Top

Shipping Policies

General Policies

  • Cigars International does not sell products to anyone under the age of 21.
  • Cigars International does not ship products to Utah or Hawaii.
  • Shipping delivery times are estimates and are not guaranteed unless otherwise noted.
  • Certain items, such as over-sized merchandise, may require additional shipping charges.
  • Any such charges will be noted during the checkout process prior to submitting your order.

Sales Taxes

We are required to collect and remit sales tax in the following states. Remittance of any taxes on orders shipped outside of these states is the responsibility of the purchaser.

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Nebraska
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • Nevada
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Washington DC
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

Excise Taxes

As you may know, certain states have recently begun to impose excise taxes on tobacco products sold by online retailers. Cigars International collects excise taxes on your purchases as required by law. Please note that such excise taxes are in addition to applicable sales or use taxes, if any. 

Colorado

Effective January 1, 2024, the State of Colorado is imposing an excise tax on all tobacco products sold to Colorado customers. Colorado’s excise tax rate will be 50% of the “manufacturer’s list price” for all tobacco products. Further excise tax increases are scheduled through 2027, when the rate will reach 62%. For more details on the Colorado excise tax, please review here.

Indiana

Effective July 1, 2023, the State of Indiana is imposing an excise tax on all tobacco products sold to Indiana customers. Cigars and pipe tobacco will be taxed at 24% of the wholesale purchase price. For more details on the Indiana excise tax, please review here

Maine

Effective January 1, 2024, the State of Maine is imposing an excise tax on all tobacco products sold to Maine customers. Maine’s excise tax rate will be 43% of the “cost price” for all tobacco products. For more details on the Maine excise tax, please review here.

Maryland

Effective October 1, 2019, the State of Maryland will be imposing an Excise Tax on all tobacco products sold by online retailers to Maryland customers. See Maryland House Bill 1301. Please note that this excise tax is in addition to the Maryland sales/use tax already imposed on tobacco products sold to Maryland customers.

The Maryland Excise Tax rate will differ depending on the type of tobacco product sold: 

- Premium cigars will be taxed at 15% of the wholesale price.

- Pipe tobacco will be taxed at 30% of the wholesale price.

For more details on the Maryland Excise Tax, review the law here.

Michigan 

Effective January 1, 2022, the State of Michigan is imposing an excise tax on all cigars sold to Michigan customers. Cigars are taxed at 32% of the wholesale price, with a maximum excise tax of fifty cents ($.50) per cigar. 

For more details on the Michigan excise tax, please review here

North Carolina 

Effective July 1, 2022, the State of North Carolina is imposing an excise tax on all cigars and pipe tobacco sold to North Carolina customers. Cigars are taxed at 12.80% of the wholesale price, with a maximum excise tax of thirty cents ($.30) per cigar. Pipe Tobacco is taxed at 12.80% of the wholesale price. 

For more details on the North Carolina excise tax, please review here

Ohio

Effective October 16, 2019, the State of Ohio will be imposing an Excise Tax on all tobacco products delivered to Ohio customers. See Ohio Code 5743.62 Please note that this excise tax is in addition to the Ohio use tax already imposed on tobacco products delivered to Ohio customers. 

The Ohio Excise Tax rate will differ depending on the type of tobacco product purchased: 

- Most premium cigars (and all pipe tobacco) will be taxed at 17% of the wholesale price, with a maximum excise tax of sixty-one cents ($.61) per premium cigar. 

- Most little cigars with a filter or tip will be taxed at 37% of the wholesale price.

For more details on the Ohio Excise Tax, review the law here. 

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania imposes an excise tax on “small cigars” shipped to customers in Pennsylvania. Specifically, small cigars weighing 4lb per 1000 or less, not in carton packs, and not containing 20 to 25 sticks per pack are taxed at $0.13 per cigar. (Please note, we cannot ship to Pennsylvania customers any small cigars weighing 4lb per 1000 or less packed in cartons that contain 20 to 25 sticks per pack).

