The states with the highest 'sin taxes;' Where does Wisconsin stand?



You might be at a gas station or local liquor store, and realize you're running low on cigarettes. You consult the options behind the counter, hear the price from the store clerk and accept it as fact. While the expense isn't likely subject to negotiation, it isn't simply a function of profit or sales maximization either.

The fact is: Certain products carry an especially high ‘sin tax.’ Some sin taxes are still pretty low — like $0.02 per gallon on beer in Wyoming. Others, like the $14.24 per gallon liquor tax in Washington, are much higher.

To see how the U.S. states rank in terms of sin taxes levied, the team at Credio looked at taxes on tobacco, liquor, wine and beer in each state using data from TaxPolicyCenter.org and the Federation of Tax Administrators. The states are ranked from lowest to highest aggregate sin tax, with rates represented in dollars per unit.

Note: The N/A notation for a given tax designates that the state government controls all sales. Given the pricing controls that are in place for these states, no direct tax rate is calculated. The sin tax is then based on the tax rates for the other available categories. Revenue in these states is generated from various other taxes, fees, price mark-ups and net profits.

#50. Wyoming


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.60
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.02
State Sales Tax: 4.00%

#49. Missouri


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.17
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $2.00
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.42
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.06
State Sales Tax: 4.23%

#48. Pennsylvania


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $1.60
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.08
State Sales Tax: 6.00%

#47. Idaho


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.57
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.45
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.15
State Sales Tax: 6.00%

#46. Colorado


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.84
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $2.28
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.28
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.08
State Sales Tax: 2.90%

#45. Kentucky


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.60
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $1.92
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.50
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.08
State Sales Tax: 6.00%

#44. Ohio


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $1.25
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.32
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.18
State Sales Tax: 5.75%

#43. Oregon


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $1.31
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.67
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.08
State Sales Tax: 0.00%

#42. North Dakota


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.44
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $2.50
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.50
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.16
State Sales Tax: 5.00%

#41. Minnesota


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.03
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $5.03
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.30
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.15
State Sales Tax: 6.88%

#40. Louisiana


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.36
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $2.50
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.11
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.32
State Sales Tax: 4.00%

#39. Kansas


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.79
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $2.50
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.30
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.18
State Sales Tax: 6.50%

#38. West Virginia


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.55
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $1.00
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.18
State Sales Tax: 6.00%

#37. Indiana


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $1.00
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $2.68
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.47
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.12
State Sales Tax: 7.00%

#36. California


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.87
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $3.30
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.20
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.20
State Sales Tax: 7.50%

#35. New Hampshire


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $1.78
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.30
State Sales Tax: 0.00%

#34. Mississippi


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.68
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.35
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.43
State Sales Tax: 7.00%

#33. Texas


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $1.41
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $2.40
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.20
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.20
State Sales Tax: 6.25%

#32. Maryland


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $2.00
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $1.50
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.40
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.09
State Sales Tax: 6.00%

#31. Utah


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $1.70
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.41
State Sales Tax: 4.70%

#30. Michigan


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $2.00
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.51
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.20
State Sales Tax: 6.00%

#29. Nevada


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.80
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $3.60
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.70
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.16
State Sales Tax: 6.85%

#28. Montana


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $1.70
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $1.06
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.14
State Sales Tax: 0.00%

#27. Virginia


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.30
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $1.51
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.26
State Sales Tax: 4.30%

#26. Wisconsin


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $2.52
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $3.25
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.25
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.06
State Sales Tax: 5.00%

#25. Arkansas


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $1.15
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $2.50
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.75
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.23
State Sales Tax: 6.50%

#24. Maine


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $2.00
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.60
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.35
State Sales Tax: 5.50%

#23. Vermont


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $2.75
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.55
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.27
State Sales Tax: 6.00%

#22. Nebraska


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.64
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $3.75
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.95
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.31
State Sales Tax: 5.50%

#21. Arizona


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $2.00
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $3.00
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.84
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.16
State Sales Tax: 5.60%

#20. Delaware


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $1.60
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $3.75
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.97
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.16
State Sales Tax: 0.00%

#19. Iowa


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $1.36
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $1.75
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.19
State Sales Tax: 6.00%

#18. North Carolina


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.45
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $1.00
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.62
State Sales Tax: 4.75%

#17. South Dakota


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $1.53
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $3.93
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.93
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.27
State Sales Tax: 4.00%

#16. Georgia


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.37
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $3.79
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $1.51
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.32
State Sales Tax: 4.00%

#15. Alabama


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.43
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): N/A
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $1.70
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.53
State Sales Tax: 4.00%

#14. Oklahoma


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $1.03
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $5.56
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.72
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.40
State Sales Tax: 4.50%

#13. Massachusetts


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $3.51
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $4.05
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.55
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.11
State Sales Tax: 6.25%

#12. New Jersey


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $2.70
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $5.50
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.88
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.12
State Sales Tax: 7.00%

#11. South Carolina


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.57
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $2.72
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.90
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.77
State Sales Tax: 6.00%

#10. Connecticut


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $3.40
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $5.40
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.72
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.24
State Sales Tax: 6.35%

#9. New York


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $4.35
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $6.44
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.30
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.14
State Sales Tax: 4.00%

#8. Rhode Island


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $3.50
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $5.40
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $1.40
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.11
State Sales Tax: 7.00%

#7. Illinois


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $1.98
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $8.55
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $1.39
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.23
State Sales Tax: 6.25%

#6. New Mexico


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $1.66
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $6.06
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $1.70
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.41
State Sales Tax: 5.13%

#5. Florida


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $1.34
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $6.50
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $2.25
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.48
State Sales Tax: 6.00%

#4. Tennessee


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $0.62
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $4.40
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $1.21
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $1.15
State Sales Tax: 7.00%

#3. Washington


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $3.03
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $14.24
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.87
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.26
State Sales Tax: 6.50%

#2. Hawaii


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $3.20
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $5.98
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $1.38
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $0.93
State Sales Tax: 4.00%

#1. Alaska


 



Tobacco Tax (Dollars per Pack): $2.00
Liquor Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $12.80
Wine Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $2.50
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon): $1.07
State Sales Tax: 0.00%

Overview of Sin Taxes in the United States


 



Compare Tax Preparers on Credio