HB4250 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 16477 SPS 29872 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4250

Introduced 1/14/2026, by Rep. Maurice A. West, II

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

35 ILCS 143/10-5
35 ILCS 143/10-10
35 ILCS 143/10-24 new
35 ILCS 143/10-25
35 ILCS 143/10-37
35 ILCS 143/10-38
35 ILCS 143/10-45
35 ILCS 143/10-50

Amends the Tobacco Products Tax Act of 1995. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2026, it shall be unlawful for any person to engage in business as a remote retail seller without first having obtained a license to do so from the Department of Revenue. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2026, any person engaged in business as a remote retail seller of tobacco products shall be taxed at the rate of 45% of the wholesale price of tobacco products sold or otherwise disposed of to retailers or consumers located in the State. Defines "remote retail seller" as a person located inside or outside of the State who makes remote retail sales. Makes conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning revenue.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Tobacco Products Tax Act of 1995 is amended by changing Sections 10-5, 10-10, 10-25, 10-30, 10-35, 10-37, 10-38, 10-45, and 10-50 and by adding Section 10-24 as follows:

(35 ILCS 143/10-5)

Sec. 10-5. Definitions. For purposes of this Act:

"Business" means any trade, occupation, activity, or enterprise engaged in, at any location whatsoever, for the purpose of selling tobacco products.

"Cigarette" has the meaning ascribed to the term in Section 1 of the Cigarette Tax Act.

"Contraband little cigar" means:

(1) packages of little cigars containing 20 or 25 little cigars that do not bear a required tax stamp under this Act;

(2) packages of little cigars containing 20 or 25 little cigars that bear a fraudulent, imitation, or counterfeit tax stamp;

(3) packages of little cigars containing 20 or 25 little cigars that are improperly tax stamped, including packages of little cigars that bear only a tax stamp of another state or taxing jurisdiction; or

(4) packages of little cigars containing other than 20 or 25 little cigars in the possession of a distributor, retailer or wholesaler, unless the distributor, retailer, or wholesaler possesses, or produces within the time frame provided in Section 10-27 or 10-28 of this Act, an invoice from a stamping distributor, distributor, or wholesaler showing that the tax on the packages has been or will be paid.

"Correctional Industries program" means a program run by a State penal institution in which residents of the penal institution produce tobacco products for sale to persons incarcerated in penal institutions or resident patients of a State operated mental health facility.

"Department" means the Illinois Department of Revenue.

"Distributor" means any of the following:

(1) Any manufacturer or wholesaler in this State engaged in the business of selling tobacco products who sells, exchanges, or distributes tobacco products to retailers or consumers in this State.

(2) Any manufacturer or wholesaler engaged in the business of selling tobacco products from without this State who sells, exchanges, distributes, ships, or transports tobacco products to retailers or consumers located in this State, so long as that manufacturer or wholesaler has or maintains within this State, directly or by subsidiary, an office, sales house, or other place of business, or any agent or other representative operating within this State under the authority of the person or subsidiary, irrespective of whether the place of business or agent or other representative is located here permanently or temporarily.

(3) Any retailer who receives tobacco products on which the tax has not been or will not be paid by another distributor.

"Distributor" does not include any person, wherever resident or located, who makes, manufactures, or fabricates tobacco products as part of a Correctional Industries program for sale to residents incarcerated in penal institutions or resident patients of a State operated mental health facility.

"Electronic cigarette" means:

(1) any device that employs a battery or other mechanism to heat a solution or substance to produce a vapor or aerosol intended for inhalation, except for (A) any device designed solely for use with cannabis that contains a statement on the retail packaging that the device is designed solely for use with cannabis and not for use with tobacco or (B) any device that contains a solution or substance that contains cannabis subject to tax under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act or the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act;

(2) any cartridge or container of a solution or substance intended to be used with or in the device or to refill the device, except for any cartridge or container of a solution or substance that contains cannabis subject to tax under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act or the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act; or

(3) any solution or substance, whether or not it contains nicotine, intended for use in the device, except for any solution or substance that contains cannabis subject to tax under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act or the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.

The changes made to the definition of "electronic cigarette" by this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly apply on and after June 28, 2019, but no claim for credit or refund is allowed on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly for such taxes paid during the period beginning June 28, 2019 and the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

"Electronic cigarette" includes, but is not limited to, any electronic nicotine delivery system, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, electronic hookah, vape pen, or similar product or device, and any component or part that can be used to build the product or device. "Electronic cigarette" does not include: cigarettes, as defined in Section 1 of the Cigarette Tax Act; any product approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for sale as a tobacco cessation product, a tobacco dependence product, or for other medical purposes that is marketed and sold solely for that approved purpose; any asthma inhaler prescribed by a physician for that condition that is marketed and sold solely for that approved purpose; or any therapeutic product approved for use under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act.

