Who is required to obtain and maintain a Tobacco License?

Please remember that you may not sell cigarette and/or tobacco products without a valid Cigarette and Tobacco Products Retail License.

At its core, a Cigarette and Tobacco Products License is two things.

1. A permits to purchase wholesale and charge sales tax upon Tobacco products in general and specific.

2. A legal contract with the state to not sell the licensed products to underage individuals.

This in mind, the financial value of the first must be weighed against the risk and liability posed by the second.

In accordance with Most State Laws Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing, every tobacco retailer who sells or will sell cigarettes or tobacco products is required to obtain a retailer's seller's permit license and a tobacco retailer's license and renew it annually. This licensing requirement is in addition to other permits and licenses that may be required depending on your business operations. A tobacco license is required before you begin making sales of cigarettes and tobacco products.

"Retailer" means a person who sells cigarettes or tobacco products directly to the public retail location, including vending machines.

What are the requirements to obtain and maintain a retailer's license?

1. Every retailer currently selling cigarettes or tobacco products must apply for and obtain a cigarette and tobacco products retailer's license.
2. All new applications on this site must be submitted with a one-time fee of  $200 for each retail location selling cigarettes or tobacco products. Each retail location selling cigarettes or tobacco products must have a separate license.
3. A license is valid for a 12-month period, is not assignable or transferable, and must be renewed annually.
4. There is no additional cost for this renewal.
5. However, if you fail to renew your license timely and allow your license to expire, you will be required to pay a reinstatement fee of $100.00 as a precondition for reinstatement.
6. Please remember that you may not sell cigarette and/or tobacco products without a valid Cigarette and Tobacco Products Retail License.

Here are the licenses and tax ids you are legally required to obtain before starting business operations:1. A business tax registration license2. A DBA assumed business name 3. A state sales tax id permit 4. A federal tax id number 5. A state employer tax id number. NOTE: You need a reseller license / seller’s permit to be able to buy or sell wholesale and sell retail, but you don’t need a seller’s / resale permit if your business is located in Alaska, Oregon, or New Hampshire – you can get and use your federal tax id when they ask you for a wholesale tax id number. Also, note that even if you don’t need a fed id number, you can obtain one and use it as a business id instead of using your social security number ( for example in government business application forms). In addition, keep in mind that instead of getting a DBA certificate, most small business advisors recommend you get a limited liability (LLC) company (form an LLC) or incorporating your small business. Forming an LLC or incorporating is the best and cheapest insurance against business creditors and business related judgment holders, who are after your personal assets. Finally, note, that if you form an LLC or incorporate, you don’t need a trade name DBA certificate but you do need a federal EIN number to identify the corporation or LLC.

The key is to contact the state Tobacco and Alcohol Board. Through our new Proffesional License Service, which can be obtained at www.businessnameusa.com, we can easily pursue these services for you for an affordable price.

www.businessnameusa.com

P.O. Box 14927

Long Beach, CA.

310-455-6675

1. Please remember that you may not sell cigarette and/or tobacco products without a valid Cigarette and Tobacco Products Retail License.
2. Also, the sale of these products to underage individuals in violation of the terms of your license is not just grounds for revocation of your license, but also grounds for legal penalties of a wide range.

To determine the price of a proffesional license such as this beyond the standard of $99.99 on a state by state basis, simply go to http://www.businessnameusa.com/services/fees.htm