Burma’s Ministry of Finance is to significantly increase taxes on tobacco and alcoholic beverages starting in the 2015-16 fiscal year, which starts in April. Taxes on cigarettes will increase from the current 100% of production costs to 120%. Taxes on other tobacco products and on beverages will go up from the current 50% to 60%. The taxes will be assessed based on the value of imported items or on the market price value of domestic products. Burma’s parliament last year rejected a private member’s bill aimed at curbing consumption, which proposed a 200% tax increase on tobacco products and alcohol.
