Virginia Code 58.1-1021: Documents touching purchase, sale, etc., of cigarettes to be kept for three years, subject to inspection; penalty
It shall be the duty of every person storing, using or otherwise consuming in this Commonwealth cigarettes subject to the provisions of this article to keep and preserve all invoices, books, papers, cancelled checks, or other memoranda touching the purchase, sale, exchange, receipt, ownership, storage, use or other consumption of such cigarettes for a period of three years. All such invoices, books, papers, cancelled checks, or other memoranda shall be subject to audit and inspection by any duly authorized representative of the Department at any reasonable time. Any person who fails or refuses to keep and preserve the records as herein required shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Any person who fails or refuses to allow an audit or inspection of the records as herein provided, shall be assessed a penalty of $1,000 for each day he fails or refuses to allow an audit or inspection of the records, to be assessed and collected by the Department as other taxes are collected.
Attorney's Note
Under the Virginia Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 misdemeanor | up to 6 months | up to $1,000 |
Terms Used In Virginia Code 58.1-1021
- Person: includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, cooperative, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, government, political subdivision, or any other legal or commercial entity and any successor, representative, agent, agency, or instrumentality thereof. See Virginia Code 1-230
- Storage: means any keeping or retention in the Commonwealth of cigarettes for any purpose except sale in the regular course of business or subsequent use solely outside the Commonwealth. See Virginia Code 58.1-1000
- Use: means the exercise of any right or power over cigarettes incident to the ownership thereof or by any transaction where possession is given, except that it does not include the sale of cigarettes in the regular course of business. See Virginia Code 58.1-1000
Code 1950, § 58-757.22; 1960, c. 392, § 22; 1984, c. 675; 2005, c. 28.