As vaping grows in popularity, it becomes a natural target for governments in need of tax revenue. Because vapor products are usually bought by smokers and ex-smokers, tax authorities correctly assume that money spent on e-cigarettes is money not being spent on traditional tobacco products. Governments have depended upon cigarettes and other tobacco products as an income source for decades.
Whether vaping devices and e-liquid deserve to be taxed like tobacco is almost beside the point. Governments see them pushing smokers away from tobacco, and they understand that the lost revenue must be made up. Since vaping looks like smoking, and there is substantial public health opposition to vaping, it becomes an attractive target for politicians, especially because they can justify the tax with a variety of questionable health claims. Vmate Pod System
Vape taxes are now being proposed and passed regularly in the United States and elsewhere. Taxes are usually opposed by advocates for tobacco harm reduction, representatives of vaping industry trade groups, and vaping consumers, and they’re supported by tobacco control organizations and the lung, heart and cancer associations.
Taxes on specific products—usually called excise taxes—are applied for various reasons: to raise money for the taxing authority, to change the behavior of those being taxed, and to offset environmental, medical, and infrastructure costs created by the use of products. Examples include taxing alcohol to dissuade excessive drinking, and taxing gasoline to pay for road maintenance.
Tobacco products have long been a target for excise taxes. Because the harms of smoking impose costs on the whole society (medical care for smokers), proponents of tobacco taxes say that tobacco consumers should foot the bill. Sometimes excise taxes on alcohol or tobacco are called sin taxes, because they also punish the behavior of drinkers and smokers—and in theory help convince the sinners to quit their wicked ways.
But because the government becomes dependent on the tax revenue, a decline in the smoking rate creates a financial shortfall that must be made up with some other source of income, or else the government must reduce spending. For most governments, the cigarette tax is a significant revenue source, and the excise is charged in addition to the standard sales tax assessed on most consumer products.
Most U.S. consumers pay a state (and sometimes also local) sales tax on the vaping products they purchase, so governments already benefit from vape sales even before excise taxes are added. Sales taxes are usually assessed as a percentage of the retail price of the products being purchased. In many other countries, consumers pay a “value added tax” (VAT) that works the same way as a sales tax. As for excise taxes, they come in a couple of basic varieties.
One of the most common forms of vape tax is assessed at retail. Some taxes cover all vaping products (like New York State’s 20% tax), and others target e-liquid only. Often the tax is only charged on sales of nicotine-containing e-liquid.
Wholesale taxes are ostensibly charged to the wholesaler (usually a distributor) selling products to a business that will resell them at retail sites in the state. The tax is usually a percentage of the wholesale price (cost). It may be assessed on all vaping products or just nicotine-containing ones. Although wholesale taxes are not collected from the end user of the product, the cost of the tax is usually factored into the retail price of the product.
There is no federal tax on vaping products in the U.S. Bills have been introduced in Congress to tax vapes, but none has so far gained the traction necessary to pass.
Before 2019, nine states and the District of Columbia taxed vaping products. That number more than doubled in the first seven months of 2019, when the moral panic over JUUL and teenage vaping that had grabbed headlines almost every day for over a year pushed legislators to do something to “stop the epidemic.”
As of early 2024, 31 U.S. states have a tax on vapor products, along with some cities and counties, and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Alaska Alaska doesn’t have a state tax, but some municipalities have their own vape taxes:
California The California wholesale tax on “other tobacco products” is set yearly by the state Board of Equalization. It mirrors the percentage of all taxes assessed on cigarettes. Originally this amounted to 27% of the wholesale cost, but after Proposition 56 increased the tax on cigarettes from $0.87 to $2.87 a pack, the vape tax increased drastically. For the year beginning July 1, 2023, the tax is 56.32% of the wholesale cost for all nicotine-containing products.