"Little cigar" means and includes any roll, made wholly or in part of tobacco, where such roll has an integrated cellulose acetate filter and weighs less than 4 pounds per thousand and the wrapper or cover of which is made in whole or in part of tobacco.

"Manufacturer" means any person, wherever resident or located, who manufactures and sells tobacco products, except a person who makes, manufactures, or fabricates tobacco products as a part of a Correctional Industries program for sale to persons incarcerated in penal institutions or resident patients of a State operated mental health facility.

Beginning on January 1, 2013, "moist snuff" means any finely cut, ground, or powdered tobacco that is not intended to be smoked, but shall not include any finely cut, ground, or powdered tobacco that is intended to be placed in the nasal cavity.

"Nicotine" means any form of the chemical nicotine, including any salt or complex, regardless of whether the chemical is naturally or synthetically derived, and includes nicotinic alkaloids and nicotine analogs.

"Person" means any natural individual, firm, partnership, association, joint stock company, joint venture, limited liability company, or public or private corporation, however formed, or a receiver, executor, administrator, trustee, conservator, or other representative appointed by order of any court.

"Place of business" means and includes any place where tobacco products are sold or where tobacco products are manufactured, stored, or kept for the purpose of sale or consumption, including any vessel, vehicle, airplane, train, or vending machine.

"Prior continuous compliance taxpayer" means any person who is licensed under this Act and who, having been a licensee for a continuous period of 2 years, is determined by the Department not to have been either delinquent or deficient in the payment of tax liability during that period or otherwise in violation of this Act. "Prior continuous compliance taxpayer" also means any taxpayer who has, as verified by the Department, continuously complied with the condition of his bond or other security under provisions of this Act for a period of 2 consecutive years. In calculating the consecutive period of time described in this definition for qualification as a prior continuous compliance taxpayer, a consecutive period of time of qualifying compliance immediately prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly shall be credited to any licensee who became licensed on or before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly. A distributor that is a prior continuous compliance taxpayer and becomes a successor to a distributor as the result of an acquisition, merger, or consolidation of that distributor shall be deemed to be a prior continuous compliance taxpayer with respect to the acquired, merged, or consolidated entity.

"Remote retail sale" means any sale of tobacco products to a consumer that satisfies any of the following:

(1) The consumer submits the order for the sale by telephone, a method of voice transmission, mail, or the Internet or other online service, or the seller is otherwise not in the physical presence of the consumer when the order or request for purchase is made.

(2) The tobacco product is delivered to the consumer by common carrier, private delivery service, or other method of remote delivery, or the seller is not in the physical presence of the consumer when the consumer obtains possession of the tobacco product.

"Remote retail seller" means a person located inside or outside of this State who makes remote retail sales.

"Retailer" means any person in this State engaged in the business of selling tobacco products to consumers in this State, regardless of quantity or number of sales.

"Sale" means any transfer, exchange, or barter in any manner or by any means whatsoever for a consideration and includes all sales made by persons.

"Stamp" or "stamps" mean the indicia required to be affixed on a package of little cigars that evidence payment of the tax on packages of little cigars containing 20 or 25 little cigars under Section 10-10 of this Act. These stamps shall be the same stamps used for cigarettes under the Cigarette Tax Act.

"Stamping distributor" means a distributor licensed under this Act and also licensed as a distributor under the Cigarette Tax Act or Cigarette Use Tax Act.

"Tobacco products" means any product that is made from or derived from tobacco that is intended for human consumption or is likely to be consumed, including but not limited to cigars, including little cigars; cheroots; stogies; periques; granulated, plug cut, crimp cut, ready rubbed, and other smoking tobacco; snuff (including moist snuff) and snuff flour; cavendish; plug and twist tobacco; fine-cut and other chewing tobaccos; shorts; refuse scraps, clippings, cuttings, and sweeping of tobacco; snus; shisha and tobacco for use in waterpipes; and other kinds and forms of tobacco, prepared in such manner as to be suitable for chewing or smoking in a pipe or otherwise, or both for chewing and smoking or for inhalation, absorption, or ingesting by any other means; but does not include cigarettes as defined in Section 1 of the Cigarette Tax Act or tobacco purchased for the manufacture of cigarettes by cigarette distributors and manufacturers defined in the Cigarette Tax Act and persons who make, manufacture, or fabricate cigarettes as a part of a Correctional Industries program for sale to residents incarcerated in penal institutions or resident patients of a State operated mental health facility.

