In the wake of recent litigation in Illinois accusing wineries of failing to pay the sales tax on shipping charges for wine being shipped directly to consumers in the state, we have updated the tax information on our website with the following information: The taxability of shipping charges in Illinois is not clear. However, there […]
FedEx to Begin Direct-to-Consumer Shipping to Massachusetts on Feb. 1, 2015
FedEx has informed Wine Institute that, effective Feb. 1, 2015, FedEx Express and FedEx Ground will open the state of Massachusetts for legal shipments of alcoholic beverages. •FedEx Ground and FedEx Express will both transport legal alcoholic beverage shipments into, out of and within the state of Massachusetts starting Feb. 1, 2015. •Please note, unauthorized […]
New MA Direct Shipping Application Available
The new Direct Wine Shipper License application and Direct Wine Shipper License Advisory for Massachusetts are now available on Wine Institute’s website: http://wineinstitute.shipcompliant.com/Home.aspx?SaleTypeID=1 (click on MA on map) and the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) website: http://www.mass.gov/abcc/. The new permit law replaces the existing unworkable direct shipping law in its entirety. Under the new […]
2015 Alcohol License Renewal
The Georgia Department of Revenue recently announced that existing licensees can now renew their alcohol license for 2015 via their Georgia Tax Center (GTC) account. Renewals must be completed online using the GTC before the end of the calendar year. Wineries renewing a Manufacturer of Wine, Farm Winery or Broker license are required to submit […]
New Direct-to-Consumer Shipping Requirements in Maine
Wineries licensed to ship to Maine consumers now have fewer reports to file each year. Maine recently amended its direct-to-consumer law to require that direct shippers file excise tax returns and shipment reports once a year. Unlike the quarterly reporting periods which were based on the calendar year, the annual reporting period corresponds to the […]
New Texas Label Approval Application
The Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission (TABC) has updated the label approval form for wine, as well as the forms for beer and spirits. The application for approval of labels for wine is form number C-270w (07/2014). Starting July 28, all wine label approval applications sent to the TABC must be on the new form. A […]
Massachusetts Reconciles Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping Law: Discrimination and Aggregate Quantity Limit Removed
Today, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed the state’s budget conference report that includes Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) wine shipping language, opening the door to DTC shipping in the state next year. The move brings to a close years of effort by Wine Institute and Free the Grapes to reconcile the state’s DTC shipping statutes with court rulings […]
Massachusetts Direct Shipping Proposal on Governor’s Desk
On June 30th, the Massachusetts House and Senate both approved the budget conference report that includes Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) shipping language. The budget is now on the Governor’s desk, and he will have 10 days to sign it into law. This action will bring to a close years of effort to reconcile the state’s DTC shipping […]
Arkansas Confirms Direct Shippers Only Responsible for Statewide Taxes
As wineries were applying for and beginning to use the new DTC shipping licenses for on-site sales to Arkansas consumers, we learned that some of the staff in the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration were telling holders of direct wine shipper licenses that they were responsible for collecting certain local sales and use taxes. […]
FedEx Services Expand to Arkansas
FedEx Express and FedEx Ground will accept on-site direct-to-consumer wine shipments for transport to Arkansas consumers beginning May 1, 2014. For direct-to-consumer shipment to Arkansas, wineries must hold an Arkansas Wine Shipping Permit and can only ship wine to Arkansas consumers who purchase the wine on the premises of the winery. The new permit law […]
