The government and the ruling party are considering raising the tax rate on heated tobacco products to secure funds for defense expenses, aiming to align it with the level of rolled cigarettes. This is part of a multi-year tax reform plan, including an approximately 3 yen increase in tobacco tax per cigarette. Currently, heated tobacco products have a lower tax burden than rolled cigarettes, and the plan aims to offset this difference to generate additional revenue for defense funding.

While the specific start date for the tax increase is not yet clear, the Liberal Democratic Party has shared its intention to postpone the decision until mid-December. In the future, the government and the ruling party plan to proceed with discussions on details such as the start date and tax rates. This tax increase is part of the defense tax hike to secure 43 trillion yen in defense expenses, targeting three tax categories: tobacco, corporate, and income. However, there are differing opinions regarding the lower health risks of heated tobacco products, leading to ongoing debates.

政府・与党は、防衛費の財源を確保するために加熱式たばこの税率を引き上げ、これを紙巻きたばこと同じ水準にする方針を検討しています。これは複数年かけて実施される税制改正の一環で、たばこ税には1本当たり3円程度の増税が含まれます。現在、加熱式たばこは紙巻きたばこよりも税負担が低いため、この差を解消することで増収を防衛財源に充てる計画です。

具体的な増税の開始時期はまだ明確ではありませんが、自民党は12月中の決定を見送る方針を共有しています。今後、政府・与党は開始時期や税率などの詳細について検討を進める予定です。この増税は、43兆円の防衛費を確保するための防衛増税の一環で、たばこ、法人、所得の3つの税目が対象とされています。ただし、加熱式たばこの健康リスクの低さを巡る異論もあり、議論が続いています。