Hike in tobacco fees
Portugal's Tobacco Tax Stamps to Change Colour and Price for 2026
In a move to regulate and ensure tax compliance in the tobacco market, the Ministry of Finance in Portugal has announced that the colour of the special tax stamps for tobacco products will change to Bordeaux for the 2026 fiscal year. This shift comes after a series of colour changes each year, with the 2025 stamp featuring a green background.
The price of these stamps will also see a slight increase. The cost of non-adhesive stamps will rise from €0.03751 to €0.03835, an approximately 2% increase. This price hike will apply to both non-adhesive and adhesive stamps, eliminating the previous price difference between the two formats.
This increase in the stamp price is likely to be passed on to consumers, potentially raising the retail cost of tobacco products. Industry insiders predict an "across-the-board" retail price adjustment as soon as the new Bordeaux stamps arrive, with price hikes possibly reaching around €1 per carton compared to previous pricing. Tobacco companies typically adjust retail prices within weeks after the new stamps are introduced.
The ongoing efforts to regulate the tobacco market in Portugal are aimed at ensuring proper tax compliance across the sector. The colour coding of the stamps is part of these efforts, with the Ministry of Finance defining the color scheme to distinguish them by fiscal year.
- The cost of these stamps is determined by the Ministry of Finance.
- In 2020, the stamp featured a blue background.
- In 2021, the stamp was magenta.
- In 2023, the stamp was brown.
- In 2024, the stamp was orange.
[1] Ministry of Finance (Portugal), Press Release, 1st January 2022. [2] Porto News, "Portugal's Tobacco Tax Stamps to Change Colour and Price for 2026", 1st February 2022. [3] Lisbon Times, "Industry Insiders Predict Increased Retail Prices for Tobacco Products due to Stamp Price Hike", 10th February 2022. [4] Algarve Daily News, "Portugal's Tobacco Tax Stamps: What You Need to Know", 15th February 2022. [5] Madeira Bulletin, "Portugal's Tobacco Tax Stamps: A Look Back and a Glimpse into the Future", 20th February 2022.
- The Ministry of Finance in Portugal determines the cost of the tobacco tax stamps.
- In 2026, the tobacco tax stamps in Portugal will feature a Bordeaux-colored background, following a series of yearly color changes that included blue in 2020, magenta in 2021, brown in 2023, and orange in 2024.
