How did the smuggling of tea into the British colonies probably affect taxes collected on tea?

The smuggling of tea into the British colonies likely reduced the amount of tax revenue collected on legally imported tea. As colonists opted for cheaper smuggled tea to avoid high duties, legitimate tea sales plummeted, leading to lower tax income for the British government. This undermined the effectiveness of the tax system and fueled colonial resentment against British taxation policies, ultimately contributing to revolutionary sentiments.