This week the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR), the National Association of Tobacco Outlets, Iwan Ries & Co., the Cigar Association of America, the Illinois Association of Wholesale Distributors, the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, and Arangold Corporation d/b/a Arango Cigar Co., filed a petition in the Supreme Court of Illinois regarding the other tobacco products (OTP) taxes adopted by the Chicago City Council which include a $0.20 per stick cigar tax and a $.60 per ounce tax on pipe tobacco.
The City of Chicago’s home rule authority to adopt an OTP tax was declared illegal by the Circuit Court of Cook County. Unfortunately, the Appellate Court First District reversed the Circuit Court decision and upheld the City’s tobacco tax in December. Filing a petition is the first step in appealing to the Supreme Court of Illinois. Now we wait for a decision on whether the Supreme Court of Illinois accepts our case. Please stay tuned for further updates on the status of this pending lawsuit.