(a) In addition to the tax imposed upon the distribution of cigarettes by this chapter, there shall be imposed upon every distributor a tax upon the distribution of cigarettes at the rate of twelve and one-half mills ($0.0125) for each cigarette distributed.

(b) There shall be imposed upon every distributor a tax upon the distribution of tobacco products, based on the wholesale cost of these products, at a tax rate, as determined annually by the State Board of Equalization, which is equivalent to the combined rate of tax imposed on cigarettes by subdivision (a) and the other provisions of this part.

(c) The wholesale cost used to calculate the amount of tax due under subdivision (b) does not include the wholesale cost of tobacco products that were returned by a customer during the same reporting period in which the tobacco products were distributed, when the distributor refunds the entire amount the customer paid for the tobacco products either in cash or credit. For purposes of this subdivision, refund or credit of the entire amount shall be deemed to be given when the purchase price less rehandling and restocking costs is refunded or credited to the customer. The amount withheld for rehandling and restocking costs may be a percentage of the sales price determined by the average cost of rehandling and restocking returned merchandise during the previous accounting cycle.

(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 426, Sec. 2. Effective October 2, 2001. Note: This section was added on Nov. 8, 1988, by initiative Prop. 99.)