Heartland of the USA

[Mohamed]

I live in the heartland of the US. Iowa and I am proud of that. My sister lives in a Minnesotan just north of me but I am extremely disappointed to find out what they are doing with e-cigs. I have only been vaping for a month maybe two...but she has informed me that they are the only state in the union that taxes e-cigs. Is this true? She's unsure if it's 35% or 70%. e-Cigarettes says it's 35%.

Your not going to find a brick and mortar shop here in Iowa...I guess if you find one let me know but I'm pretty sure they are non existent here. Maybe if I travel an hour into Des Moines I could find one...my point is that you are not very likely to find a "vaping" shop if you live where I live.

I started my vaping experience because I saw a disposable "2 pack" e-cig for $11. I was a pack and quarter a day smoker so I put the 2 packs in quotes as it lasted me a day and half max. I think juice was 2 packs worth but battery ran out quicker than that. At any rate the ONLY reason I tried them was because it was "close" to 2 packs of Camel Lights ($12). I guess in my mind I figured what do I have to lose 1-2 days worth of cigs for this electronic thing.

Well eventually that was a good thing as $11 made me try vaping as opposed to $13 worth of cigs. I eventually bought an eblue starter kit at gas station for $40 and I think as the cartridges were $15 for 5 of them. Still a lot of money but cheaper than buying cigs. I eventually found some you-tube videos on how to refill those cartridges for even cheaper. Then I found this site and went with an ego-c to make it cheaper.

I guess with this whole rant if the disposable e-cig cost me $13 with MN state tax I would never have tried it and never done the research to find this site or find out about cheaper alternatives unless I started with the "gas station" disposables. By making them more expensive aren't they discouraging current smokers from trying them out?

I mean even at $13 not to consider an extra 35-70 percent tax I don't think I would have ever tried them to begin with. The reason I tried them was because they were cheaper than my Camel Lights.

Without any reason to tax them other than there is nicotine in them I'm scared this will fall south of MN into IA. I won't stand for this is there anything I can do? If tax was in IA to I'd still be smoking cigs...only reason I transitioned was because of cost.

 

[serenity21899]

Electric Cigarette | Eliquid | Supplies | Electronic Cigarette | Ejuice | Vapor Search USA

A list of vape shops in the US by state.

Unfortunately, we don't know what the FDA has in store for us. CAASA has lots of good information about impending state laws. The link is in my signature. They are also active here on ECF.

 

[Mohamed]

Electric Cigarette | Eliquid | Supplies/ | Electronic Cigarette | Ejuice | Vapor Search USA

A list of vape shops in the US by state.

Unfortunately, we don't know what the FDA has in store for us. CAASA has lots of good information about impending state laws. The link is in my signature. They are also active here on ECF.

A whole 6 shops in the state...that was kind of my point I think vaping is rather new and unknown here in the midwest. Maybe if it becomes more popular more shops will open? I guess my main point was why does MN tax it? Are they truly only state to tax it?

As stated with prices after tax I never would have blinked an eye at these electronic cigs. It was only the fact that I saw that "2 packs" were $11 instead of $13 for my camel lights. That $2 difference and that alone was what made me start the trial process and figure out this vaping thing eventually.

If $2 price difference made me try an alternative why would MN tax it and discourage others from trying it?

 

[Vaslovik]

I live in the heartland of the US. Iowa and I am proud of that. My sister lives in a Minnesotan just north of me but I am extremely disappointed to find out what they are doing with e-cigs. I have only been vaping for a month maybe two...but she has informed me that they are the only state in the union that taxes e-cigs. Is this true? She's unsure if it's 35% or 70%. e-Cigarettes says it's 35%.

Your not going to find a brick and mortar shop here in Iowa..

It remains forever true, the power to tax is the power to destroy.

 

[Mohamed]

My sister in MN never has smoked so she doesn't have any skin in the game per se'. She told me part of it was earmarked for the new MN Vikings Stadium and free all day kindergarten. Again I don't live there but what the ****? Especially the football stadium? What do either of those have to do with smoking, tobacco use, health care costs, or for that matter vaping?

 

[SissySpike]

The mining industry is under attack from the current administration. Minnesota relies heavily on mining.

 

[Robino1]

This is what we are trying to fight all over. You are 100% correct that if they make ecigs as expensive as smoking, people will not choose a healthier alternative. What would be the incentive? This makes us just as angry as you are right now. It makes no sense.

 

[Rickb119]

"Governments view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving subsidize it."

Ronald Reagan

 

[Angiebubs]

I just looked back at a receipt from a e-cig store in MN (I live in WI and work in MN) and for the e-liquid I bought, the cost for 2 bottles was $40 and they charged $2.84 tax which is roughly 7%-think that is the standard tax rate.

