10-21.  Retailer's license.

 Beginning on January 1, 2016, no person may engage in business as a retailer of tobacco products in this State without first having obtained a license from the Department.  Application for license shall be made to the Department, by electronic means, in a form prescribed by the Department.  Each applicant for a license under this Section shall furnish to the Department, in an electronic format established by the Department, the following information:

(1) the name and address of the applicant;
(2) the address of the location at which the applicant proposes to engage in business as a retailer of tobacco products in this State;
(3) such other additional information as the Department may lawfully require by its rules and regulations.
The annual license fee payable to the Department for each retailer's license shall be $75. The fee will be deposited into the Tax Compliance and Administration Fund and shall be used for the cost of tobacco retail inspection and contraband tobacco and tobacco smuggling with at least two-thirds of the money being used for contraband tobacco and tobacco smuggling operations and enforcement.
Each applicant for license shall pay such fee to the Department at the time of submitting its application for license to the Department.  The Department shall require an applicant for a license under this Section to electronically file and pay the fee.
A separate annual license fee shall be paid for each place of business at which a person who is required to procure a retailer's license under this Section proposes to engage in business as a retailer in Illinois under this Act.
The following are ineligible to receive a retailer's license under this Act:
(1) a person who has been convicted of a felony under any federal or State law for smuggling cigarettes or tobacco products or tobacco tax evasion, if the Department, after investigation and a hearing if requested by the applicant, determines that such person has not been sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant the public trust;  and
(2) a corporation, if any officer, manager or director thereof, or any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate more than 5% of the stock of such corporation, would not be eligible to receive a license under this Act for any reason.
The Department, upon receipt of an application and license fee, in proper form, from a person who is eligible to receive a retailer's license under this Act, shall issue to such applicant a license in form as prescribed by the Department, which license shall permit the applicant to which it is issued to engage in business as a retailer under this Act at the place shown in his application.  All licenses issued by the Department under this Section shall be valid for a period not to exceed one year after issuance unless sooner revoked, canceled or suspended as provided in this Act.  No license issued under this Section is transferable or assignable.  Such license shall be conspicuously displayed in the place of business conducted by the licensee in Illinois under such license.  A person who obtains a license as a retailer who ceases to do business as specified in the license, or who never commenced business, or whose license is suspended or revoked, shall immediately surrender the license to the Department.  The Department shall not issue a license to a retailer unless the retailer is also validly registered under the Retailers Occupation Tax Act.
A retailer as defined under this Act need not obtain an additional license under this Act, but shall be deemed to be sufficiently licensed by virtue of his being properly licensed as a retailer under Section 4g of the Cigarette Tax Act.
Any person aggrieved by any decision of the Department under this Section may, within 30 days after notice of the decision, protest and request a hearing.  Upon receiving a request for a hearing, the Department shall give notice to the person requesting the hearing of the time and place fixed for the hearing and shall hold a hearing in conformity with the provisions of this Act and then issue its final administrative decision in the matter to that person.  In the absence of a protest and request for a hearing within 30 days, the Department's decision shall become final without any further determination being made or notice given.