Beginning on July 1, 2019, "tobacco products" also includes electronic cigarettes.

Beginning July 1, 2025, "tobacco products" also includes any product that is made from or derived from tobacco, or that contains nicotine whether natural or synthetic, that is intended for human consumption or is likely to be consumed, including but not limited to nicotine pouches, lozenges, and gum; and other kinds and forms of nicotine prepared in such manner as to be suitable for chewing or smoking in a pipe or otherwise, or both for chewing and smoking or for inhalation, absorption, or ingesting by any other means.

"Tobacco products" does not include any product that has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for sale as a tobacco or smoking cessation product, a nicotine replacement therapy product, or for other medical purposes where that product is marketed and sold solely for such approved use, including but not limited to spray or inhaler prescribed by a physician, chewing gum, skin patches, or lozenges.

"Wholesale price" means the established list price for which a manufacturer sells tobacco products to a distributor, before the allowance of any discount, trade allowance, rebate, or other reduction. In the absence of such an established list price, the manufacturer's invoice price at which the manufacturer sells the tobacco product to unaffiliated distributors, before any discounts, trade allowances, rebates, or other reductions, shall be presumed to be the wholesale price.

"Wholesaler" means any person, wherever resident or located, engaged in the business of selling tobacco products to others for the purpose of resale. "Wholesaler", when used in this Act, does not include a person licensed as a distributor under Section 10-20 of this Act unless expressly stated in this Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-1001, eff. 8-9-24; 104-6, eff. 7-1-25.)

(35 ILCS 143/10-10)

Sec. 10-10. Tax imposed.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section with respect to little cigars, on the first day of the third month after the month in which this Act becomes law, a tax is imposed on any person engaged in business as a distributor of tobacco products, as defined in Section 10-5, and, beginning on July 1, 2026, any person engaged in business as a remote retail seller of tobacco products, as defined in Section 10-5, at the rate of (i) 18% of the wholesale price of tobacco products sold or otherwise disposed of to retailers or consumers located in this State prior to July 1, 2012; (ii) 36% of the wholesale price of tobacco products sold or otherwise disposed of to retailers or consumers located in this State beginning on July 1, 2012 and through June 30, 2025; except that, beginning on January 1, 2013 and through June 30, 2025, the tax on moist snuff shall be imposed at a rate of $0.30 per ounce, and a proportionate tax at the like rate on all fractional parts of an ounce, sold or otherwise disposed of to retailers or consumers located in this State; and except that, beginning July 1, 2019 and through June 30, 2025, the tax on electronic cigarettes shall be imposed at the rate of 15% of the wholesale price of electronic cigarettes sold or otherwise disposed of to retailers or consumers located in this State; and (iii) 45% of the wholesale price of tobacco products, including moist snuff and electronic cigarettes, sold or otherwise disposed of to retailers or consumers located in this State on and after July 1, 2025; and except that, beginning on July 1, 2026, the tax on tobacco products, including moist snuff and electronic cigarettes, sold or otherwise disposed of to retailers or consumers located in this State by a remote retail seller shall be imposed at the rate of 45% of the wholesale price. The tax is in addition to all other occupation or privilege taxes imposed by the State of Illinois, by any political subdivision thereof, or by any municipal corporation. However, the tax is not imposed upon any activity in that business in interstate commerce or otherwise, to the extent to which that activity may not, under the Constitution and Statutes of the United States, be made the subject of taxation by this State, and except that, beginning July 1, 2013, the tax on little cigars shall be imposed at the same rate, and the proceeds shall be distributed in the same manner, as the tax imposed on cigarettes under the Cigarette Tax Act. The tax is also not imposed on sales made to the United States or any entity thereof.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Section, stamping distributors of packages of little cigars containing 20 or 25 little cigars sold or otherwise disposed of in this State shall remit the tax by purchasing tax stamps from the Department and affixing them to packages of little cigars in the same manner as stamps are purchased and affixed to cigarettes under the Cigarette Tax Act, unless the stamping distributor sells or otherwise disposes of those packages of little cigars to another stamping distributor. Only persons meeting the definition of "stamping distributor" contained in Section 10-5 of this Act may affix stamps to packages of little cigars containing 20 or 25 little cigars. Stamping distributors may not sell or dispose of little cigars at retail to consumers or users at locations where stamping distributors affix stamps to packages of little cigars containing 20 or 25 little cigars.

