2019 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 12 - Taxation
Chapter 21 - Stamp And Business License Tax
Section 12-21-625. Cigarette surtax; imposition; crediting of revenues; definition of "cigarette".

(A) Effective July 1, 2010, there is imposed a surtax on cigarettes subject to the tax imposed pursuant to Section 12-21-620(1) in an amount equal to two and one-half cents on each cigarette.

(B) Notwithstanding another provision of law providing for the crediting of the revenues of license or other taxes, the revenue of the surtax imposed pursuant to this section must be credited as follows:

(1) five million dollars annually to the Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center to be used for tobacco-related cancer research;

(2) five million dollars annually to the Smoking Prevention and Cessation Trust Fund created pursuant to Section 11-11-230(A);

(3) the remaining annual revenue shall be deposited in the South Carolina Medicaid Reserve Fund created pursuant to Section 11-11-230(B).

(C) For all purposes of reporting, payment, collection, and enforcement, the surtax imposed by this section is deemed to be imposed pursuant to Section 12-21-620.

(D) For purposes of this section, "cigarette" means:

(1) any roll for smoking containing tobacco or any substitute for tobacco wrapped in paper or in any substance other than a tobacco leaf; or

(2) any roll for smoking containing tobacco or any substitute for tobacco, wrapped in any substance, weighing three pounds per thousand or less, however labeled or named, which because of its appearance, size, type of tobacco used in the filler, or its packaging, pricing, marketing, or labeling, is likely to be offered to, or purchased by, consumers as a cigarette described in item (1).

HISTORY: 2010 Act No. 170, Section 1, eff May 13, 2010.