On July 1, 2022, California added a retail tax to the existing wholesale tax—12.5% on all nicotine-containing vaping products, including those bought online from retailers in other states
Colorado The current tax in Colorado is 50% of manufacturer’s list price on all nicotine-containing vapor products (including bottled e-liquid). The tax, approved by Colorado voters in 2020, launched in 2021 at 30%, escalated to 35% in 2022, then to 50% in 2023. It will rise to 56% in 2024, and finally 62% in 2027. The tax is 50% lower for products given a Modified Risk (MRTP) designation by the FDA (but no manufacturer of a liquid-based vaping product has even applied for an MRTP authorization)
Connecticut The state has a two-tiered tax on nicotine-containing vape products: $0.40 per milliliter on e-liquid in closed-system products (pods, cartridges, cigalikes), and 10% wholesale on open-system products, including bottled e-liquid and devices
Delaware A $0.05 per milliliter tax on nicotine-containing e-liquid
District of Columbia The nation’s capitol classifies vapes as “other tobacco products,” and assesses a tax on the wholesale price based on a rate that is indexed to the wholesale price of cigarettes. The tax is currently set at 91% of wholesale cost for devices and nicotine-containing e-liquid
Georgia A $0.05 per milliliter tax on e-liquid in closed-system products (pods, cartridges, cigalikes), and a 7% wholesale tax on open-system devices and bottled e-liquid. The taxes apply to products with and without nicotine
Hawaii A 70% wholesale tax on all vaping products
Illinois A 15% wholesale tax on all vaping products. The tax applies to products with and without nicotine. In addition to the statewide tax, both Cook County and the city of Chicago (which is in Cook County) have their own vape taxes:
Indiana A 15% tax on retail gross on all vaping product sales, with or without nicotine
Kansas A $0.05 per milliliter tax on all e-liquid. The tax applies to products with and without nicotine
Kentucky A 15% wholesale tax on bottled e-liquid and open-system devices, and a $1.50 per unit tax on prefilled pods and cartridges. The taxes apply to products with and without nicotine
Louisiana A $0.15 per milliliter tax on nicotine-containing e-liquid
Maine A 43% wholesale tax on all vaping products. The tax applies to products with and without nicotine
Maryland A 6% retail tax on all open-system vaping products (including nicotine-containing e-liquid) and a 60% tax on nicotine-containing e-liquid in containers with a capacity under 5 milliliters (pods, cartridges, disposables). In addition to the state tax:
Massachusetts A 75% wholesale tax on all vaping products. The tax applies to products with and without nicotine. The law requires consumers to produce proof that their vaping products have been taxed, or they are subject to seizure and a fine of $5,000 for the first offense, and $25,000 for additional offenses
Minnesota In 2011 Minnesota became the first state to impose a tax on e-cigarettes. The tax was originally 70% of wholesale cost, but was increased in 2013 to 95% of wholesale on finished products that contain nicotine (cigalikes, pod vapes, bottled e-liquid) and are transported in from out of state. However, for bottled e-liquid produced in Minnesota, only the nicotine itself is taxed
Nebraska The state has no taxes on vaping products, but one city does:
Nevada A 30% wholesale tax on all vapor products. The tax applies to products with and without nicotine
New Hampshire An 8% wholesale tax on open-system vaping products (including nicotine-containing e-liquid), and $0.30 per milliliter on closed-system products (pods, cartridges, cigalikes)
New Jersey New Jersey taxes nicotine-containing e-liquid at $0.10 per milliliter in pod- and cartridge-based products, 10% of the retail price for bottled e-liquid, and 30% wholesale for devices
