(1)

(a) In addition to the tax imposed under Section 27-69-13, and except as provided by subsection (2) of this section, there is imposed a tobacco equity tax in the amount of One and Thirty-five One Hundredths Cent ($0.0135) per cigarette on all cigarettes subject to the tax imposed under Section 27-69-13.

(b) On July 1 of each year, the tax prescribed by subsection (1) of this section shall increase by the greater of:

(i) Three percent (3%); or

(ii) The percentage increase in the most recent annual revised Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers, as published by the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor.

(c) The revenue collected from the tax imposed by this section shall be deposited into the State General Fund.

(d) The cigarettes manufactured by any manufacturer which is a party to the tobacco settlement agreement shall be exempt from the imposition of the tobacco equity tax provided for herein.

(2) The tax imposed by this chapter does not apply to cigarettes that are sold, purchased or otherwise distributed in this state for sale outside of this state. A person may not transport or cause to be transported from this state such cigarettes for retail sale in another state without first affixing to the cigarettes the stamp required by the state in which the cigarettes are to be sold or by paying any other excise tax on the cigarettes imposed by the state in which the cigarettes are to be sold; however, a person shall not be required to affix a tax stamp of another state or pay the excise tax of another state prior to transporting the cigarettes out of this state if the other state prohibits that action or if the cigarettes are being sold to a wholesaler licensed by that state.

(3) The tax imposed by this chapter is in addition to any other privilege, license, fee, assessment or tax required or imposed by state law, including, but not limited to, the taxes levied by Section 27-69-13.

(4) The tax imposed by this chapter is imposed, levied and assessed on each distributor of cigarettes. The tax shall be due and payable on or before the fifteenth day of the month next succeeding the month in which the stamp is required to be affixed to the cigarettes under the Tobacco Tax Law. The distributor shall make a return showing the number of such cigarettes, the brand family, and the manufacturer. The return shall also include the quantity of cigarettes, by brand family, transported or caused to be transported outside of Mississippi in the preceding month as well as the name and address of the recipient of the cigarettes transported outside of Mississippi.

(5) The distributor is eligible for a credit if cigarettes for which the distributor had previously paid the tax under this chapter were returned to the distributor.