(c) The impact of the tax levied by this Act is imposed upon distributors engaged in the business of selling tobacco products to retailers or consumers in this State. Whenever a stamping distributor brings or causes to be brought into this State from without this State, or purchases from without or within this State, any packages of little cigars containing 20 or 25 little cigars upon which there are no tax stamps affixed as required by this Act, for purposes of resale or disposal in this State to a person not a stamping distributor, then such stamping distributor shall pay the tax to the Department and add the amount of the tax to the price of such packages sold by such stamping distributor. Payment of the tax shall be evidenced by a stamp or stamps affixed to each package of little cigars containing 20 or 25 little cigars.

Stamping distributors paying the tax to the Department on packages of little cigars containing 20 or 25 little cigars sold to other distributors, wholesalers or retailers shall add the amount of the tax to the price of the packages of little cigars containing 20 or 25 little cigars sold by such stamping distributors.

(d) Beginning on January 1, 2013, the tax rate imposed per ounce of moist snuff may not exceed 15% of the tax imposed upon a package of 20 cigarettes pursuant to the Cigarette Tax Act.

(e) All moneys received by the Department under this Act from sales occurring prior to July 1, 2012 shall be paid into the Long-Term Care Provider Fund of the State Treasury. Of the moneys received by the Department from sales occurring on or after July 1, 2012, except for moneys received from the tax imposed on the sale of little cigars, 50% shall be paid into the Long-Term Care Provider Fund and 50% shall be paid into the Healthcare Provider Relief Fund. Beginning July 1, 2013, all moneys received by the Department under this Act from the tax imposed on little cigars shall be distributed as provided in Section 2 of the Cigarette Tax Act. Of the moneys received by the Department under this Act from sales occurring on or after July 1, 2025, except for moneys received from the tax imposed on the sale of little cigars, the first $5,000,000 collected in each fiscal year shall be paid into the Tobacco Settlement Recovery Fund for tobacco health initiatives at the Department of Public Health, and the remainder of the moneys collected in each fiscal year shall be paid as follows: 50% shall be paid into the Long-Term Care Provider Fund; and 50% shall be paid into the Healthcare Provider Relief Fund.

(Source: P.A. 104-6, eff. 7-1-25.)

(35 ILCS 143/10-24 new)

Sec. 10-24. Remote retail seller's license. Beginning on July 1, 2026, it shall be unlawful for any person to engage in business as a remote retail seller within the meaning of this Act without first having obtained a license to do so from the Department. Application for that license shall be made to the Department, by electronic means, in a form prescribed by the Department. The Department shall adopt rules to implement this Section.

(35 ILCS 143/10-25)

Sec. 10-25. License actions.

(a) The Department may, after notice and a hearing, revoke, cancel, or suspend the license of any distributor, or retailer, or remote retail seller who violates any of the provisions of this Act, fails to keep books and records as required under this Act, fails to make books and records available for inspection upon demand by a duly authorized employee of the Department, or violates a rule or regulation of the Department for the administration and enforcement of this Act. The notice shall specify the alleged violation or violations upon which the revocation, cancellation, or suspension proceeding is based.

(b) The Department may revoke, cancel, or suspend the license of any distributor for a violation of the Tobacco Products Manufacturers' Escrow Enforcement Act of 2003 as provided in Section 30 of that Act.

(c) If the retailer has a training program that facilitates compliance with minimum-age tobacco laws, the Department shall suspend for 3 days the license of that retailer for a fourth or subsequent violation of the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Persons under 21 Years of Age and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act, as provided in subsection (a) of Section 2 of that Act. For the purposes of this Section, any violation of subsection (a) of Section 2 of the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Persons under 21 Years of Age and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act occurring at the retailer's licensed location, during a 24-month period, shall be counted as a violation against the retailer.

If the retailer does not have a training program that facilitates compliance with minimum-age tobacco laws, the Department shall suspend for 3 days the license of that retailer for a second violation of the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Persons under 21 Years of Age and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act, as provided in subsection (a-5) of Section 2 of that Act.

If the retailer does not have a training program that facilitates compliance with minimum-age tobacco laws, the Department shall suspend for 7 days the license of that retailer for a third violation of the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Persons under 21 Years of Age and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act, as provided in subsection (a-5) of Section 2 of that Act.

