Sixty per cent of cigarette packs avoided Irish tax, research finds

Almost 60% of cigarette packs discovered in Ireland avoided Irish tax, according to new research.

The research was carried out on behalf of JTI Ireland, who are a member of the Japan Tobacco Group of companies. They are Ireland's leading tobacco manufacturer, with brands like Benson and Hedges and Silk Cut.

JTI Ireland's Empty Pack Survey found that over 57% of cigarette packages surveyed in Ireland were non-Irish duty paid, meaning they did not have Irish tax paid on them.

The survey also found that 14% of the cigarette packages surveyed were counterfeit products meant to deceive customers and avoid paying tax.

JTI Ireland claims that since 2018, the Irish exchequer lost around €5 billion in tax revenue to these products, and around €1 billion was lost in 2025 alone.

JTI Ireland say that the most common areas across the country, Galway had the highest rate, with 75% of cigarette packs had no Irish tax paid on them. This was closely followed by Swords, with 66%.

Daan van Hamersveld, Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications at JTI Ireland, said: “These findings show a significant issue with illegal counterfeit cigarettes in Ireland. The Government’s own figures show that illegal tobacco products cost the state over €750 million in lost taxes in 2025 alone, while at the same time undermining legitimate retailers and providing income for organised crime groups.

“When legal non-Irish duty-paid products are included, retailers across the country are losing out on over €1 billion in lost turnover annually as smokers increasingly turn to lower-priced illegal and other NIDP cigarettes. At the same time, the smoking rate has remained stable since 2019, suggesting smokers are simply seeking alternative channels in response to tax increases rather than quitting.

“We would urge the Government to pair a more moderate approach to excise increases with stronger enforcement action against the criminal networks behind cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting to avoid further exacerbating this already serious situation.”