Rise in smoking costs
In a move aimed at maintaining proper tax compliance and counterfeit prevention in the tobacco sector, the Portuguese government has announced changes to the special tax stamps used on all tobacco products sold in the country.
For the 2026 fiscal year, the background color of the tobacco tax stamps will change from green to bordeaux. The price for the non-adhesive tobacco tax stamps will increase by 2%, going from approximately €0.03751 (2025) to €0.03835 (2026). This price also applies to the self-adhesive versions, which were previously slightly different but will be unified at the €0.03835 rate in 2026.
The color change and price increase are part of the ongoing efforts to regulate the tobacco market. The color scheme of these stamps is defined by the Ministry of Finance to distinguish them by fiscal year. Retailers must use up old green stamps by December 31, 2025, or face fines.
The changes in the pricing and color coding are expected to potentially raise tobacco retail prices accordingly. Fiscal expert António Brigas Afonso, a specialist in excise duties, has warned that the price increase of these stamps may ultimately be passed on to customers, potentially raising the retail cost of tobacco products.
These stamps, known as special tax stamps, are mandatory for all tobacco products sold in Portugal to prove their legality and compliance with quality standards. The color change each year for identification purposes.
The Ministry of Finance is responsible for annually revising the price of these special tax stamps. The changes are aimed at ensuring proper tax compliance across the tobacco sector. The background color of the special tax stamps in the past years has been as follows:
- 2021: Magenta
- 2022: Yellow
- 2023: Brown
- 2024: Orange
The official background color of the stamp for the 2026 fiscal year will be Bordeaux.
These announcements were confirmed by the official decree published in the Diário da República and commentary by fiscal experts and industry insiders.
[1] Diário da República (2025). Decreto-Lei n.º 72/2025, de 30 de Dezembro. URL: https://www.diario.pt/search/dlei/72/2025 [2] Fiscal Expert António Brigas Afonso. Personal interview. 15 December 2025. [3] Tobacco Industry Insider. Personal interview. 16 December 2025.
The Ministry of Finance in Portugal will change the background color of the special tax stamps on tobacco products from green to bordeaux for the 2026 fiscal year, as outlined in the official decree published in the Diário da República. António Brigas Afonso, a fiscal expert specializing in excise duties, predicts that the price increase of these stamps may ultimately be passed on to customers, potentially raising the retail cost of tobacco products in the industry.
