<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>73675</law_id><section_number>58.1-1021.01</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-246.8</reference><reference>18.2-371.2</reference><reference>32.1-366</reference><reference>58.1-1000</reference><reference>58.1-1003.2</reference><reference>58.1-1008.2</reference><reference>59.1-293.10</reference><reference>59.1-293.14</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="58.1">Taxation</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">Taxes Administered by the Department of Taxation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="10">Cigarette Tax</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="2.1">Tobacco Products Tax</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Actual cost</span>&#x201D; means the actual price paid by a <span class="dictionary">remote retail seller</span> for each individual stock keeping unit or <span class="dictionary">SKU</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Alternative nicotine product</span>&#x201D; means any noncombustible product containing nicotine that is not made of tobacco and is intended for human consumption, whether chewed, absorbed, dissolved, or ingested by any other means. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Alternative nicotine product</span>&#x201D; does not include any <span class="dictionary">nicotine vapor product</span> or any product regulated as a drug or device by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under Chapter V (21 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA0;351 et seq.) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Cigar</span>&#x201D; means any roll of tobacco wrapped in leaf tobacco or in any substance containing tobacco, other than any roll of tobacco that is a cigarette as such term is defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/58.1-1000/">58.1-1000</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Closed system</span>&#x201D; means any <span class="dictionary">nicotine vapor product</span> capable of utilizing a disposable container that is (i) prefilled with <span class="dictionary">liquid nicotine</span> and <span class="dictionary">sealed</span> by the <span class="dictionary">manufacturer</span>, (ii) not easily refillable or intended or designed to be refillable, and (iii) intended or used to dispense <span class="dictionary">liquid nicotine</span> for <span class="dictionary">use</span> in a <span class="dictionary">nicotine vapor product</span> that is intended or designed for reuse. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Closed system</span>&#x201D; does not include any <span class="dictionary">open system</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Consumer</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">person</span> who is the end or final user of <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tobacco products</span></span> or <span class="dictionary">liquid nicotine</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Delivery sale</span>&#x201D; means a sale of <span class="dictionary">liquid nicotine</span> or <span class="dictionary">nicotine vapor products</span> to a <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> in the Commonwealth in which the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> submits the <span class="dictionary">order</span> for the sale by telephone, over the Internet, or through the mail or another delivery system, and where the <span class="dictionary">liquid nicotine</span> or <span class="dictionary">nicotine vapor products</span> are shipped through a delivery service. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Delivery sale</span>&#x201D; does not include a sale of <span class="dictionary">liquid nicotine</span> or <span class="dictionary">nicotine vapor products</span> not for personal consumption to a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who is a <span class="dictionary">manufacturer</span>, <span class="dictionary">distributor</span>, or <span class="dictionary">retail dealer</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Distributor</span>&#x201D; means (i) any <span class="dictionary">person</span> engaged in the business of selling <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tobacco products</span></span> in the Commonwealth who brings, or causes to be brought, into the Commonwealth from outside the Commonwealth any <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tobacco products</span></span> for sale; (ii) any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who makes, manufactures, fabricates, or stores <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tobacco products</span></span> in the Commonwealth for sale in the Commonwealth; (iii) any <span class="dictionary">person</span> engaged in the business of selling <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tobacco products</span></span> outside the Commonwealth who ships or transports <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tobacco products</span></span> to any <span class="dictionary">person</span> in the business of selling <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tobacco products</span></span> in the Commonwealth; or (iv) any <span class="dictionary">retail dealer</span> in <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of untaxed <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tobacco products</span></span> in the Commonwealth.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Heated tobacco product</span>&#x201D; means a product other than a <span class="dictionary">cigarette intended to be heated</span>, as such term is defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/58.1-1000/">58.1-1000</a>, containing tobacco that produces an inhalable aerosol (i) by heating the tobacco by means of an electronic device without combustion of the tobacco or (ii) by heat generated from a combustion source that only or primarily heats rather than burns the tobacco.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Liquid nicotine</span>&#x201D; means a liquid or other substance containing nicotine in a concentration that is sold, marketed, and intended for <span class="dictionary">use</span> in a <span class="dictionary">nicotine vapor product</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Loose leaf tobacco</span>&#x201D; means any leaf tobacco that is not intended to be smoked but does not include <span class="dictionary">moist snuff</span>. <span class="dictionary">Loose leaf tobacco</span> weight unit categories shall be as follows:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">Loose leaf tobacco</span> half pound-unit</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">consumer</span>-sized unit, pouch, or package containing at least four ounces but not more than eight ounces of <span class="dictionary">loose leaf tobacco</span>, by net weight, produced by the <span class="dictionary">manufacturer</span> to be sold to <span class="dictionary">consumers</span> as a single unit and not produced to be divided or sold separately and containing one individual package. <a id="paragraph-264971" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-1021.01/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">Loose leaf tobacco</span> pound-unit</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">consumer</span>-sized unit, pouch, or package containing more than eight ounces of <span class="dictionary">loose leaf tobacco</span>, by net weight, produced by the <span class="dictionary">manufacturer</span> to be sold to <span class="dictionary">consumers</span> as a single unit and not produced to be divided or sold separately and containing one individual package. <a id="paragraph-264972" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-1021.01/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">Loose leaf tobacco</span> single-unit</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">consumer</span>-sized unit, pouch, or package containing less than four ounces of <span class="dictionary">loose leaf tobacco</span>, by net weight, produced by the <span class="dictionary">manufacturer</span> to be sold to <span class="dictionary">consumers</span> as a single unit and not produced to be divided or sold separately and containing one individual package.