South Korea Constitutional Court Upholds Volume-Based E-Liquid Tax, With Challenged Rates at KRW 370 and KRW 628 per Milliliter

Sep.18
South Korea Constitutional Court Upholds Volume-Based E-Liquid Tax, With Challenged Rates at KRW 370 and KRW 628 per Milliliter
South Korea's Constitutional Court has upheld fixed taxes on nicotine-containing e-cigarette liquids based on solution volume, ruling that challenged provisions imposing KRW 370 per milliliter in individual consumption tax and KRW 628 per milliliter in tobacco consumption tax do not violate the Constitution. The cases stemmed from historical disputes involving importers that reported nicotine as being extracted from tobacco stems rather than leaves. South Korea has since broadened its tobacco definition to include synthetic nicotine, while current tax laws provide reduced rates for certain products not derived from tobacco.

核心概要

  • 韩国宪法法院2026年9月17日以全体一致意见裁定,液态电子烟按照尼古丁溶液容量适用固定税率不违反宪法。
  • 涉案税率分别为每毫升370韩元个别消费税和628韩元烟草消费税,计税基础为尼古丁溶液容量,而非产品售价或尼古丁浓度。
  • 涉案企业申报尼古丁来自烟草茎,税务及海关机关则认定相关产品含烟草叶来源尼古丁并据此征税。
  • 韩国自2026年4月24日起将以“烟草或尼古丁”为原料的产品纳入烟草定义;对不含烟草及烟草来源尼古丁的产品,现行部分税费按标准税率的50%计征或减免。

2Firsts

2026年9月18日

据韩国宪法法院于2026年9月17日公布的裁决,对使用尼古丁溶液的液态电子烟按照溶液容量征收固定税额不违反宪法。法院以全体一致意见认定,涉案旧《个别消费税法》规定的每毫升370韩元个别消费税,以及《地方税法》规定的每毫升628韩元烟草消费税容量计税条款均符合宪法。

此次裁决涉及2026헌바70、133合并案和2026헌가1案。前者涉及旧《个别消费税法》对使用尼古丁溶液的电子烟按每毫升370韩元征税的规定;后者涉及《地方税法》下每毫升628韩元的烟草消费税,以及旧《烟草事业法》以“烟草叶”为基础界定烟草的规定。

案件涉及5家液态电子烟进口及销售企业和两名经营者。相关企业从中国、马来西亚等地进口使用尼古丁原液制成的电子烟液,并向海关申报称尼古丁来自烟草茎,而非烟草叶,因此不属于当时《烟草事业法》定义的烟草。

税务及海关机关则认定涉案产品含有烟草叶来源的尼古丁原液,属于旧法下的烟草,并据此进行税务追征。企业随后提起行政诉讼,并在相关诉讼中对计税条款提出违宪审查。

法院支持按尼古丁溶液容量征税

案件争议之一,是液态电子烟税额是否可以直接按照最终尼古丁溶液容量计算,而不区分产品价格或实际尼古丁浓度。

涉案《地方税法》对使用尼古丁溶液的电子烟按每毫升628韩元征收烟草消费税;《个别消费税法》对应标准为每毫升370韩元。

企业主张,尼古丁浓度不同的产品只要液体容量相同即承担相同税额,按容量计税侵犯财产权。

宪法法院驳回了这一主张。法院认为,尼古丁溶液容量能够客观确认且易于测量,以容量作为计税标准有利于税务行政效率和法律稳定性。

法院还认为,根据不同烟草产品最终流通和销售形态确定计税标准,符合韩国烟草税制采用的计税原则,并可明确税额计算、稳定征管。

在个别消费税案件中,法院还指出,对电子烟征收个别消费税具有增加财政收入、抑制有害烟草消费和保护公众健康等立法目的。

旧法“烟草叶”定义未获实体合宪判断

2026헌가1案还涉及旧《烟草事业法》对烟草的定义。

旧法将烟草界定为以“烟草叶”为原料制造的产品,由此使烟草茎、根等部位提取的尼古丁,以及合成尼古丁是否属于法定烟草,长期成为韩国电子烟监管和税务争议的一部分。

首尔行政法院就旧《地方税法》援引的“烟草叶”定义向宪法法院提出违宪法律审查。

宪法法院以该问题与原审案件结果不具备必要关联性为由,驳回这一部分审查请求,没有对旧法“烟草叶”定义本身是否合宪作出实体判断。

法院指出,即使未来通过补救性立法将烟草茎来源尼古丁和合成尼古丁纳入烟草消费税范围,如果涉案商品最终被认定实际使用的是烟草叶来源尼古丁,其按照旧法仍属于烟草并承担相应税负。

韩国已扩大烟草定义,合成尼古丁进入监管体系

此次案件涉及的税务争议形成于韩国扩大烟草法律定义之前。

韩国于2025年12月23日公布修订后的《烟草事业法》,并自2026年4月24日起实施。新法将烟草定义由以“烟草叶”为原料制造的产品,扩大为以“烟草或尼古丁”为全部或部分原料制造、用于吸食、吸入、咀嚼或嗅闻的产品,药品及准药品除外。

这一修订使此前不属于旧定义的合成尼古丁电子烟进入烟草监管体系,包括相关销售和流通规定。

税法也同步调整。现行《个别消费税法》仍将使用尼古丁溶液的电子烟标准税率列为每毫升370韩元,《地方税法》的标准烟草消费税率为每毫升628韩元。

不过,对不以烟草或烟草来源尼古丁作为全部或部分原料的产品,两部法律目前均按相应标准税率的50%计征。以液态电子烟计算,标准税率对应的50%分别为个别消费税每毫升185韩元和烟草消费税每毫升314韩元。