New Mexico New Mexico has a two-tiered e-liquid tax: 12.5% wholesale on bottled e-liquid, and $0.50 on each pod, cartridge, or cigalike with a capacity under 5 milliliters. The taxes apply to products with and without nicotine
New York A 20% retail tax on all vapor products. The tax applies to products with and without nicotine
North Carolina A $0.05 per milliliter tax on nicotine-containing e-liquid
Ohio A $0.10 per milliliter tax on nicotine-containing e-liquid
Oregon A 65% wholesale tax on all non-cannabis “inhalant delivery systems,”, including hardware and “components” (which includes e-liquid). The tax also includes heated tobacco products (HTPs) like IQOS, but exempts all vaping products sold in licensed cannabis dispensaries. The tax applies to products with and without nicotine
Pennsylvania A 40% wholesale tax on e-liquid and devices that are sold with e-liquid included. The tax applies to products with and without nicotine
Puerto Rico A $0.05 per milliliter tax on e-liquid and a $3.00 per unit tax on e-cigarettes
Utah A 56% wholesale tax on e-liquid and prefilled devices. The tax applies to products with and without nicotine
Vermont A 92% wholesale tax on e-liquid and devices—the highest tax imposed by any state. The tax applies to products with and without nicotine
Virginia A $0.066 per milliliter tax on nicotine-containing e-liquid
Washington State A two-tiered tax charges $0.27 per milliliter on e-juice in pods and cartridges smaller than 5 mL in size, and $0.09 per milliliter on liquid in containers larger than 5 mL. The taxes apply to products with and without nicotine
West Virginia A $0.075 per milliliter tax on all e-liquid. The tax applies to products with and without nicotine
Wisconsin A $0.05 per milliliter tax on e-liquid in closed-system products (pods, cartridges, cigalikes) only. The tax applies to products with and without nicotine
Wyoming A 15% wholesale tax on all vapor devices and nicotine-containing e-liquid
As in the United States, legislators around the world don’t really understand vapor products yet. The new products seem to lawmakers like a threat to cigarette tax revenue (which they truly are), so their impulse is often to impose high taxes and hope for the best.
Albania A 10 leke ($0.091 US) per milliliter tax on nicotine-containing e-liquid
Azerbaijan A 20 manat ($11.60 US) per liter tax (about $0.01 per milliliter) on all e-liquid
Bahrain The tax is 100% of the pre-tax price on nicotine-containing e-liquid. That equates to 50% of the retail price. The purpose of the tax is unclear, since vapes are supposedly banned in the country
Belgium A €0.15 per milliliter tax on all e-liquid
Canada A federal tax of $1 CAD (about $0.75 US) per 2 milliliters (or fraction thereof) on the first 10 mL in any bottle, pod, or cartridge, then $1 per additional 10 mL (or fraction thereof). The tax applies to all vaping products, with or without nicotine. Individual provinces may have additional taxes of their own
China (People’s Republic of China) China has a two-pronged wholesale tax, assessing a 36% rate on the production or import of e-cigarettes, and a separate 11% tax on wholesale distribution (in China)
Costa Rica A 20% wholesale tax on all vaping products and accessories
Croatia Although Croatia has an e-liquid tax on the books, it is currently set at zero
Cyprus A €0.12 per milliliter tax on all e-liquid
Denmark A DKK 2.00 ($0.30 US) per milliliter tax on all e-liquid
Ecuador A 150% wholesale tax on “other tobacco products” includes vaping products
Estonia In 2018, Estonia imposed a €0.20 per milliliter excise duty on all e-liquid. In December 2020, the Riigikogu (parliament) suspended the tax—effective from April 1, 2021 and lasting until Dec. 31, 2022—with the goal of ending the large black market that has grown in the wake of the excessive tax (and a flavor ban). According to consumer nicotine group NNA Smoke Free Estonia, “self-mixed, cross-border and smuggled e-liquids account for 62-80% of the entire Estonian e-liquids market”
Finland A €0.30 per milliliter tax on all e-liquid
