Higher costs for tobacco products
Portugal's Tobacco Tax Stamps See Annual Colour Changes for Fiscal Year Identification
The Portuguese government has announced a change in the colour scheme of its tobacco tax stamps for the 2026 fiscal year. Instead of the previous green used in 2025, the new stamps will feature a Bordeaux background. This change was officially published in the Diário da República.
The special tax stamps, mandatory for all tobacco products sold in Portugal, serve as proof of their legality and compliance with quality standards. The colour scheme of these stamps changes each fiscal year to distinguish them from previous years.
In 2024, the stamp had an orange background, while 2023 saw a brown background. The 2021 stamp featured a magenta background, and in 2020, a blue background was used.
The price of these stamps is revised annually by the Ministry of Finance in Portugal to account for changes in costs. For the 2026 fiscal year, the cost for non-adhesive tax stamps will increase by 2%, rising from €0.03751 to €0.03835 per stamp.
Fiscal expert António Brigas Afonso, a specialist in excise duties, has expressed concern that the price increase may lead to an increase in the retail cost of tobacco products. He warned that the price increase may ultimately be passed on to customers.
These tax stamps are an important part of the tobacco industry in Portugal, ensuring compliance with legal and quality standards. They are used to ensure the legality of tobacco products and are a crucial aspect of the ongoing efforts to regulate the tobacco market in Portugal.
The Ministry of Finance in Portugal also defines the color scheme to distinguish the stamps by fiscal year. The changes aim to regulate the tobacco market and ensure tax compliance.
In summary, the colour scheme of the tobacco tax stamps serves as a means of identifying the fiscal year of the tobacco products. For the 2026 fiscal year, the background colour of the stamp will be Bordeaux, and the cost for non-adhesive tax stamps will increase by 2%.
The announcement of a Bordeaux background for the 2026 tobacco tax stamps in Portugal indicates a change in the color scheme regulated by the Ministry of Finance, aiming to distinguish the stamps by fiscal year. This change in the color scheme is significant for the tobacco industry, as these stamps are crucial in ensuring compliance with legal and quality standards, and any price changes may affect the retail cost of tobacco products, echoing the concerns of fiscal expert António Brigas Afonso.
