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Cigarette and Tobacco Licensing Information
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Distributors and Subjobbers
Distributors and subjobbers must be licensed by the Minnesota Department of Revenue before they can sell or distribute cigarettes or tobacco products in Minnesota.
Licenses are valid for two years, beginning January 1 of each even-numbered year and ending December 31 of the following odd-numbered year.
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You need a cigarette distributor license if you do any of the following:
- Acquire untaxed cigarettes for sale to Minnesota subjobbers or retailers
- Ship or transport cigarettes to Minnesota retailers to be sold by those retailers
- Purchase cigarettes directly from a manufacturer and apply cigarette stamps to at least 50% of the cigarettes you sell
You need a cigarette subjobber license if you do any of the following
- Acquire stamped cigarettes from a distributor to sell to retailers
- Are a licensed distributor who delivers, sells, or distributes stamped cigarettes from a business not covered in your distributor's license
- Are a vending machine operator; principal business is operating, or owning and leasing to operators, machines for the vending of merchandise or service
You need a tobacco distributor license if you do any of the following:
- Bring tobacco products into Minnesota
- Manufacture tobacco products in Minnesota to sell in Minnesota
- Ship or transport tobacco products to Minnesota retailers to be sold by those retailers
You need a tobacco subjobber license if you do any of the following:
- Acquire tobacco products from a distributor to sell to retailers
- Are a licensed distributor who delivers, sells or distributes tobacco products from a business not covered in your distributor's license
Complete Form CT100, License Application for Cigarette Distributors and Subjobbers, or Form CT101, License Application for Tobacco Products Distributors and Subjobbers, and pay the required fee.
Renew Electronically
If you are renewing your Cigarette Tax or Tobacco Tax license, you have the option to complete your application electronically using our e-Services system.
Before You Start
Make sure you have the following information available when you start filling in your application. You can enter it directly into e-Services or attach a file with this information.
- Corporate officers, partners, or members of association
- Name and address of each manufacturer you purchased or intend to purchase tobacco products from (distributors only)
- Name and address of each Minnesota licensed distributor you purchased or intend to purchase tobacco products from (subjobbers only)
- Names of tobacco products you manufacture (manufacturers only)
- Electronic file of a sample sales invoice to attach to your application that includes:
- Name of seller
- Name of purchaser
- Date of sale
- Invoice number
- Itemized list of goods sold, including cigarette brands and number of cartons of each brand, unit price, and identification of tobacco products by name, quantity, and unit price
- Rebates, discounts, or other reductions
Renew Your License
- Go to your Cigarette Tax or Tobacco Tax account in e-Services.
- Select the Alerts tab.
- Select Renew cigarette/tobacco license.
- Follow the prompts.
For more information, go to Cigarette Tax Licensing and Filing Information or Tobacco Tax Licensing and Filing Information.
City and County Tobacco Licensing Authorities
Businesses that sell cigarettes or tobacco products are required to have a retail license. The city, county, or town where the business is located administers the licenses.
As the licensing authority, you must inform the Department of Revenue of the following:
- Business name
- License address
- Minnesota Tax ID Number
- License effective and expiration dates
Notify Us of New Licenses or Changes
You must notify us within 30 days of any new license or license renewal, transfer, cancellation, suspension, or revocation during the license period. Contact us by calling 651-556-3035 or emailing cigarette.tobacco@state.mn.us.
Form CT102 Replaced with Example Form
Form CT102 is no longer available. City or county licensing authorities may use our example form, License Application Example to Make Retail Sales of Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products, to create their own cigarette and tobacco license application. Do not send the example form to the Department of Revenue.
Retailers
For information about your responsibilities, go to License Requirements for Retailers Selling Cigarette and Tobacco Products.