(1) Other than:
(a) A wholesaler required to be licensed under this chapter;
(b) A federal instrumentality with respect to sales to authorized military personnel; or
(c) An Indian tribal organization with respect to sales to enrolled members of the tribe,
a person who is in lawful possession of unstamped cigarettes and who intends to sell or otherwise dispose of the cigarettes shall pay, or satisfy its precollection obligation that is imposed by this chapter, the tax required by this chapter by remitting the tax or causing stamps to be affixed in the manner provided in rules adopted by the department.
(2) When stamps are required to be affixed, the person may deduct from the tax collected the compensation allowable under this chapter. The remittance or the affixing of stamps shall, in the case of cigarettes obtained in the manner set forth in RCW
82.24.250(7)(c), be made at the same time and manner as required in RCW
82.24.250(7)(c).
(3) This section shall not relieve the buyer or possessor of unstamped cigarettes from personal liability for the tax imposed by this chapter.
(4) Nothing in this section shall relieve a wholesaler from the requirements of affixing stamps pursuant to RCW
82.24.040 and
82.24.050.