Wine Institute
Wine Institute
  • Home
  • About
    • The Collaboration
    • Wine Institute Membership
    • Contact
  • DTC Shipping
    • DTC Shipping Map
    • Off-Site Direct Shipping Summary
    • Tax Lookup Tool
  • Wholesale
  • Resources
    • Compliance Alerts
    • Shipping Laws FAQs
    • State Shipping Background
    • State Control Directory
    • State Legislatures
    • State Excise Tax Rates on Wine
    • Volume Converter
    • FedEx Membership Benefits
    • Free the Grapes
    • Glossary

STATE SHIPPING LAWS: North Carolina

Open Permit

Last Updated: September 18, 2024

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint

Permit

DTC Permit
  • Required: Yes
  • Fee: $0
  • Expiration:Does Not Expire

Sales Tax

  • Required:Yes
  • State:4.75%
  • Local:Yes
  • Tax on Shipping:Yes

Excise Tax

  • Required: Yes
  • Unfortified Wine: $.2634/liter
  • Fortified Wine: $.2934/liter

Volume Limit

Limits per Winery
  • Monthly: 2 cases/person

Reporting

  • Required:Yes
  • Sales Tax: Quarterly by the 20th
  • Excise Tax: Annually by Jan 15th
  • Direct Shipment:