Loose or pipe tobacco is taxed at 55 cents ($0.55) per ounce, with a minimum excise tax of 66 cents ($0.66) per package. 

Rather than pass the entire tax on to our customers, we have decided to charge only 30 cents ($0.30) per ounce. As a courtesy to our customers, Cigars International will pay the remaining 25 cents ($0.25) per ounce excise tax imposed by Pennsylvania.

South Dakota

Effective January 1, 2022, the State of South Dakota is imposing an excise tax of 32% of the wholesale price on all cigars shipped to customers in South Dakota. SD continues to prohibit the shipping of all other tobacco products.

For more details on the South Dakota excise tax, please review here

Virginia

Effective July 1, 2022, the Commonwealth of Virginia is imposing an excise tax on all retail sales of cigars and pipe tobacco to Virginia customers. Cigars are taxed at 20% of the wholesale price, while pipe tobacco is taxed at 10% of the wholesale price.

For more details on the Virginia excise tax, please review here

Shipping Preferences

Shipping Preference Delivery Time Price
1 No Rush Shipping will be shipped via UPS and be delivered via USPS. This service is a slower method than our CI Saver Shipping method.
2 CI Saver Shipping will be delivered via UPS and/or USPS. Delivery addresses must be able to receive packages from either carrier. CI Free Shipping (when available) utilizes the same services as CI Saver Shipping.
3 Small Cigar shipping will be delivered via UPS Economy. Delivery address must be able to receive packages from USPS.
4 USPS Priority Mail is not a guaranteed service and can take up to five business days for delivery.
Note: Shipping to states where adult signature is required by government regulation may be subject to additional fees.
*NEW* No Rush1 8-12 Business Days $7.99
CI Saver Shipping2 2-6 Business Days $8.99
Basic Economy3 4-8 Business Days $8.99
UPS Ground 1-5 Business Days $10.99
3 Business Day 3 Business Day Delivery $12.99
USPS Priority Mail4 2-3 Business Days $13.99
2 Business Day 2 Business Day Delivery $17.99
HI/AK 2 Business Day 2 Business Day Delivery $24.99
Next Business Day Next Business Day Delivery $28.99
HI/AK Next Business Day Next Business Day Delivery $38.99
UPS Saturday Saturday Delivery $48.99
HI/AK Saturday Delivery Saturday Delivery $53.99

Delivery times are based off of the shipping order cutoff time and are subject to payment approval. All delivery times, except Saturday, are based on business days (Monday – Friday) and exclude holidays. Special considerations may incur additional delivery times; see our shipping terms for further details.

Please note – certain items would exclude you from selecting some of the methods above, please refer to items that have 'shipping constraints' for more details.

Shipping Order Cutoff Time

Please consult the ‘Estimated Delivery’ date in the cart for the most accurate information based on the shipping method you select. All in-stock orders received by 3PM EST, will ship same day. 

Delivery Methods

  • Free and Saver Shipping will be delivered via UPS and/or USPS. Delivery addresses must be able to receive packages from either carrier.
  • Saturday, Next Day, 2 Day, 3 Day, and Ground will be delivered via UPS.
  • Priority Mail is delivered via USPS.

PO Boxes, APO/FPO, US Territories

PO Boxes, APO/FPO addresses, and US Territories will ship via USPS and may incur additional delivery times. Upgrade options are not available.

HAZMAT items (such as Butane)

Due to FAA regulations, expedited services are not available. These items will ship via USPS Parcel Post and may incur additional delivery times.

Backordered Items

We’re all cigar enthusiasts here, right? We know the importance of getting you the cigar brands and sizes you know and love. But because the vast majority of the products we offer are handmade cigars, we occasionally encounter delays and out of stocks due to the agricultural and handmade nature of these products. In these cases, we make available the ability to ‘Backorder’ a product that is not currently in stock but expected to return to stock. If you are interested in placing a tentative order for one of these products while we await receipt from the manufacturer, we would be pleased to accept a backorder. Please note that we will never charge your credit card while you await fulfillment of a backorder. In the event we are unable to ship the backordered product, we will contact you and you will have the option to cancel the backorder or replace with an alternative item.

