§ 68-330. Cost to the retailer; meaning.

a.  The term "cost to the retailer" shall mean the "basic cost of cigarettes and tobacco products" to the retailer plus the "cost of doing business by the retailer", as evidenced by the recognized statistical and cost accounting practices in allocation of overhead costs and expenses, paid or incurred, and must include, without limitation, labor (including salaries or drawing accounts of owners, salaries of executives and officers, or general and special allocations and charges made by parent organizations), rent, depreciation, selling costs, maintenance of equipment, delivery costs, all types of licenses, taxes, insurance, and advertising, and any other cost:  Provided, that any retailer who, in connection with the retailer's purchase, receives not only the discounts ordinarily allowed upon purchases by a retailer but also, in whole or in part, discounts ordinarily allowed upon purchases by a wholesaler, shall, in determining "cost to the retailer", pursuant to this subsection, add the "cost of doing business by the wholesaler", as defined in Section 4 of this act, to the "basic cost of cigarettes and tobacco products" to said retailer, as well as the "cost of doing business by the retailer".

b.  In the absence of proof of a lesser cost of doing business by the retailer making the sale, the "cost of doing business by the retailer" shall be presumed to be six per centum (6%) of the "basic cost of cigarettes and tobacco products" to the retailer, plus cartage to the retail outlet if performed or paid for by the retailer (and not previously included in the charge by the wholesaler), which cartage cost, in the absence of proof of a lesser cost, shall be deemed to be three-fourths of one per centum (3/4 of 1%) of the basic cost of cigarettes and tobacco products to the retailer.

c.  In the absence of proof of a lesser cost of doing business, the "cost of doing business by the retailer", who, in connection with the retailer's purchase, receives not only the discounts ordinarily allowed upon purchases by a retailer but also, in whole or in part, the discounts ordinarily allowed upon purchases by a wholesaler, shall be presumed to be six percentum (6%) of the sum of the "basic cost of cigarettes and tobacco products" and the "cost of doing business by the wholesaler".

Added by Laws 1949, p. 109, § 5, emerg. eff. May 31, 1949.  Renumbered from Title 15, § 599.5 by Laws 1981, c. 211, § 7, emerg. eff. June 1, 1981.