PrintPermit
DTC Permit
- Required: Yes
- Fee: $300 initial permit, $50 for renewals
- Expiration:1 yr from issue date
Sales Tax
- Required: Yes
- State:5.50%
- Local:No
- Tax on Shipping:No
Excise Tax
- Required: Yes
- Table Wine: $.60/gal
- Sparkling Wine: $1.24/gal
- Fortified Wine: $1.24/gal
Volume Limit
Limits per Winery
- Calendar year:12 cases per person
Reporting
- Required:Yes
- Sales Tax: Quarterly by the 15th
- Excise Tax: 30th of the month following the annual expiration date of DTC license
- Direct Shipment: 30th of the month following the annual expiration date of DTC license
Product Requirements
Identify Labels for Direct Shipment
- Submit list of all product labels to be shipped to consumers at the time of application
Product Restrictions
- ONLY wines produced by the permittee may be sold and shipped to consumers
- Wine may NOT be shipped in containers smaller than 750ml
- “Wine coolers” may NOT be shipped DTC
Additional Information
A Direct Shipper License is required for making on-site and off-site direct shipments to Maine consumers. The license fee for first-time applicants is $200, plus an additional one-time $100 registration fee with subsequent renewals costing $50. Wineries must have applied for and received a Retailers Certificate from the Maine Revenue Service to avoid any delay in the processing of their application and issuance of their liquor license. Limited Liability Companies, Limited Partnerships and Corporations must complete and submit the Supplementary Corporate Questionnaire with their license application and the application must be signed by the Owner or Corporate Officer.
- A direct shipper shall label each package to be shipped in accordance with this section so that it conspicuously reads “CONTAINS ALCOHOL: SIGNATURE OF A PERSON 21 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER IS REQUIRED FOR DELIVERY.”
States Enforce DTC Rules
February 6, 2020The continued growth of the direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales channel means that states will continue to make DTC shipping laws a priority for enforcement in 2020. An increasing number of states are investigating DTC shipments and conducting compliance checks on direct shipper permit holders and common carriers. Wineries that ship directly to consumers outside of California … Read More ⟶
CONTACT INFORMATION
Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages & Lottery Operations
Division of Liquor Licensing and Enforcement
8 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0008
Phone: (207) 624-7220
Fax: (207) 287-3434
Division of Liquor Licensing and Enforcement
8 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0008
Phone: (207) 624-7220
Fax: (207) 287-3434