Georgia A tax of 0.2 Georgian Lari ($0.066 US) on all e-liquid
Germany A €0.20 per milliliter tax on all e-liquid. The tax took effect in 2022 at €0.16/mL, and increased Jan. 1, 2024 to its current level. It will rise again on Jan. 1, 2025 to €0.26/mL, and then again on Jan. 1, 2026 to €0.32/mL
Greece A €0.10 per milliliter tax on all e-liquid
Hungary A HUF 20 ($0.07 US) per milliliter tax on all e-liquid
Indonesia The Indonesian excise tax is 57%, and seems to only be meant for nicotine-containing e-liquid (“extracts and essences of tobacco” is the wording). In 2024, Indonesia has added an additional tax on vaping products, set at 10% of the excise tax
Israel On Feb. 16, 2023, the Israeli Tax Authority reduced the e-liquid tax slightly to 8.9 Israeli Shekels (NIS) per milliliter. (That’s about $2.50 US/mL—$75 for a 30 mL bottle!) The tax applies to e-liquid with or without nicotine, and includes pods, disposables, and bottled e-liquid
Italy Tax rates of about €0.13 per milliliter for nicotine-containing e-liquid, and €0.08 ($0.10 US) for zero-nicotine products are set to remain in effect through 2022
Jordan Devices and nicotine-containing e-liquid are taxed at a rate of 200% of the CIF (cost, insurance and freight) value
Kazakhstan Although Kazakhstan has an e-liquid tax on the books, it is currently set at zero
Kenya Kenya updated its excise duty rate on vaping products in 2022. The current rates are 40% for devices, and 70 Kenyan shillings ($0.57 US) per milliliter on e-liquid. The e-liquid tax would add about 17 U.S. dollars to the price of a 30 mL bottle of vape juice
Kyrgyzstan A 1 Kyrgyzstani Som ($0.014 US) per milliliter tax on nicotine-containing e-liquid
Latvia Latvia updated its excise tax rates in October 2023, simplifying and increasing vaping and tobacco taxes. From March 1 to Dec. 31, 2024, e-liquid will be taxed at a rate of €0.24 per milliliter. From Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025, the rate will increase to €0.29/mL. Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, the rate will go up to €0.35/mL
Lithuania A €0.12 per milliliter tax on all e-liquid
Malaysia A 10% tax on vaping devices and a 40 sen ($0.10 US) per milliliter tax on e-liquid. However, the government announced Oct. 29, 2021 that it would begin taxing nicotine-containing liquid, which will require a change in the law that prohibits sales of nicotine-containing products except by pharmacies. (In early 2022, this tax was postponed)
Maldives Nicotine-containing e-liquid is taxed at a rate of 200% of the CIF (cost, insurance and freight) value
Montenegro A €0.90 per milliliter tax on all e-liquid
North Macedonia An 0.2 Macedonian Denar ($0.0036 US) per milliliter tax on e-liquid. The law allows automatic increases in the tax rate July 1 of each year from 2020 to 2023
Norway A 4.5 Norwegian Krone ($0.51 US) per milliliter tax on all e-liquid
Paraguay The law classifies e-cigarettes as tobacco products, and taxes them at 16% (probably based on the wholesale price). However, most sellers don’t register the products as tobacco, but import them under other classifications
Philippines A tax of 37 Philippine pesos (PHP) per milliliter for nicotine salt-based e-liquids, and 45 PHP per mL for freebase nicotine e-liquids. For both, the tax will increase by 5 pesos/mL each year until until 2023. From 2024 onward, the tax will increase by 5% each year
Poland A 0.55 Polish Zloty (PLN) ($0.14 US) per milliliter tax on all e-liquid
Portugal A €0.323 per milliliter tax on nicotine-containing e-liquid
Romania A 0.52 Romania Leu ($0.12 US) per milliliter tax on nicotine-containing e-liquid. There is a method by which the tax can be adjusted annually based on consumer price increases
Russia Disposable products are taxed at 50 rubles ($0.81 US) per unit. Nicotine-containing e-liquid is taxed at 13 rubles per milliliter
Saudi Arabia The tax is 100% of the pre-tax price on e-liquid and devices. That equates to 50% of the retail price