If the retailer does not have a training program that facilitates compliance with minimum-age tobacco laws, the Department shall suspend for 30 days the license of a retailer for a fourth or subsequent violation of the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Persons under 21 Years of Age and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act, as provided in subsection (a-5) of Section 2 of that Act.

A training program that facilitates compliance with minimum-age tobacco laws must include at least the following elements: (i) it must explain that only individuals displaying valid identification demonstrating that they are 21 years of age or older shall be eligible to purchase cigarettes or tobacco products and (ii) it must explain where a clerk can check identification for a date of birth. The training may be conducted electronically. Each retailer that has a training program shall require each employee who completes the training program to sign a form attesting that the employee has received and completed tobacco training. The form shall be kept in the employee's file and may be used to provide proof of training.

(d) The Department may, by application to any circuit court, obtain an injunction restraining any person who engages in business as a distributor of or remote retail seller tobacco products without a license (either because the his or her license has been revoked, canceled, or suspended or because of a failure to obtain a license in the first instance) from engaging in that business until that person, as if that person were a new applicant for a license, complies with all of the conditions, restrictions, and requirements of Section 10-20 or Section 10-24 of this Act and qualifies for and obtains a license. Refusal or neglect to obey the order of the court may result in punishment for contempt.

(Source: P.A. 104-6, eff. 6-16-25.)

(35 ILCS 143/10-37)

Sec. 10-37. Proof of payment of tax imposed by this Act. Every licensed distributor of tobacco products in this State is required to show proof of the tax having been paid as required by this Act by displaying its Tobacco Products License number on every sales invoice issued to a retailer in this State. No retailer shall possess tobacco products without either a proper invoice indicating that the tobacco products tax was paid by a distributor for the tobacco products in the retailer's possession or other proof that the tax was paid by the retailer if it has purchased tobacco products on which tax has not been paid as required by this Act. Failure to comply with the provisions of this paragraph may be grounds for revocation of a distributor's, remote retail seller's, or retailer's license in accordance with Section 10-25 of this Act or Section 6 of the Cigarette Tax Act. In addition, the Department may impose a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for the first violation and $3,000 for each subsequent violation, which shall be deposited into the Tax Compliance and Administration Fund.

(Source: P.A. 100-940, eff. 8-17-18.)

(35 ILCS 143/10-38)

Sec. 10-38. Presumption for unlicensed distributors, remote retail sellers, or persons. Whenever any person obtains tobacco products from an unlicensed in-state or out-of-state distributor, remote retail seller, or person, a prima facie presumption shall arise that the tax imposed by this Act on such tobacco products has not been paid in violation of this Act. Invoices or other documents kept in the normal course of business in the possession of a person reflecting purchases of tobacco products from an unlicensed in-state or out-of-state distributor, remote retail seller, or person or invoices or other documents kept in the normal course of business obtained by the Department from in-state or out-of-state distributors, remote retail sellers, or persons, are sufficient to raise the presumption that the tax imposed by this Act has not been paid. If a presumption is raised, the Department may assess tax, penalty, and interest on the tobacco products. In addition, any person who violates this Section is liable to pay to the Department, for deposit in the Tax Compliance and Administration Fund, a penalty of $1,000 for the first violation and $3,000 for any subsequent violation. The Department may adopt rules to administer the penalties under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 100-940, eff. 8-17-18.)

(35 ILCS 143/10-45)

Sec. 10-45. Incorporation by reference. All of the provisions of Sections 4, 5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g, 5h, 5i, 5j, 6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 8, 9, 10, 11, 11a, and 12 of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, and all applicable provisions of the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act that are not inconsistent with this Act, apply to distributors and remote retail sellers of tobacco products to the same extent as if those provisions were included in this Act. References in the incorporated Sections of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act to retailers, to sellers, or to persons engaged in the business of selling tangible personal property mean distributors or remote retail sellers when used in this Act. References in the incorporated Sections to sales of tangible personal property mean sales of tobacco products when used in this Act.

All of the provisions of Sections 7, 8, 8a, 16, 18a, 18b, 18c, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, and 28a of the Cigarette Tax Act which are not inconsistent with this Act shall apply, as far as practicable, to the subject matter of this Act to the same extent as if those provisions were included in this Act. References in the incorporated Sections to sales of cigarettes mean sales of little cigars in packages of 20 or 25 little cigars.

(Source: P.A. 98-273, eff. 8-9-13.)

