Russia's 2022 Import Tax on Vaping Was Three Times Higher Than Heated Tobacco

On July 10, news reported that in 2022, the total import tax on vaping devices in Russia reached 28.3 billion rubles, while the import tax on e-cigarette e-liquids was 35.07 billion rubles; in contrast, the tax on heated tobacco devices was 3.57 billion rubles, and the tax on heated tobacco pods was 9.23 billion rubles.

In January 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that increased the tax rates on cigarettes, cigars, heated tobacco products, and e-cigarette e-liquids starting March 1, while eliminating the tax on e-cigarettes themselves. According to the new law, from March 1 to December 31, 2023, the tax rate on e-cigarette e-liquids will increase to 20 rubles per milliliter, rising to 21 rubles per milliliter in 2024, and 22 rubles per milliliter in 2025; in 2023, the tax rate on heated tobacco pods will be 8,669 rubles per kilogram, increasing to 9,016 rubles in 2024, and 9,377 rubles in 2025. The law also defines e-cigarette e-liquids as any liquid containing 0.1 mg/ml or more of liquid nicotine.