2005 Excise Taxes Close Out On Top Excise tax collections on firearms and ammunition were up 2.6 percent in calendar year 2005, signaling growth in sales among manufacturers. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, firearm and ammunition manufacturers paid $224.3 million in excise taxes last year, up from $218.6 million in 2004. Excise taxes are considered one of the best indicators of industry performance. Last year's excise tax totals point to an estimated $2.1 billion in sales for manufacturers, up from about $2 billion in 2004. Total excise tax collections for the calendar year were: long guns, $105.6 million (up 1.8 percent from $103.8 million in 2004); ammunition, $71.3 million (up 3.5 percent from $68.9 million in 2004); and handguns, $47.3 million (up 3 percent from $45.9 million in 2004).