On the run from Lois, the NJ Tobacco Tax Lady

[LizardGizmo]

Well this is a first...!

I know to the non-US members here the amount of this tax is laughable, but I can't believe I got a letter from the state of NJ demanding a tobacco tax payment.

What's even more wild is I am unsure which retailer got audited... the amount doesn't line up with any transaction I've made. Perhaps the amount listed is the wholesale value of the cigars?  If so, I think the attached screenshot is the order.

Has anyone gotten anything like this?

Also, I love that "Lizardo Gimzo" is getting demand letters from the State of NJ Audit Services Branch 

 

[TomsRibs210]

Simply the global insider tax. 

[Chibearsv]

I think Illinois might be trying something like this too. They’ve been discussing how to grab taxes in general for all internet purchases, so getting the extra bang for tobacco tax is probably just a bonus for them. I think Lizardo better get used to paying additional taxes. Or start buying cigars from the white van in the mall parking lot. 😜

[zacca]

LIZARDO GIMZO! That’s amazing 🤩 

Now I’m going to think of this and laugh every time Jesus Luzardo takes the mound for the Phils this year. 

[El Presidente]

I can't wait for the court hearing. 

"State your name"

"George ****** your honor" 

"Who in hell is Lizardo and where is he?"

 

 

[Çnote]

If you are a resident of NJ, I would look into this, just to be on safe side.

If the NJ retailer delivered to NJ, they should have collected the state taxes, but it looks like the website charged msrp and no taxes at all. That $111.50 would be about the wholesale invoice.

JSI should have charged you the state tobacco tax and sales tax but didn't, and reported the short fall to State Compliance rather than take their mistake on the wrist. 

Not a lawyer, but you may want to have one talk to JSI.

11 hours ago, Chibearsv said:

Illinois might be trying something like this too

Some of you may remember a decade+ ago where many ecomm alcohol sites shipped to any state as the jurisdictions wouldn't necessarily take action, but it was Illinois that found a way to stop shipments and the dominoes fell quickly.

[JohnS]

20 hours ago, LizardGizmo said:

Has anyone gotten anything like this?

You don't want to know. As an Australian, the amount is laughable in comparison to what we are expected to pay if our shipments are intercepted by Customs.

[Vetteman]

20 hours ago, LizardGizmo said:

Has anyone gotten anything like this?

Yes, I think I got two of them but it was probably 25 years ago and I don’t remember the details. I paid it and moved on. It’s funny though. I was in a NJ shop a week ago and internet purchases came up. The owner mentioned these “tax notices” from the state. It was the first time I’d thought about them in a long time, and now here’s your post.

[MrBirdman]

15 hours ago, LizardGizmo said:

Perhaps the amount listed is the wholesale value of the cigars?

Typically that’s how cigars are taxed in the US.

What a hoot - not having cigars delivered to the family house at the Jersey Shore anymore!

[El Presidente]

This is why a good mate uses his cat's name on all cigar parcels to the USA 

It is very hard to chase "Whiskers". 

[CigarAsh]

I just got something similar here in Kansas when I bought a box in London at JJ Fox almost 3 years ago. (They also dinged me for two rugs we bought in Jaipur, India the same year). Because of some weird timing with us leaving, I just had them ship. Apparently KS accesses US Customs and got a value declaration and is now after me for the “use tax” which is just the sales tax.  

[GP012]

On 3/24/2026 at 4:26 PM, Çnote said:

If the NJ retailer delivered to NJ, they should have collected the state taxes, but it looks like the website charged msrp and no taxes at all. That $111.50 would be about the wholesale invoice.

JSI should have charged you the state tobacco tax and sales tax but didn't, and reported the short fall to State Compliance rather than take their mistake on the wrist. 

I believe most online retailers only need to collect use/sales tax if they have a presence (nexus) in that particular state. I'm not sure if that exception applies to state tobacco taxes though.