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Effective July 1, 2008, the Massachusetts cigarette tax has increased by $1.00 per package of 20 and $1.25 per package of 25.

As of July 1, the new excise tax rates are:

• $2.51 per package of 20 cigarettes
• $3.1375 per package of 25 cigarettes

Little cigars are now taxed as cigarettes.

For more information on the tax increase, visit the Department of Revenue's web page on this issue.

Tobacco tax increases have been proven to be an effective strategy to decrease youth smoking rates.  The Surgeon General’s Report, Reducing Tobacco Use, found that increasing the price of tobacco products decreases the prevalence of tobacco use, particularly among kids and young adults, and that tobacco tax increases lead to “substantial long-term improvements in health.”  Its review of existing research concluded that raising tobacco taxes is one of the most effective tobacco prevention and control strategies.

The July 2008 tax increase makes Massachusetts' tax the third-highest state tobacco tax in the nation, after New York and New Jersey.

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