A new standard for the security of excise tax stamps has been published to make them more effective and protect the goods on which they are applied.

Excise tax stamps demonstrate that the relevant duty has been paid and that the product is legitimately available in the intended market. However, where there is tax, there are always attempts at tax avoidance. A foolproof tax stamp is an effective way to combat the problem.

ISO 22382, Security and resilience – Authenticity, integrity and trust for products and documents – Guidelines for the content, security, issuance and examination of excise tax stamps, is designed to help tax authorities improve compliance with regulations and establish an effective and efficient excise tax collection regime.

Ian Lancaster, project leader of the ISO technical committee that developed ISO 22382, said tax stamps have the potential to make a significant contribution to public health and government revenues, and thus it is essential they work as they should.

“We know that counterfeit and other illicit excisable goods not only deprive governments of tax revenues but can kill or cause serious health problems to consumers,” Lancaster said.

“A secure tax stamp makes it much more difficult for the criminals who target taxed products.

“Our aim in creating this standard is to help tax authorities to achieve the best in their tax stamps—to make them secure and well-protected so they, in turn, protect the goods on which they are applied and the public buying them.”