affixed to denote the payment of duty.  The stamps are  issued only  on payment of the amount represented by the stamp.  The stamps may only be applied in a tax warehouse.

Manufacturers or importers of cigarettes or a representative in the State acting for manufacturer or importer situate outside the State may purchase the tax stamps.  Tax stamps may be held on the site subject to Revenue control and security condition.

Traders registering for tax stamps must apply, give full details of the proposed business and be registered.  They must give details of the brands concerned, details of the selling price, anticipated sales and imports and their VAT number. They must enter agreements with the revenue regarding control.  They must set out projections of the use of stamps monthly to the control officer.

Revenues printing contractor delivers stamps to the premises directly.  Deliveries are usually made monthly.  Revenue controls are in place regarding deliveries and receipt.  Revenue officers will compare details of stamps received with the requisite delivery order. There are  procedures in relation to receipt and custody of the stamp.

Stamps must be securely stored  and be capable of being secured by the Revenue.  Access must be controlled.  Traders retain full responsibility for stamps delivered to their premises.

Stamps may be released from Revenue control by return of forms to Revenue.  They are  used on a first-in-first-out basis.  If the release is abused, the Revenue may impose stricter controls and require that a control officer be in attendance.

Stamps intended for exported cigarettes may not be used on cigarettes for the domestic market.

Traders involved in manufacturing tobacco products must provide regular periodic stock checks for all stamps.  Weekly stock taking must be undertaken of stamps held outside secure stores which have not entered accounts.  Checks must be made on the last day of each accounting period and at the close of business on a budget day and on a day proceeding a price rise.

Revenue Control may carry out stock checks of stamps in a secure store at the end of each accounting period.  Deficiencies will be treated as releases and charged to tax.

The accounting period for tobacco products begins on the fourth last day of each month and ends on the fifth day of the succeeding month. Deferred payment arrangements are allowed, subject to conditions in relation to stamps issued but not yet used.  In order to avail of  deferred payments, a guarantee with a bank must be entered. Traders must qualify to participate in scheme.

Traders should generally release sufficient stamps to meet production requirements during the accounting period.  Where this is not possible due to lower than anticipated sales, reels or complete batches remaining unused following production may be returned to the secure store and credit may be claimed.

There is provision for the repayment of tax on tax stamps where it could be proved that the stamps have been damaged or destroyed.  There are number of basis including:

• the stamps have been damaged or rendered unusable while being held;
• stamps on products returned by customers, whiere they are to be destroyed;
• stamps on products damaged after production, or which are found to be unsuitable for sale, and which are destroyed;
• stamps on products which are to be used as samples for quality control, experimental or research;
• stamps on products which have been subject to an irregularity in another State or where tax has been paid in another State.

Repament is allowed by means of credit.

Tax may be credited where the cigarettes or tobacco are damaged after production or returned as being out of date or unfit for sale.

Traders who subject to the tax are obliged to maintain records and accounts of:

• stamps orders;
• delivery of stamps to premises;
• stamps issued from such storage;
• stamps affixed for release for consumption;
• stamps affixed but not released;
• stamps in relation to which remission or repayment is allowed;
• stocks of unused stamps;
• amounts of products produced by brand and size;

During each accounting period, the trader is obliged to agree the liability for the tax with the Revenue Control officer. Home manufacturers must provide details of cigarettes produced by brand and pack size during the period.  They must show details of stamps used.

Importers must show details of cigarettes imported by brand and size during the period and stamps used.  A reconciliation must be undertaken to produce a tax stamp charge.  Statements must be remitted to Revenue Commissioners together with a home Ccnsumption warrant for stamped products released for consumption.

The requirement to affix tax stamps to the wrapper  means that  cigarettes being imported will be stamped at point of manufacture or import.  If unstamped cigarettes arrive in the State, they must be held in an approved tax warehouse until the stamps have been secured and affixed.

Imports or consignments within the EU will be undercover of an Administrative Accompanying Document.  In the case of imports from third  countries a single administrative document is used.  It must set out the price declared to the Revenue. There are similar provisions to the above in respect of deferment of payments and arrangement for  smoking tobacco and other products.

The Finance Act 2001 sets out offences in relation to tobacco products tax.  It provides that any person who offers for sale or delivery, other than under a duty-suspension arrangement, cigarettes otherwise than in packs which have been stamped, on which tax has been paid is guilty for an offence.

The offence is subject on conviction on summary charge to a fine up to €3,000 or twelve months imprisonment, or an indictment to fine of up to €12,695 or an imprisonment for five years.  The cigarettes in relation to which the offence is committed are subject to forfeiture.  Any vehicle in which the cigarettes are found may be forfeited.

Any person who counterfeits, alters or makes fraudulent use of a tax stamp is guilty of an offence, subject to the same punishment.

It is an offence for a person to offer for sale  by retail any pack of cigarettes at a price higher than (in the case of cigarettes sold or sold by a coin-machine, above that price higher) than the retail price.  There is an excise punishment of €6 on respect of each offence.  In the case of  coin-operated machines, the nearest multiple of five cent to the prices allowed.

Authorised officers at the Revenue Commission have powers to enter premises of importers and manufacturers of tobacco products.  They have extensive powers to search, take samples, inspect accounts et cetera.  It is an offence to resist, obstruct or impede an officer of the Revenue Commissioners in the exercise of these powers.  Articles involved in unlawful trade are liable to forfeiture.