除上述两项税种外,韩国液态电子烟还涉及国民健康促进负担金。现行标准为使用尼古丁溶液的电子烟每毫升525韩元;对不含烟草及烟草来源尼古丁的产品,现行法律同样规定减免50%。

因此,9月17日裁决确认的是涉案容量计税条款的合宪性,并不意味着所有现行液态电子烟均统一承担每毫升370韩元和628韩元的全额税率。

旧烟草定义曾引发尼古丁来源争议

韩国企划财政部门曾于2016年解释,当时《烟草事业法》所称烟草覆盖以烟草叶为原料的产品,而烟草茎或根来源尼古丁不属于这一法律定义。

此后,以烟草茎、根来源名义进口的尼古丁产品增加。由于相关产品被申报为不属于法定烟草,其是否应缴纳烟草消费税、个别消费税和国民健康促进负担金等成为持续多年的税务争议。

此次案件中的进口企业同样申报所用尼古丁来自烟草茎,但韩国税务和海关机关认定相关产品实际含烟草叶来源尼古丁,并据此征税。

9月17日的裁决维持了以尼古丁溶液容量作为涉案个别消费税和烟草消费税计税基础的法律安排。

关注2Firsts,及时了解全球烟草与尼古丁行业监管政策、市场变化及产业趋势。

封面图源:Seoul Economic Daily


Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

FDA Authorizes Four More Nicotine Pouches as Review Pilot Expands Beyond Initial Decisions
FDA Authorizes Four More Nicotine Pouches as Review Pilot Expands Beyond Initial Decisions
The FDA has authorized four additional on! nicotine pouches, bringing the U.S. total to 30. The decision marks another outcome of the agency’s nicotine pouch review pilot, whose communication and review practices are now being applied more broadly across the category. It also extends Helix’s authorized portfolio from on! PLUS to the earlier on! line. Yet all FDA-authorized nicotine pouches still come from subsidiaries of PMI or Altria, underscoring how concentrated U.S. regulatory access remains.
Aug.05
Philippines Weighs Unified Vape Tax as Lawmakers Back Risk-Based Rates and Government Seeks to Fill ₱66 Billion Revenue Gap
Philippines Weighs Unified Vape Tax as Lawmakers Back Risk-Based Rates and Government Seeks to Fill ₱66 Billion Revenue Gap
Philippine lawmakers are considering an overhaul of the country's vape excise-tax regime to eliminate the wide gap between taxes on nicotine salt and freebase nicotine liquids and reduce incentives for misdeclaration. House Bill 5364, filed by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr., would impose a unified ₱10-per-milliliter tax on vapor products, with 5% annual increases beginning in 2027. Rodriguez says the proposal could generate an average ₱6 billion in annual collections from 2027 through 2030. The debate comes as the Philippine government considers tobacco, vape and other health-tax reforms to help offset around ₱66 billion in revenue expected to be forgone under a proposed tax-relief package.
Aug.18
Bret Koplow Takes Permanent Charge of FDA Tobacco Center After Pushing Faster PMTA Reviews, as HHS Emphasizes Innovation and Access to Lower-Risk Alternatives
Bret Koplow Takes Permanent Charge of FDA Tobacco Center After Pushing Faster PMTA Reviews, as HHS Emphasizes Innovation and Access to Lower-Risk Alternatives
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has named Bret Koplow permanent director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, ending his period as acting chief. Koplow has spent years working on tobacco regulation, law and policy inside the FDA and, while serving as acting director, pushed for faster PMTA reviews and nicotine pouch review pilots. HHS also said CTP will prioritize innovation and access to less harmful alternatives for adult smokers while continuing efforts to protect youth.
Sep.09
UK Vape Maker Riot Enters Clacton By-Election to Fight Government 'White Packaging' Proposals
UK Vape Maker Riot Enters Clacton By-Election to Fight Government 'White Packaging' Proposals
British e-liquid manufacturer Riot Labs has introduced a fictional “candidate” called Riot Man around the Clacton parliamentary by-election, seeking to mobilize consumers and retailers against parts of the UK government’s proposed restrictions on vape packaging, device appearance and retail displays. Riot Man is not listed as an official candidate.
Aug.12
Indonesia’s BNN Pushes Total Vape Ban as Health Ministry Tightens Tobacco Packaging Rules, Putting $40 Billion Industry at Risk
Indonesia’s BNN Pushes Total Vape Ban as Health Ministry Tightens Tobacco Packaging Rules, Putting $40 Billion Industry at Risk
Indonesia is entering a new phase of debate over vape and tobacco regulation. The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has proposed a total vape ban, with some lawmakers supporting stronger restrictions. At the same time, the Health Ministry is advancing tobacco and nicotine regulations under Government Regulation No. 28/2024, including measures such as plain packaging and product controls. Tobacco and vape industries have warned that tighter rules could affect a sector worth around $40 billion, supporting about 6 million jobs and contributing significant tax revenue.
Jul.27
China Tobacco Regulator Deputy Head Visits Laos as Both Sides Strengthen Cooperation on Illegal Tobacco Trade
China Tobacco Regulator Deputy Head Visits Laos as Both Sides Strengthen Cooperation on Illegal Tobacco Trade
China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported that Liu Sanjiang, deputy head and Party group member of China’s tobacco regulator, led a delegation to Laos from July 31 to Aug. 2, 2026, for discussions with Lao authorities on combating cross-border illegal tobacco trade. The two sides discussed areas including law enforcement cooperation, information sharing and efforts to address tobacco-related illegal activities such as counterfeiting and smuggling. The visit highlights cooperation between Chinese and Lao authorities on illicit tobacco control.
News
Aug.05