Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30001. Section 30001.
This part is known and may be cited as the “Cigarette and Tobacco Products Tax Law.”
CHAPTER 1. General Provisions and Definitions [30001. - 30019.]
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC 1.
in effectCal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30002. Section 30002.
Except where the context otherwise requires, the definitions given in this chapter govern the construction of this part.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30003. Section 30003.
“Cigarette” means any roll for smoking, made wholly or in part of tobacco, irrespective of size or shape and irrespective of whether the tobacco is flavored, adulterated or mixed with any other ingredient, where such roll has a wrapper or cover made of paper or any other material, except where such wrapper is wholly or in the greater part made of tobacco and such roll weighs over three pounds per thousand.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30005. Section 30005.
“Untaxed cigarette” means any cigarette which has not yet been distributed in such manner as to result in a tax liability under this part.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30005.5. Section 30005.5.
“Untaxed tobacco product” means either of the following:
(a)
Any tobacco product that has not yet been distributed in a manner that results in a tax liability under this part.
(b)
Any tobacco product that was distributed in a manner that resulted in a tax liability under this part, but that was returned to the distributor after the tax was paid and for which the distributor has either claimed a deduction pursuant to subdivision (c)
of Section 30123 or 30131.2, or a refund or credit pursuant to Section 30176.2 or Section 30178.2.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30006. Section 30006.
“Sale” includes any transfer of title or possession for a consideration, exchange or barter, in any manner or by any means whatever.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30008. Section 30008.
“Distribution” includes:
(a)
The sale of untaxed cigarettes or tobacco products in this state.
(b)
The use or consumption of untaxed cigarettes or tobacco products in this state.
(c)
The placing in this state of untaxed cigarettes or tobacco products in a vending machine or in retail stock for the purpose of selling the cigarettes or tobacco products to consumers.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30009. Section 30009.
“Use or consumption” includes the exercise of any right or power over cigarettes or tobacco products incident to the ownership thereof, other than the sale of the cigarettes or tobacco products or the keeping or retention thereof by a licensed distributor for the purpose of sale.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30010. Section 30010.
“Person” includes any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association, social club, fraternal organization, corporation, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, trustee, syndicate, this state, any county, city and county, municipality, district, or other political subdivision of the state, or any other group or combination acting as a unit.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30011. Section 30011.
“Distributor” includes:
(a)
Every person who, after 4 o’clock a.m. on July 1, 1959, and within the meaning of the term “distribution” as defined in this chapter, distributes cigarettes.
(b)
Every person who, on or after 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 1989, and within the meaning of the term “distribution” as defined in this chapter, distributes tobacco products.
(c)
Every person who sells or accepts orders for cigarettes or tobacco products
which are to be transported from a point outside this state to a consumer within this state.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30012. Section 30012.
“Dealer” includes every person, other than one holding a distributor’s or wholesaler’s license, who engages in this state in the sale of cigarettes or tobacco products.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30013. Section 30013.
“In this State” or “in the State” means within the exterior limits of the State of California and includes all territory within these limits owned by or ceded to the United States of America.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30014. Section 30014.
(a)
“Transporter” means any person transporting into or within this state any of the following:
(1)
Cigarettes not contained in packages to which are affixed California cigarette tax stamps or meter impressions.
(2)
Tobacco products upon which the
tobacco products surtax imposed by Article 2 (commencing with Section 30121), Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 30130.50), and Article 3 (commencing with Section 30131) of Chapter 2 has not been paid.
(b)
“Transporter” shall not include any of the following:
(1)
A licensed distributor.
(2)
A common carrier.
(3)
A person transporting cigarettes and tobacco products under federal internal revenue bond or customs control that are non-tax paid under Chapter 52 of the Internal Revenue Act of 1954 as amended.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30015. Section 30015.
“Package” means the indivdual packet, box or other container in which retail sales of cigarettes are normally made or intended to be made. “Package” does not include such containers as cartons, cases, bales or boxes which contain smaller packaging units of cigarettes.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30016. Section 30016.
“Wholesaler” includes:
(a)
Any person, other than a licensed distributor, who engages in this state in making sales for resale of cigarettes that are contained in packages to which are affixed stamps or meter impressions.
(b)
Any person, other than a licensed distributor, who engages in this state in making sales for resale of tobacco products on which the tax imposed in Sections 30123 and 30131.2 has been paid.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30017. Section 30017.
“Wholesale cost” means the cost of tobacco products to the distributor prior to any discounts or trade allowances.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30018. Section 30018.
(a)
“Stamps and meter impressions” means the indicia of payment of tax, as required by Section 30161, and include, but are not limited to, stamps, meter impressions, or any other indicia developed using current technology.
(b)
The board shall prescribe and approve the types of stamps and meter impressions, and the methods of applying stamps and meter impressions to packages of cigarettes.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 30019. Section 30019.
“Importer” means any purchaser for resale in the United States of cigarettes or tobacco products manufactured outside of the United States for the purpose of making a first sale or distribution within the United States.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026