Connecticut § 12-296 - Imposition of tax.
Full text of Connecticut Connecticut General Statutes § 12-296 — Imposition of tax., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 12-296. Imposition of tax.
Sec. 12-296. Imposition of tax. A tax is imposed on all cigarettes held in this state by any person for sale, such tax to be at the rate of two hundred seventeen and one-half mills for each cigarette and the payment thereof shall be for the account of the purchaser or consumer of such cigarettes and shall be evidenced by the affixing of stamps to the packages containing the cigarettes as provided in this chapter. Any tax imposed under this chapter shall be reduced by fifty per cent for any product the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services determines to be a modified risk tobacco product pursuant to 21 USC 387k, as amended from time to time.
(1949 Rev., S. 1979; 1955, S. 1128d; November, 1955, S. N136; 1957, P.A. 582, S. 1; 1961, P.A. 578, S. 12; 604, S. 6; 1963, P.A. 651, S. 3; February, 1965, P.A. 326, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 608, S. 1; June, 1969, P.A. 1, S. 44; June, 1971, P.A. 5, S. 114; 8, S. 25; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-1, S. 2, 15; P.A. 89-16, S. 4, 31; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-3, S. 131, 168; P.A. 93-74, S. 13, 14, 67; P.A. 02-1, S. 1; P.A. 03-2, S. 29; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-1, S. 124; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 104; P.A. 11-6, S. 80; P.A. 15-244, S. 176, 179; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2, S. 628.)
History: 1961 acts increased rate, decreased allocation to soldiers, sailors and marines fund from 1/6 to 1/10 of proceeds, and changed fund's upper limit to a market value of $30,000,000; 1963 act further increased rate and deleted provision for allocating any of the proceeds to said fund; 1965 act increased tax rate from 3 to 4 mills per cigarette; 1969 acts temporarily increased rate to 7.25 mills per cigarette from July 1, 1969, to June 30, 1971, and further increased temporary rate to 8 mills; 1971 acts extended closing date for higher rate to June 30, 1973, and then permanently increased rate to 10.5; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-1 increased the rate of tax to 13 mills for each cigarette; P.A. 89-16 increased the rate of tax to 20 mills for each cigarette, effective March 23, 1989, and applicable to cigarettes held for sale on or after April 1, 1989; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-3 increased the rate of tax to 22.5 mills for each cigarette, effective August 22, 1991, and applicable to cigarettes held for sale on or after October 1, 1991; P.A. 93-74, S. 13, increased the rate of tax to 23.5 mills for each cigarette, effective May 19, 1993, and applicable to sales of cigarettes occurring on and after July 1, 1993, and P.A. 93-74, S. 14, increased the rate of tax to 25 mills for each cigarette, effective May 19, 1993, and applicable to sales of cigarettes occurring on and after July 1, 1994; P.A. 02-1 increased the rate of tax to 55.5 mills for each cigarette, effective April 3, 2002; P.A. 03-2 changed rate to 75.5 mills, effective February 28, 2003, and applicable to sales occurring on or after March 15, 2003; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-1 increased rate of tax from 75.5 mills to 100 mills for each cigarette, effective July 1, 2007, and applicable to sales occurring on or after that date; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 increased rate of tax from 100 mills to 150 mills for each cigarette, effective September 9, 2009, and applicable to sales occurring on or after October 1, 2009; P.A. 11-6 increased rate of tax from 150 mills to 170 mills for each cigarette, effective July 1, 2011, and applicable to sales occurring on or after that date; P.A. 15-244 increased rate of tax from 170 to 182.5 mills for each cigarette, effective October 1, 2015, and applicable to sales occurring on or after that date, and further increased rate to 195 mills for each cigarette, effective July 1, 2016, and applicable to sales occurring on or after that date; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2 increased rate of tax from 195 mills to 217.5 mills and added provision re 50 per cent reduction in rate of tax for modified risk tobacco products, effective December 1, 2017, and applicable to sales occurring on or after December 1, 2017.
Cited. 225 C. 528.
Cited. 36 CS 59.
Source: official Connecticut text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Connecticut § 12-296
What does Connecticut General Statutes § 12-296 cover?
Section 12-296 ("Imposition of tax.") is part of the Connecticut General Statutes, the codified statutory law of Connecticut. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Connecticut § 12-296?
A common citation format is "Connecticut General Statutes § 12-296" (Connecticut). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Connecticut law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Connecticut official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Connecticut attorney.
How does Connecticut § 12-296 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Connecticut can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Connecticut.