Oversized Items

These items will ship via ground/freight services and may incur additional delivery times. Delivery may not be available to PO Boxes, APO/FPO, and US Territories for certain items. Driver will deliver to the shipping address, but is not required to assist in moving the oversized item into the building, or with setup/unpacking.

Alaska

Expedited delivery options to Alaska are available for an additional charge. See shipping prices above for further information.

State Restrictions

California

While we require all purchasers to be over 21 years of age, California’s Senate Bill 39 requires us to: 

• Confirm your delivery of tobacco products by telephone call after 5PM (PT) the day prior to shipment
• Obtain the signature of a person 21 years of age or order before completing the delivery

Note, in order to comply with this restriction, we are unable to ship to a PO Box or offer certain shipping methods to California.

Colorado

Shipments to Colorado residents are subject to Total Retail Delivery Fees of $0.27 per sale. For additional details, go to: Retail Delivery Fee | Department of Revenue - Taxation

Connecticut

Due to Connecticut State Regulations, we do not ship the following products to Connecticut addresses:

• Small Cigars (Weighing 3lb per 1000 or less)

Delaware

While we require all purchasers to be over 21 years of age, Delaware’s Title 30 Chapter 53 requires us to:

• Receive and store age verification documents in order to sell a tobacco product to you. We have partnered with Veratad Age and Identity Verification Solutions to safely and securely store your information. This is a one-time process and the information will only be used to comply with your state’s requirements. Obtain the signature of a person 21 years of age or order before completing the deliveryNote, in order to comply with this restriction, we are unable to ship to a PO Box or offer certain shipping methods to Delaware.

Hawaii 

Due to Hawaii State Regulations, we do not ship any products to Hawaii addresses.

Maine

Due to Maine State Regulations, we do not ship the following products to Maine addresses:

• Cigars with Homogenized/HTL Wrappers
• Small Cigars (Weighing 3lb per 1000 or less)
• Pipe Tobacco

Maryland

Due to Maryland State Regulations, we do not ship the following products to Maryland addresses:
• Cigars with Homogenized/HTL Wrappers
• Small Cigars (Weighing 3lb per 1000 or less)

Massachusetts

Due to Massachusetts State Regulations, we do not ship any Flavored Tobacco products to Massachusetts addresses.

Montana

Due to Montana State Regulations, we do not ship the following products to Montana addresses:

• Filtered Cigars

Pennsylvania

Due to Pennsylvania State Regulations, we do not ship the following products to Pennsylvania addresses:

• Small Cigars (Weighing 4lb per 1000 or less) in carton packs, containing 20 to 25 sticks per pack.

Utah 

Due to Utah State Regulations, we do not ship any products to Utah addresses.

Vermont

Due to Vermont State Regulations, we do not ship the following products to Vermont addresses:

• Small Cigars (Weighing 4.5lb per 1000 or less)

Washington

Due to Washington State regulations, we cannot ship the following products to Washington addresses:

• Small Cigars (Weighing 3lb per 1000 or less)
• Pipe Tobacco

When Should I Expect My Order

We know you want your order yesterday, and we strive to be the fastest and most reliable shippers in the business. Shipping takes up to 8 business days from date of shipment (not including weekends or holidays).

For more urgent requests and for customers living on the West Coast, we offer Priority Mail, 2-DAY, 3-DAY, and OVERNIGHT options at a small additional charge (Click here for shipping rates).

Online inventory is updated regularly. If an item is not immediately available, it will ship the moment it becomes available by our Saver Shipping method. We cannot be held responsible for UPS errors, or other delays out of our control. (Please note: for urgent and extremely time-sensitive requests, please call or email a representative to ensure availability before submitting your order, as certain items marked 'available' can sometimes sell out in the same day.)

Tracking My Order

You can check shipment status by using the My Account link found on each page. 

Orders ship from our warehouse located in Bethlehem, PA.