Does North Carolina stamp cigarettes?
Isabella Ramos
Updated on March 02, 2026
Stamps make it harder for bootleggers, who then have to get rid of one state’s stamp before putting on a fraudulent stamp representing another state. North Carolina, North Dakota and South Carolina are the only states without the stamp.
Who puts the tax stamp on cigarettes?
Distributors
Distributors and dealers must affix a stamp to each pack of cigarettes they sell as evidence that the 25-mil tax has been paid. They may buy stamps in rolls of 30,000 or sheets of 100. Distributors must affix the stamps before the cigarettes leave their possession.
Why do cigarettes have tax stamps?
Tax stamps have been historically required since excise taxes were first imposed on tobacco products, much like stamps are used on other licenses and products states regulate (e.g., hunting, alcohol sales). It is illegal in those states to sell tobacco products without tax stamps.
What is the sticker on the bottom of cigarettes?
A cigarette tax stamp is any adhesive stamp, metered stamp, heat transfer stamp, or other form or evidence of payment of a cigarette tax. A cigarette tax stamp is a specific example of a revenue stamp.
What is the cigarette tax by state?
Table Key:
| State | Cigarette Tax | Smoking Tobacco Tax |
|---|---|---|
| California | $2.87 / 20-pack | 59.27% WP |
| Colorado | $0.84 / 20-pack | 40% MLP |
| Connecticut | $4.35 / 20-pack | 50% WP |
| Delaware | $2.10 / 20-pack | 30% WP |
What is a cigarette Stamper?
The Cigarette Stamper manages the machine and properly stamps the correct state on packs of cigarettes within each carton. Must be able to handle a fast-paced environment while maintaining the flow of product on the conveyor system.
How can you tell how old a cigarette is?
This is usually a six or seven-digit number. The first three numbers represent the actual day of the year the cigarettes were manufactured. For example, if the first three digits read 144, that means the pack was produced on May 24th, the 144th day of the year. The next two digits indicate the year produced.
What is the tax on cigarettes in NC?
Table Key:
| State | Cigarette Tax | Smoking Tobacco Tax |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $0.45 / 20-pack | 12.8% CP |
| North Dakota | $0.44 / 20-pack | 28% WPP |
| Ohio | $1.60 / 20-pack | 17% WPP |
| Oklahoma | $2.03 / 20-pack | 80% FLP |
How much is tax on a pack of cigarettes in NC?
In North Carolina, cigarettes are subject to a state excise tax of $0.45 per pack of 20. Cigarettes are also subject to North Carolina sales tax of approximately $0.31 per pack, which adds up to a total tax per pack of $0.76.
