[Intl-tobacco] UK: Internet tobacco buyers could be forced to pay tax (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

Internet tobacco buyers could be forced to pay tax
Source: PA News, Thursday, 5/10/01

Smokers who buy cut-price cigarettes on the internet have been warned they
could lose their money and tobacco.

The Office of Fair Trading says people could also be made to cough up for
unpaid excise duty.

The OFT is alarmed at the online trade in illegal duty-free tobacco.

It said around 75 websites, mainly based in Spain and Holland, had now
been effectively put off-limits to British customers.


But it adds there are still around two dozen websites cashing in on the
=A350 million a year trade.


Claims by the sites that their cigarettes are exempt from UK duty are
untrue, said the OFT.


Anyone found importing cigarettes from within the European Union will have
their tobacco seized and will lose any money already paid out.


Customers receiving packets from outside the EU are required to pay the
necessary duty.