(a) An excise tax, in addition to all other taxes of every kind imposed by law, is imposed upon the sale, receipt, purchase, possession, consumption, handling, distribution, or use of cigars and cigarettes in this state at the following rates:

(1) Little cigars weighing not more than three pounds per thousand: two mills each;

(2) All other cigars: 13 percent of the wholesale cost price, exclusive of any trade, cash, or other discounts or any promotion, advertising, display, or similar allowances;

(3) Cigarettes: 12¢ per pack of 20 cigarettes and a like rate, pro rata, for other size packages.

(b) When the retail selling price is referred to in this chapter as the basis for computing the tax, it is intended to mean the ordinary retail selling price of the article to the consumer before adding the amount of the tax.

(c) The taxes imposed by this chapter are levied with respect to the purchase or use of cigars or cigarettes by the state or any department, institution, or agency of the state and by the political subdivisions of the state and their departments, institutions, and agencies. The taxes imposed by this chapter are not imposed with respect to cigars or cigarettes purchased exclusively for use by the patients at the Georgia War Veterans Home and the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home.

(d) The taxes imposed by this chapter are not levied with respect to cigars or cigarettes the purchase or use of which this state is prohibited from taxing under the Constitution or statutes of the United States.

(e) The taxes imposed by this chapter shall be advanced and paid by the distributor to the commissioner for deposit and distribution as provided in this chapter upon the first taxable transaction within the state, whether or not the transaction involves the ultimate purchaser or consumer. The seller or distributor shall collect the tax from the purchaser or consumer and the purchaser or consumer shall pay the tax to the seller or distributor. The seller or distributor shall be responsible for the collection of the tax and the payment of the tax to the commissioner. Whenever cigars or cigarettes are shipped from outside the state to anyone other than a distributor, the person receiving the cigars or cigarettes shall be deemed to be a distributor and shall be responsible for the tax on the cigars or cigarettes and the payment of the tax to the commissioner.

(f) The amount of taxes advanced and paid to the state as provided in this Code section shall be added to and collected as a part of the sales price of the cigars or cigarettes sold or distributed. The amount of the tax shall be stated separately from the price of the cigars or cigarettes.

(g) The cigar and cigarette tax imposed shall be collected only once upon the same cigarettes, cigars, or little cigars.