Serbia A 4.32 Serbian Dinar ($0.044 US) per milliliter tax on all e-liquid
Slovenia A €0.18 per milliliter tax on nicotine-containing e-liquid
South Africa A 2.90 Rand (about $0.15 U.S.) per milliliter tax on all e-liquid
South Korea (Republic of Korea) The first country to impose a national vape tax was the Republic of Korea (usually called South Korea in the West)—in 2011, the same year Minnesota began taxing e-liquid. Currently the country has four separate taxes on e-liquid, each earmarked for a specific spending purpose (the National Health Promotion Fund is one). The various South Korean e-liquid taxes add up to a whopping 1,799 won ($1.60 US) per milliliter, and there is also a waste tax on disposable cartridges and pods of 24.2 won ($0.02 US) per 20 cartridges. However, the tax apparently applies only to tobacco-derived nicotine products, leaving e-liquid made with synthetic nicotine untaxed
Sweden A 2 Swedish krona (SEK) per milliliter ($0.22 US) tax on nicotine-containing e-liquid up to 15 mg/mL. E-liquid containing 15-20 mg/mL is taxed at 4 SEK/mL
Togo Taxed up to 45% (believed to be based on the wholesale price)
Ukraine A 3 Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH) ($0.11 US) tax per milliliter tax on all e-liquid
United Arab Emirates (UAE) The tax is 100% of the pre-tax price on e-liquid and devices. That equates to 50% of the retail price
Uzbekistan Global Tobacco Control says an excise tax of 500 Uzbekistani so’m per milliliter ($0.05 US) was introduced on e-liquid in 2020, but we could find no confirmation or additional details
Vaping360 appreciates any updates or corrections to the posted tax rates. Please comment below, and provide supporting information (newspaper articles, links to government websites, etc.) if it’s available.
Excellent breakdown of the tax rates! Thank you for the article. These rates are utterly ridiculous in my opinion. It’s a pure money grab by our illustrious representatives that want to line their pockets once again. Is there any push-back happening on this??
There has been lots of pushback when bills to tax vaping are introduced—and many more proposed laws have been stopped than have passed.
Great breakdown of the situation. Can’t claim to be surprised, but it’s disgusting to see an additional $26 dollars in taxes on a $99 e-liquid purchase, here in Virginia.
consider yourself lucky I just tried to place a $38.00 order only to be hit with $45.00 in taxes so including the shipping it turned into $100 for 3 120ml bottles. so now i have to find an alternate option.
Hello, I see that you have made a mistake in Serbia. A 4.32 Serbian Dinar is not $0.41 US, but $0.041 US. And in Kenya it is 2,500 not 2,000 (amount in dollars is correct).
Good catch on Serbia—thanks! What is your source for the Kenya tax rate? I see conflicting answers on Kenya from the World Bank and the Vapor Products Tax website. I believe the VPT site got the information on the Kenyan tax from the customsdutyfree dot com website, where the import duty is listed as 2,000 shillings per cartridge. [EDIT: I’ve found a second source—https://taxinsights.ey dot com/archive/archive-news/kenya-adjusts-excise-duty-rates.aspx—that lists the excise duty in 2018 as 2,000 shillings.] It may be that the World Bank figure is correct; I just don’t know.
Any ideal who isn’t taxing on vaping products in America? Question can you make a article breaking down the cost of tax added to vaping ? Like if 65% tax what that might add to say $100 purchase.
Most state taxes are assessed on the wholesale cost, which means it’s up to the retailer to decide whether to raise prices or absorb all or part of the tax expense. It’s impossible to give a blanket answer to your question.
However, if a tax is charged on the retail price, it’s obvious. In New York State, where the retail tax is 20 percent, a $100 purchase would have $20 added, so the final price would be $120 (plus sales tax).
The information on OR is incorrect.
Vape Juice Flavors Wait until the lawsuits start.