 

[SissySpike]

This is what we are trying to fight all over. You are 100% correct that if they make ecigs as expensive as smoking, people will not choose a healthier alternative. What would be the incentive? This makes us just as angry as you are right now. It makes no sense.

When we turned our heads when they started the sin taxes on gambling booze and cigarettes we allowed the can of worms to be opened. To allow an unfair tax on something simply because it is quote unethical is in its self hypocritical.

We allow the the government to squander our money wast it with out accountability. It makes perfect since to me something so big has to have lots of money. Taxing things like ecigs are a easy target. The majority would rather have that rather than something they use.

The shame of it all is we are paying their salaries to do it to us ironic hu?

 

[Mohamed]

I guess I don't mind it going towards all day free kindergarten...but for it going towards the football stadium...really? I just don't see how it has anything to do with the football stadium. I don't live there so I can't make too much of a fuss but if it were in my state I'd be throwing a fit.

If you guys ever see anything close to this going on in Iowa throw me a message. I'd like to know a head of time about this. I've only been vaping a month or two but I never would have tried e-cigs unless they weren't cheaper. I feel as if I am a minority and therefore should be trampled upon. I'm doing myself and this country a service by moving to ecigs.

This BS tax game should be put to an end.

 

[Robino1]

I just looked back at a receipt from a e-cig store in MN (I live in WI and work in MN) and for the e-liquid I bought, the cost for 2 bottles was $40 and they charged $2.84 tax which is roughly 7%-think that is the standard tax rate.

I can live with standard taxes. Taxing them above that? No.

 

[Mohamed]

The 7% is probably the sales tax. When you buy a pack of smokes they don't break down all the fed/state/local taxes that go towards health and tobacco tax. I think my sister was right with the 70%. On MN website e-Cigarettes it says 35% for Tobacco Tax and 35% for Health Impact Fee. Although it also states that it is only on the nicotine value of the cartridge. I'm sure that would apply to the e-juice as well...but probably not the hardware.

 

[CommaHolly]

buy a good quality e-cigarette, pay the tax once, and then DIY for the juice,,,,,,,,,

 

[Angiebubs]

The 7% is probably the sales tax. When you buy a pack of smokes they don't break down all the fed/state/local taxes that go towards health and tobacco tax. I think my sister was right with the 70%. On MN website e-Cigarettes it says 35% for Tobacco Tax and 35% for Health Impact Fee. Although it also states that it is only on the nicotine value of the cartridge. I'm sure that would apply to the e-juice as well...but probably not the hardware.

So you think the e-cig businesses are just including it in the price they charge and are not listing it out as tax?

 

[VikingQueen]

I live in MN and am an accountant. The reason I switched to vaping was the impending increase of cigarette tax (July 1st of this year).

The following is as clear as mud:
e-Cigarettes

This is a little clearer, but still ridiculous:
http://www.revenue.state.mn.us/law_policy/revenue_notices/RN_12-10.pdf

Anyway, I have not noticed an increase in e-cig product cost due to tax from local vendors. Obviously, I still pay sales tax buying local, but that's it.

 

[fundoodman]

If you purchase anything from a ecig store in MN it's just the normal 6.875% tax, nothing like 35-70%. I don't know where she heard that, weird?

 

[Mohamed]

If you purchase anything from a ecig store in MN it's just the normal 6.875% tax, nothing like 35-70%. I don't know where she heard that, weird?

It says 70% on the MN webpage e-Cigarettes

Tobacco products are subject to both Tobacco Tax and a Health Impact Fee (35 percent each).

E-Cigs are considered tobacco products in MN.

They just don't break down those taxes on your receipt like they do sales tax.

So you think the e-cig businesses are just including it in the price they charge and are not listing it out as tax?

Exactly. It's like when you used to buy a pack of smokes...they don't list those taxes on your receipt.

 

[Relaxed5311]

Your not going to find a brick and mortar shop here in Iowa.

We have 3 shops total now in Des Moines.

The two newer ones are:
Vapor Lounge
2355 E University Ave
STE 103
515-266-8273

and

Great Alternatives
4930 Franklin Ave
515-777-3525

and there is always
Central Iowa E-cig on Ne14th.

 

[Mohamed]

We have 3 shops total now in Des Moines.

The two newer ones are:
Vapor Lounge
2355 E University Ave
STE 103
515-266-8273

and

Great Alternatives
4930 Franklin Ave
515-777-3525

and there is always
Central Iowa E-cig on Ne14th.

Do you recommend or like a particular one. I don't get to the down town area part of Des Moines very often...mostly because I get confused about all the one-ways Do they have reasonable prices on atty, tanks, devices, and juice; or with only 2 other competitor are all of there prices pretty high?

Either way I guess next time I'm in the area I'll to stop at least one of them.