139.315(1)(1) Inventory tax imposed. On the effective date of any increase in the sum of the rates under s. 139.31 (1) (a) and (c) or in the sum of the rates under s. 139.31 (1) (b) and (d), an inventory tax is imposed upon cigarettes held in inventory for sale or resale on which the cigarette tax has been paid at the prior rate and upon unaffixed stamps in the possession of distributors. Any person who is in possession of any such cigarettes or unaffixed stamps shall pay the tax imposed under this section. Any person liable for this tax shall determine the number of cigarettes and unaffixed stamps in the person’s possession on the effective date of the increase, and by the 30th day after the effective date of the increase the person shall file a return and shall by that date pay the tax due.

139.315(2)(2) Inventory tax computation. The cigarette inventory tax under this section is computed by multiplying the number of cigarettes held in inventory for sale or resale by the difference between the prior tax rate and the new tax rate and adding to that amount an amount determined by multiplying the number of unaffixed stamps held by the difference between the prior tax rate and the new tax rate.

139.315(3)(3) Administration. Sections 71.74 (1), (2), (10), (11), (13) and (14), 71.75 (4) to (7), 71.80 (12), 71.82 (2), 71.83 (2) (b) 3., 71.88 (1) (a) and (2) (a), 71.89, 71.90, 71.91 (1) (a) and (c) and (2) to (7), 71.92, 73.01, 73.015 and 73.0301 apply to this section.

139.315(4)(4) Late filing fee. Any person who fails to file a cigarette inventory tax return when due shall pay a late filing fee of $10. A return that is mailed is timely if it is mailed in a properly addressed envelope with postage prepaid, if the envelope is postmarked, or marked or recorded electronically as provided under section 7502 (f) (2) (c) of the Internal Revenue Code, on the due date and if the return is actually received by the department or at the destination that the department prescribes within 5 days of the due date. A return that is not mailed is timely if it is received on or before the due date by the department or at the destination that the department prescribes. For purposes of this subsection, “mailed” includes delivery by a delivery service designated under section 7502 (f) of the Internal Revenue Code.

139.315(5)(5) Interest on delinquent payments. If any person does not timely pay the tax imposed under this section, that person is liable for interest at the rate of 1.5 percent per month or fraction of a month from the date the tax is due until the date when the tax is paid.

139.315(6)(6) Penalty. If any person who is liable for the tax under this section files a false or fraudulent return, that person is also liable, in addition to the tax due, for an amount equal to the amount of tax the person evaded or attempted to evade.

139.32(1)(1) The tax imposed by s. 139.31 (1) shall be paid. To evidence the payment, the department shall provide stamps. A person who has paid the tax shall affix stamps of the proper denomination to each package in which cigarettes are packed, prior to the first sale within this state. First sale does not include a sale by a manufacturer to a distributor or to a bonded direct marketer or by a distributor to a permittee who has obtained department approval as provided for in s. 139.321 (1) (a) 2. The tax shall be paid only once on each package or container.

139.32(2)(2) The secretary shall prepare and have available for sale stamps of such denominations and quantities as the secretary considers necessary for the payment of the taxes imposed by s. 139.31. The stamps shall be of such designs and materials as to make the removal and reuse thereof impossible after being once affixed.

139.32(2m)(2m) The secretary shall prepare and have available for sale distinctive stamps, which shall be affixed to all packages of cigarettes in respect to which a refund can be made under s. 139.323 and only to those packages.

139.32(3)(3) Stamps shall be affixed in the manner prescribed by the secretary.

139.32(4)(4) In lieu of stamps the secretary may authorize impressions applied by the use of meter machines. The secretary shall prescribe by rule the type of impression and the kind of machines which may be used.

139.32(5)(5) Manufacturers, bonded direct marketers, and distributors who are authorized by the department to purchase tax stamps shall receive a discount on stamp purchases of 1.25 percent of the tax paid.

139.32(5m)(5m) Distributors, bonded direct marketers, and manufacturers shall pay to the department the cost of printing and shipping those stamps.

139.32(6)(6) Manufacturers, bonded direct marketers, and distributors who are authorized by the department to purchase tax stamps may purchase stamps on credit. The secretary may require manufacturers, bonded direct marketers, and distributors who purchase stamps on credit to file under the conditions prescribed by the secretary by rule.

139.32(7)(7) Beginning on September 1, 1993, the cost to print stamps is the actual cost to print stamps, adjusted to reflect the expenses incurred to print stamps during the previous year and the reimbursement received for that purpose during the previous year, as determined by the department. Beginning in 1994, the department shall annually determine that cost and shall make the new cost effective on July 1.

139.321(1)(1) It is unlawful for any person to possess cigarettes unless the required stamps are properly affixed as provided in ss. 139.32 (1) and 139.33 (4).

139.321(1)(a)2.2. Any permittee under s. 139.34 having department approval or person authorized to acquire, possess or sell unstamped cigarettes under s. 139.31 (3) provided that said permittee or person maintains a separate inventory thereof and records pertaining thereto in such manner and form as the department prescribes by rule.

139.321(1)(a)3.3. Common carriers licensed by the interstate commerce commission to carry such commodities in interstate commerce who are in possession of proper bills of lading covering each such shipment. The department may by rule require that copies of all such bills of lading, clearly indicating thereon the quantities of cigarettes transported, be furnished to it.