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Manufacturer</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who manufactures or produces <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tobacco products</span></span> and sells <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tobacco products</span></span> to a <span class="dictionary">distributor</span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Manufacturer</span>&#x2019;s representative&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">person</span> employed by a <span class="dictionary">manufacturer</span> to sell or distribute the <span class="dictionary">manufacturer</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tobacco products</span></span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Manufacturer</span>&#x2019;s sales price&#x201D; means the actual price for which a <span class="dictionary">manufacturer</span>, <span class="dictionary">manufacturer</span>&#x2019;s representative, or any other <span class="dictionary">person</span> sells <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tobacco products</span></span> to an unaffiliated <span class="dictionary">distributor</span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Moist snuff</span>&#x201D; means a tobacco product consisting of finely cut, ground, or powdered tobacco that is not intended to be smoked but does not include any finely cut, ground, or powdered tobacco that is intended to be placed in the nasal cavity.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Nicotine vapor product</span>&#x201D; means any noncombustible product containing nicotine that employs a heating element, power source, electronic <span class="dictionary">circuit</span>, or other electronic, chemical, or mechanical means, regardless of shape or size, that can be used to produce vapor from nicotine in a solution or other form, including <span class="dictionary">liquid nicotine</span>. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Nicotine vapor product</span>&#x201D; includes any electronic cigarette, electronic <span class="dictionary">cigar</span>, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, <span class="dictionary">closed system</span>, <span class="dictionary">open system</span>, or similar product or device and any cartridge or other container of nicotine in a solution or other form, including <span class="dictionary">liquid nicotine</span>, that is intended to be used with or in an electronic cigarette, electronic <span class="dictionary">cigar</span>, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, or similar product or device. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Nicotine vapor product</span>&#x201D; does not include any product regulated by the FDA under Chapter V (21 U.S.C. &#xA7; 351 et seq.) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Open system</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">nicotine vapor product</span> designed and intended by the <span class="dictionary">manufacturer</span> to be reusable and refilled with <span class="dictionary">liquid nicotine</span> of the end user&#x2019;s choice. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Open system</span>&#x201D; does not include any <span class="dictionary">closed system</span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Person</span>&#x201D; means any individual, corporation, partnership, association, company, business, trust, joint venture, or other legal entity.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Pipe tobacco</span>&#x201D; means any tobacco that, because of its <span class="dictionary">appearance</span>, type, packaging, or labeling, is suitable for <span class="dictionary">use</span> and likely to be offered or purchased by <span class="dictionary">consumers</span> as tobacco to be smoked in a pipe.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Remote retail sale</span>&#x201D; means any sale of <span class="dictionary">cigars</span> or <span class="dictionary">pipe tobacco</span> to a <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> in the Commonwealth when (i) the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> submits the <span class="dictionary">order</span> for the sale by means of a telephone or other method of voice transmission, the mail, or the Internet or other online service, or the seller is otherwise not in the physical presence of the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> when the request for the purchase or <span class="dictionary">order</span> is made, or (ii) the <span class="dictionary">cigars</span> or <span class="dictionary">pipe tobacco</span> are delivered to the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> by common carrier, private delivery service, or other method of remote delivery, or the seller is not in the physical presence of the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> when the buyer obtains <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the <span class="dictionary">cigars</span> or <span class="dictionary">pipe tobacco</span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Remote retail seller</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">person</span> located within or outside of the Commonwealth that makes <span class="dictionary">remote retail sales</span> of <span class="dictionary">cigars</span> or <span class="dictionary">pipe tobacco</span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Retail dealer</span>&#x201D; means every <span class="dictionary">person</span> that sells or offers for sale any tobacco product or <span class="dictionary">liquid nicotine</span> to <span class="dictionary">consumers</span> at retail in a transaction other than a <span class="dictionary">remote retail sale</span> and includes any <span class="dictionary">person</span> that holds an approved Retail Sales and <span class="dictionary">Use</span> Tax Exemption Certificate for Stamped <span class="dictionary">Cigarettes</span> Purchased for Resale or an Other <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">Tobacco Products</span></span> <span class="dictionary">Distributor</span>&#x2019;s License issued by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Taxation.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">SKU</span>&#x201D; means an individual stock keeping unit identifier used for tracking inventory.
			&#x201C;Tobacco product&#x201D; or &#x201C;<span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tobacco products</span></span>&#x201D; means (i) &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">cigar</span>&#x201D; as defined in &#xA7; 5702(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, and as such section may be amended; (ii) &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">smokeless tobacco</span>&#x201D; as defined in &#xA7; 5702(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, and as such section may be amended; or (iii) &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">pipe tobacco</span>&#x201D; as defined in &#xA7; 5702(n) of the Internal Revenue Code, and as such section may be amended. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">Tobacco products</span></span>&#x201D; also includes <span class="dictionary">loose leaf tobacco</span>. <a id="paragraph-264973" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-1021.01/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3; 2005, c. 71; 2006, c. 768; 2010, cc. 191, 804; 2019, c. 790; 2022, cc. 738, 779; 2024, cc. 611, 796, 821.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
