10-27.  Retailers;  purchase and possession of little cigars.

(a) Retailers are prohibited from possessing unstamped packages of little cigars containing 20 or 25 little cigars at locations where retailers make sales of little cigars to consumers or users.  Retailers that are also stamping distributors are prohibited from possessing unstamped little cigars at locations where those retailers make sales of packages of little cigars containing 20 or 25 little cigars to consumers or users.  Retailers that are not stamping distributors shall purchase stamped packages of little cigars containing 20 or 25 little cigars for resale only from stamping distributors, distributors, or wholesalers.  Retailers who are not stamping distributors may not purchase or possess unstamped packages of little cigars containing 20 or 25 little cigars.  A retailer must be a stamping distributor to make tax exempt sales of packages of little cigars containing 20 or 25 little cigars for use outside of this State.  A retailer who is a stamping distributor making sales of stamped packages of little cigars for use outside of this State may file a claim for credit for such sales with the Department on forms and in the manner provided by the Department.
(b) For purchases of packages of little cigars containing other than 20 or 25 little cigars, retailers who are not stamping distributors may not purchase or possess such packages of little cigars, unless the retailer receives an invoice from a stamping distributor, distributor, or wholesaler stating the tax on the packages has been or will be paid.  Retailers shall retain such invoices for inspection by the Department.  If a retailer maintaining multiple retail locations notifies the Department in writing that it maintains its invoices at a centralized business location, the Department shall have the authority to inspect invoices at the centralized business location at all times during the usual business hours of the day and the Department may grant the retailer 3 business days to produce the invoices at the retail location at which the request was made.  A retailer must be a stamping distributor to make tax exempt sales of packages of little cigars containing other than 20 or 25 little cigars for use outside of this State.  A retailer who is a stamping distributor making sales of packages of little cigars containing other than 20 or 25 little cigars for use outside of this State on which the tax has been or will be paid by another stamping distributor or was paid by the retailer may file a claim for credit for such sales with the Department on forms and in the manner provided by the Department.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act, a retailer unknowingly possessing contraband little cigars obtained from a stamping distributor, distributor, or wholesaler or other person engaged in the business of selling tobacco products or knowingly possessing contraband little cigars obtained from a stamping distributor is not subject to penalties for such purchase or possession if the retailer, within 48 hours after discovering that the little cigars are contraband little cigars, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays:  (i) notifies the Department and the person from whom the little cigars were obtained, orally and in writing, that he or she possesses contraband little cigars;  (ii) places the contraband little cigars in one or more containers and seals those containers;  and (iii) places on the containers the following or similar language:  “Contraband Little Cigars.  Not For Sale.”  All contraband little cigars in the possession of a retailer remain subject to forfeiture under the provisions of this Act.