(35 ILCS 143/10-50)

Sec. 10-50. Violations and penalties. When the amount due is under $300, any distributor or remote retail seller who fails to file a return, willfully fails or refuses to make any payment to the Department of the tax imposed by this Act, or files a fraudulent return, or any officer or agent of a corporation engaged in the business of distributing or engaging in remote retail sales of tobacco products to retailers or and consumers located in this State who signs a fraudulent return filed on behalf of the corporation, or any accountant or other agent who knowingly enters false information on the return of any taxpayer under this Act is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

Any person who violates any provision of Section 10-20, 10-21, or 10-22, or 10-24 of this Act, fails to keep books and records as required under this Act, or willfully violates a rule or regulation of the Department for the administration and enforcement of this Act is guilty of a Class 4 felony. A person commits a separate offense on each day that he or she engages in business in violation of Section 10-20, 10-21, or 10-22, or 10-24 of this Act. If a person fails to produce the books and records for inspection by the Department upon request, a prima facie presumption shall arise that the person has failed to keep books and records as required under this Act. A person who is unable to rebut this presumption is in violation of this Act and is subject to the penalties provided in this Section.

When the amount due is under $300, any person who accepts money that is due to the Department under this Act from a taxpayer for the purpose of acting as the taxpayer's agent to make the payment to the Department, but who fails to remit the payment to the Department when due, is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

Any person who violates any provision of Sections 10-20, 10-21 and 10-22 of this Act, fails to keep books and records as required under this Act, or willfully violates a rule or regulation of the Department for the administration and enforcement of this Act is guilty of a business offense and may be fined up to $5,000. If a person fails to produce books and records for inspection by the Department upon request, a prima facie presumption shall arise that the person has failed to keep books and records as required under this Act. A person who is unable to rebut this presumption is in violation of this Act and is subject to the penalties provided in this Section. A person commits a separate offense on each day that he or she engages in business in violation of Sections 10-20, 10-21 and 10-22 of this Act.

When the amount due is $300 or more, any distributor or remote retail seller who files, or causes to be filed, a fraudulent return, or any officer or agent of a corporation engaged in the business of distributing or engaging in remote retail sales of tobacco products to retailers or and consumers located in this State who files or causes to be filed or signs or causes to be signed a fraudulent return filed on behalf of the corporation, or any accountant or other agent who knowingly enters false information on the return of any taxpayer under this Act is guilty of a Class 3 felony.

When the amount due is $300 or more, any person engaged in the business of distributing or engaging in remote retail sales of tobacco products to retailers or and consumers located in this State who fails to file a return, willfully fails or refuses to make any payment to the Department of the tax imposed by this Act, or accepts money that is due to the Department under this Act from a taxpayer for the purpose of acting as the taxpayer's agent to make payment to the Department but fails to remit such payment to the Department when due is guilty of a Class 3 felony.

When the amount due is under $300, any retailer who fails to file a return, willfully fails or refuses to make any payment to the Department of the tax imposed by this Act, or files a fraudulent return, or any officer or agent of a corporation engaged in the retail business of selling tobacco products to purchasers of tobacco products for use and consumption located in this State who signs a fraudulent return filed on behalf of the corporation, or any accountant or other agent who knowingly enters false information on the return of any taxpayer under this Act is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 4 felony for each subsequent offense.

When the amount due is $300 or more, any retailer who fails to file a return, willfully fails or refuses to make any payment to the Department of the tax imposed by this Act, or files a fraudulent return, or any officer or agent of a corporation engaged in the retail business of selling tobacco products to purchasers of tobacco products for use and consumption located in this State who signs a fraudulent return filed on behalf of the corporation, or any accountant or other agent who knowingly enters false information on the return of any taxpayer under this Act is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

Any person whose principal place of business is in this State and who is charged with a violation under this Section shall be tried in the county where his or her principal place of business is located unless he or she asserts a right to be tried in another venue. If the taxpayer does not have his or her principal place of business in this State, however, the hearing must be held in Sangamon County unless the taxpayer asserts a right to be tried in another venue.

Any taxpayer or agent of a taxpayer who with the intent to defraud purports to make a payment due to the Department by issuing or delivering a check or other order upon a real or fictitious depository for the payment of money, knowing that it will not be paid by the depository, is guilty of a deceptive practice in violation of Section 17-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012.

A prosecution for a violation described in this Section may be commenced within 3 years after the commission of the act constituting the violation.

(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17; 100-940, eff. 8-17-18.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2026.