Taxpayers should know how important a sin tax is as it affects not only their finances but also the well-being of the nation.
In this article:
- What Is a Sin Tax?
- Who Regulates and Executes These Taxes?
- Where Does a Sin Tax on Alcohol Apply?
- When Is a Sin Tax on Cigarettes Applicable?
- Why Are There Federal Sin Taxes?
- How Does a Sin Tax Affect Taxpayers?
Everything You Need to Know About a Sin Tax
What Is a Sin Tax?
Sin Tax Definition: taxes the government applies to products and services that can negatively affect a person or society in general. A sin tax is an excise tax applied either on a state or federal level, sometimes both, to raise revenue and discourage the use of specific products or services.
Taxpayers usually see a sin tax applied when they buy alcoholic drinks and cigarettes. The government has also decided to add a sin tax on gambling activities.
Of course, sin taxes evolve over time as new products and services arise that can affect society negatively but would bring about economic challenges if such industries cease immediately.
In light of the growing legalization of marijuana use, the states where recreational use of the product is legally allowed collect sin taxes on it. Sin taxes, however, do not apply in states where medical use of marijuana is legal.
Interestingly, some states also have a sin tax applied to sugary beverages. These states hope to curb the consumer’s sweet tooth for health purposes.
Lastly, there is also a sin tax for snacks, which predominantly applies to sweets and a few spicy and salty snacks. Due to the higher rates of obesity in the US, states want to have a healthier population and increase their revenue in the process, making sin taxes effective as they hit two birds with one stone.
Excise Tax Definition: any tax the government levies to the producers of said items but passed on to the consumers of the products. It is an indirect tax and is usually part of the price when a buyer purchases the product or service.
Who Regulates and Executes These Taxes?
There are two key players in the creation and execution of sin tax laws. These are the federal government and the local states.
For example, The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 increased the sin taxes for cigarettes. The taxes on the federal level is now $1.01 per pack, up from $0.39, and are used to fund programs and insurance for children.
On the state level, sin taxes for cigarettes have varying rates that increase the purchase cost of consumers for cigarettes.
On the collection end of this tax process, retailers add the sin taxes on the net price of the product. Consumers pay the tax, which they usually do not know, and the retailers forward the tax revenue to the IRS and the state.
An interesting sin tax system is also in place for gambling activities.
Some states do not allow gambling except for a few casinos. However, online casinos and gambling games have made this prohibition a bit difficult to monitor, as gambling can happen in the privacy of the home.
Some online gambling sites have headquarters outside of the state and some even outside the US, making application of the tax difficult.
Instead, states give licenses and then apply a tax as well as a fee.
Online gambling is a growing segment of the industry in the United States, providing much-needed revenue for local states.
Where Does a Sin Tax on Alcohol Apply?
The alcohol sin tax comes in two forms. The first is a spirits sin tax and second is a beer sin tax.
These taxes are usually collected from wine shops and other similar retailers, clubs, bars, and dining businesses.
Do note that some states have higher sin taxes than others.
Purchase of alcohol from one state and then drinking said alcohol in another state can lead to double taxation. This legal double taxation occurs due to paying both federal and state sin taxes in one state.
Another possible taxable event occurs when the investor of such wine sells it to another person. The investor has another tax applied in addition to the sin tax already paid upon the purchase of the alcohol.
Interestingly, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau of the US Treasury Department receives the tobacco sin tax rather than the IRS.
When Is a Sin Tax on Cigarettes Applicable?
Simply put, once a pack of cigarettes leaves the shelves and the consumer pays over the counter, then the consumer is immediately charged a sin tax.
This means that consumers get taxed the moment they buy their pack of cigarettes.
This collection of taxes for tobacco also applies to e-cigarettes and vape pens.
For vape pens, the state applies the sin tax on both the vaporizer and the vaping liquid. Whenever a customer buys either or both parts, the consumer gets a sin tax on both.
E-cigarettes, which are usually more expensive, also have such taxes applied to them.
RELATED: Different Types Of Taxes We Pay In The US [Infographic, 2019 Updated]
Why Are There Federal Sin Taxes?
There are two main reasons why there are federal sin taxes. The first is to raise revenue and the second is to curb the use of products and services that are harmful to society.
Taxes are the lifeblood of any nation as they keep the government operating. Sin taxes provide extra revenue that can help the US fund its projects and develop its programs.
Interestingly enough, revenue from tobacco sin taxes also funds educational drives about the health risks of smoking. The information campaign, together with the increased cost of the products, can lower the use of tobacco for a healthier society.
These effects tie in with the second reason why there are sin taxes. The government wants people to lessen their consumption of such products and services.
However, balancing the continuous demand for revenues and minimizing public consumption is more difficult than it appears. Some businesses may experience lower revenues due to the decrease in demand as well as an increase in employees getting laid off to offset their losses, so judicious legislation is necessary.
How Does a Sin Tax Affect Taxpayers?
Sin taxes, like most things, have pros and cons.
Sin taxes can deter people from buying harmful products and services, however, they may give out unintended negative consequences. In a sin tax system, everyone pays the same taxes, whether they buy the product frequently or occasionally.
The frequency of use for the sin tax can make it disadvantageous to a particular set of people. Due to this unintended focus, this group will have to bear its consequences, like higher prices and lower net income.
The increase in cost can decrease demand. The Economist found out that a 1% increase in cigarettes means a .5% decrease in consumption and purchase.
Sin taxes, however, also provide about $865 billion in total tax revenues. Such an amount help fund not only government operations but other projects as well.
To clarify once again, sin taxes do not show up on tax filing, nor do taxpayers need them when they use IRS tax calculators.
These expenses can create a ripple effect on their finances, which can lead to non-payment of bills. This non-payment of bills can spiral into non-payment of taxes due to lack of funds, which can lead to the IRS sending notices as well as garnishing wages.
Awareness of what sin taxes are and how they affect society can help one make wiser and informed decisions in spending that will ultimately benefit them in the long term.
What do you think about sin taxes? Are you in favor or against them? Let us discuss in the comments section below.