In this Article, the following terms have the meanings indicated: Dealer means any person who engages in a retail business. Director means the Director of Finance or the Director’s designee. Distributor means: (1) a person who supplies an electronic cigarette product to a dealer in the County; or (2) a person who supplies and services a vending machine with an electronic cigarette product. Electronic cigarette product means any product containing or delivering nicotine or any other substance intended for human consumption that can be used by a person to simulate smoking through inhalation of vapor or aerosol from the product. The term includes any such device, whether manufactured, distributed, marketed, or sold as an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe, e-hookah, or vape pen, or under any other product name or descriptor. Electronic cigarette product includes any component, part, or accessory of an electronic cigarette, whether or not sold separately, that is used during the operation of the electronic cigarette, but does not include any battery or battery charger that is sold separately. Supplying or supplies means the act of providing, furnishing, delivering, distributing, or transmitting an electronic cigarette product by a distributor to a dealer in the County. Liability for the tax accrues when the electronic cigarette product is provided, distributed, or delivered to the dealer in the County.

(a) A tax is levied and imposed on every distributor who supplies to a dealer in the County an electronic cigarette product. (b) The tax rate for an electronic cigarette product is 30% of the wholesale price of the electronic cigarette product. (c) The County Council by resolution, after a public hearing advertised under Section 52-17(c), may increase or decrease the rate set in subsection (b). (d) The County Executive may further specify the administration of this tax by Method (2) regulation.

(a) The tax levied under Section 52-73 is due and payable for each month on the last day of the next month. (b) The Director may establish an alternative payment system. If an alternative payment system is established, the Director must require a pro-rated payment for any taxable period that ends before the system takes effect. (c) If any dealer transports or causes to be transported into the County an electronic cigarette product, that dealer is liable for the payment of the tax imposed under Section 52-73 unless that dealer obtains from the supplier of the electronic cigarette product a written certification, in a form approved by the Director, that the supplier is liable for and is paying the tax.

When a person who is required to pay a tax under this Article ceases to do business or otherwise disposes of the business, any tax owed becomes immediately due and payable. That person must immediately remit the total amount of the tax due.

(a) If any person does not pay the Director the tax due under Section 52-73, that person is liable for: (1) interest on the unpaid tax at the rate of 1% per month for each month or part of a month after the tax is due; and (2) a penalty of 5% of the amount of the tax per month or part of a month after the tax is due, not to exceed 25% of the tax. The Director must collect any interest and penalty as part of the tax. (b) If any person does not timely file any report and pay the tax required under this Section, the Director may use any available information to estimate the tax due. As soon as the Director obtains available information on which to base the calculation of any tax payable by any person who has not timely filed any report and paid the tax, the Director may assess against that person any tax, interest, and penalties due and must notify that person of the total amount due by regular mail sent to the person’s last known address. The total amount assessed is due and payable within 10 days after the notice is sent. (c) Every person liable for any tax under Section 52-73 must preserve for 3 years suitable records necessary to determine the amount of the tax. The Director may inspect and audit the records at any reasonable time. (d) Any failure to pay the tax when due under Section 52-74, and any violation of this Section 52-74 or this Section, is a Class A violation. Each violation is a separate offense. A conviction under this subsection does not relieve any person from paying the tax. (e) Section 52-21 applies to this tax.