§45-19-245. Levy and collection of tax; disposition of funds.

(a) There is imposed upon every person, firm, or corporation who sells, stores, delivers, uses, or otherwise consumes tobacco or certain tobacco products in Coosa County a county privilege, license, or excise tax in the following amounts:

(1) Five cents ($0.05) for each package of cigarettes, made of tobacco or any substitute therefor.

(2) Two cents ($0.02) for each cigar of any description made of tobacco or any substitute therefor, with the exception of the cigarette sized or near cigarette sized cigars which may be taxed at the same rate as cigarettes under subdivision (1).

(3) Two cents ($0.02) for each sack, can, package, or other container of smoking tobacco, including granulated, plug cut, crimp cut, ready rubbed, and other kinds and forms of tobacco which are prepared in such manner as to be suitable for smoking in a pipe or cigarette.

(4) Three cents ($0.03) for each sack, plug, package, or other container of chewing tobacco, which tobacco is prepared in such manner as to be suitable for chewing only and not suitable for smoking as described in subdivision (3).

(5) Three cents ($0.03) for each can, bottle, glass, tumbler, package, or other container of snuff made of tobacco or any substitute therefor. The privilege, license, or excise tax shall be in addition to all other federal, state, or local taxes heretofore imposed by law. Provided, however, when the license tax hereby required to be paid shall have been paid by a wholesaler or seller of cigarettes, cigars, snuff, smoking tobacco, and like tobacco products, such payment shall be sufficient, the intent being that such license tax hereby required to be paid shall be paid but once on each package of cigarettes and on each cigar.

(6) Fifteen cents ($0.15) for each package of tobacco paper, both gummed and ungummed.

(b) Upon adoption of a resolution by the Coosa County Commission, every person, firm, corporation, club, or association that sells, stores, or receives for the purpose in Coosa County, any cigarettes, cigars, snuff, smoking tobacco, and like tobacco products shall add the amount of the license or privilege tax levied and assessed herein to the price of the cigarettes, cigars, snuff, and smoking tobacco products, it being the purpose and intent of this provision that the tax levied is, in fact, a levy on the consumer with the person, firm, corporation, club, or association, who sells or stores or receives for the purpose of distributing the cigarettes, cigars, snuff, and smoking tobacco products, acting merely as agent for the collection of the tax. The dealer, storer, or distributor shall state the amount of the tax separately from the price of the cigarettes, cigars, snuff, smoking tobacco, and like tobacco products, on all price display signs, sales or delivery slips, bills, and statements which advertise or indicate the price of the cigarettes, cigars, snuff, smoking tobacco, and like tobacco products.

(c) It shall be unlawful for any dealer, storer, or distributor engaged in or continuing in Coosa County in the business for which the tax is hereby levied to fail or refuse to add to the sales price and collect from the purchaser the amount due on account of the tax herein provided or to refund or offer to refund all or any part of the amount collected or absorb or advertise directly or indirectly the absorption of the tax or any portion thereof. Any person, firm, corporation, club, or association violating this subsection shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100) or imprisoned in the county jail for not more than 60 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each act in violation of this subsection shall constitute a separate offense.

(d) The tax hereby authorized shall be paid by affixing stamps as is required for the payment of the tax imposed by Section 40-25-1 through Section 40-25-28. The State Department of Revenue shall have the same duties relative to the preparation and sale of stamps to evidence the payment of such tax that it has relative to the preparation and sale of stamps under those sections and may exercise the same powers and perform the same duties in the same manner relative to the collection of the tax hereby levied that it does relative to the collection of that tax.

(e) The State Department of Revenue is hereby authorized to promulgate and enforce rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this section. All such rules and regulations duly promulgated shall have the force and effect of law.

(f) All laws, rules, and regulations of the Department of Revenue, relating to the manner and time of payment of the tax levied by Section 40-25-1 through Section 40-25-28, requiring reports from dealers and prescribing penalties for violations shall apply with equal force to the tax levied by this section as fully set out herein.

(g) The proceeds from the tax hereby authorized, less the actual cost of collection not to exceed five per centum, shall be paid by the State Department of Revenue to the Coosa County Commission to be distributed as follows:

(1) Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) per year shall be distributed to the Coosa County Health Department.

(2) The remaining proceeds shall be distributed equally to certified volunteer fire departments.

(Act 90-645, p. 1203, §§1-7.)