§40-25-18. Evasion of stamp tax.

(a) Persons failing to properly affix the required stamps to any cigars, cheroots, stogies, cigarettes, smoking tobacco, chewing tobacco, and snuff shall be required to pay, as part of the tax imposed hereunder, a penalty of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500). Each article or commodity not having proper stamps affixed thereto as herein required shall be deemed a separate offense. Any cigars, cheroots, stogies, cigarettes, smoking tobacco, chewing tobacco, and snuff in the place of business of any person required by this article to stamp the same shall be prima facie evidence that they are intended for sale. The Department of Revenue, upon good cause shown, may waive or remit any penalty or any part thereof provided for in this section. Any person, firm, corporation, club, or association of persons who has been found guilty of violating this article and who, after being punished by fine, penalty, assessment, or imprisonment, is found guilty of a second or subsequent violation of this article shall have their license, as provided in Sections 40-12-72 and 40-12-73, revoked by the department, and no further license or permit shall be issued or granted to that person, firm, corporation, club, or association of persons for a period of one year from the date their license or permit has been revoked. Notice of the revocation shall be mailed to the probate judge and license inspector of the county in which the revocation was made.

(b) In addition to the penalty levied by the department pursuant to subsection (a), the county license inspector, license commissioner, revenue commissioner, tax assessor, or tax collector of the county in which the untaxed tobacco product is located may assess a penalty against any person failing to affix the required stamps to any cigars, cheroots, stogies, cigarettes, smoking tobacco, and snuff. The amount of the additional penalty shall be not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500).

(c) The department and local taxing official may assess the tax levied by this chapter pursuant to the assessment procedures set out in Chapter 2A of this title.

(Acts 1935, No. 194, p. 256; Code 1940, T. 51, §732; Acts 1953, No. 738, p. 1001; Acts 1992, No. 92-186, p. 349, §71; Acts 1994, No. 94-685, p. 1318, §1.)