Philippine Tax Bureau Cracks Down on E-cigarette Online Sales

Jun.11.2024
Philippine Tax Bureau Cracks Down on E-cigarette Online Sales
BIR chief warns online platforms and consumers on e-cigarette tax compliance, cracking down on illegal sellers.

According to a report by Bilyonaryo on June 11th, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in the Philippines, Romeo D. Lumagui Jr., issued a stern reminder to online platforms and consumers that the online sale of e-cigarette products must comply with tax stamps, minimum prices, and other requirements of the tax authorities. Lumagui emphasized that only registered businesses are allowed to sell e-cigarette products on online platforms.


Lumagui revealed that the Bureau of Internal Revenue is actively monitoring online and offline businesses to see if they have violated any relevant regulations.


Online platforms should regulate their e-cigarette retailers to ensure they comply with tax stamps, minimum pricing, and other tax bureau requirements. If any violations are found in online posts or products, they should be taken down immediately.


Lumagui stated that they have received reports that some online sellers of e-cigarettes are not paying taxes, leading to lower prices for their products.


These illegal online sellers of e-cigarettes have disrupted the livelihoods of legitimate e-cigarette sellers.


Furthermore, the agency plans to continue cracking down on the illegal sales of e-cigarettes by strengthening oversight and coordinating with other government departments.


We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

From Border-Logistics Insiders to Retail Service Stations, Australia Mounts a Sweeping Crackdown on the Illicit Nicotine Trade as iGET Vapes Surface in A$80 Million Crime Networks
From Border-Logistics Insiders to Retail Service Stations, Australia Mounts a Sweeping Crackdown on the Illicit Nicotine Trade as iGET Vapes Surface in A$80 Million Crime Networks
Australian authorities have disclosed two major enforcement actions that go beyond product seizures and retail closures to examine how illicit tobacco and vape networks operate. On Aug. 14, the Multi Agency Strike Team said seven people had been charged and two criminal networks were valued by authorities at a combined A$80 million, or about US$56.8 million. Investigators allege the groups used bonded warehouses, freight businesses and “trusted insiders” in legitimate industries to circumvent border controls. In a separate operation on Aug. 11, more than 100 service stations were targeted as authorities sought information on illicit tobacco importation, distribution networks and the movement of sales proceeds.
Aug.17
UK Vape Duty Starts in October as Hayati, DOJO and Others Launch Lower-Capacity Products With Lower Per-Unit Tax
UK Vape Duty Starts in October as Hayati, DOJO and Others Launch Lower-Capacity Products With Lower Per-Unit Tax
The UK's Vaping Products Duty will take effect on October 1, 2026, at a flat rate of £2.20 per 10ml of vaping liquid. Ahead of implementation, DOJO, PIXL and Hayati have introduced or been reported to be adding lower-capacity tiers alongside larger products. DOJO has added a 6ml BLAST7K Fresh below its 10ml BLAST10K Fresh, PIXL offers both a 12ml 8000 and a 6ml 5K, while retailer Ninja Vapes says Hayati is preparing a 7ml 4K alongside its existing 12ml 6K. The pattern points to a growing lower-capacity tier in the UK market, although the brands have not all explicitly linked the changes to the new duty.
Sep.23
Yinghe-Controlled Vape Maker SKE Ordered to Post £569,039 Security as It Pursues Crystal Bar Design Infringement Case in UK
Yinghe-Controlled Vape Maker SKE Ordered to Post £569,039 Security as It Pursues Crystal Bar Design Infringement Case in UK
The UK High Court has ordered Chinese vape manufacturer Shenzhen SKE Technology to provide £569,039 ($776,000) in security for costs in its design infringement proceedings against Vapepen London and other defendants over its Crystal Bar vape product. The court did not accept the defendants’ main argument that recovering costs from a China-based company would face significant enforcement obstacles, but found that SKE had not sufficiently disclosed its own financial position. The order is procedural and does not determine the underlying infringement claims.
News
Aug.21
India Duty-Free Nicotine Pouch Sales Face Regulatory Test as ZYN, FOX Classification Remains Open
India Duty-Free Nicotine Pouch Sales Face Regulatory Test as ZYN, FOX Classification Remains Open
The Bombay High Court has ruled that airport duty-free shops are not exempt from India's domestic regulatory laws merely because they operate beyond the customs barrier, leaving in place a sales halt covering ZYN and FOX nicotine pouches at Mumbai's international airport. The court, however, did not determine that the products necessarily qualify as "drugs" under India's Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The retailers have four weeks to submit product information to the appropriate authorities, including CDSCO, which must complete its review within 30 days of receiving the submissions.
Sep.24
Kantar Study Finds More Than 93% of Vape Products in Ukraine Fail Regulatory Requirements
Kantar Study Finds More Than 93% of Vape Products in Ukraine Fail Regulatory Requirements
According to Interfax-Ukraine, a study conducted by market research firm Kantar Ukraine at the request of major tobacco companies found that more than 93% of vape products in Ukraine did not fully comply with regulatory requirements. The research examined product categories, brand distribution and consumer purchasing channels, showing that pod systems and disposable vapes represent major segments of the market, while offline retail remains the dominant purchasing channel. The findings highlight ongoing compliance challenges in Ukraine’s vape market.
Aug.26
UK Directors Banned After 352,688 Vapes Imported From China Were Misdeclared as Medical Nebulizers in £15 Million Tax Case
UK Directors Banned After 352,688 Vapes Imported From China Were Misdeclared as Medical Nebulizers in £15 Million Tax Case
The UK Insolvency Service said YSK Enterprises imported large quantities of vapes from China in 2023, with a shipment addressed to the company declared as medical nebulizers before Border Force found 352,688 vaping products. HMRC calculated nearly £15 million ($20.3 million) in unpaid VAT and customs duty, alongside about £437,000 in corporation tax. Two directors were disqualified for nine years. The case predates the UK's Vaping Products Duty, which will introduce vape-specific excise and duty-stamp requirements from October 2026.
Regulations
Sep.11