PACT Act

The PACT Act (S. 1177) was designed to curb the illegal sale of tobacco products and ensure the collection of state and local taxes on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. It would require online and mail-order sellers to comply with the same tax, licensing, and age-verification laws as local brick-and-mortar retailers. Additionally, the bill would prohibit the U.S. Postal Service from delivering most tobacco products and would increase penalties for those who bypass tax requirements or traffic in contraband tobacco.

For everyday citizens, this bill would primarily change how tobacco is purchased through the internet or over the phone. Consumers would likely see higher prices for these products as sellers are forced to collect all applicable state and local excise taxes at the time of purchase. Furthermore, because the bill restricts the use of the mail for tobacco shipments, buyers would have to use private delivery services that are required to verify the recipient's age and identity upon delivery.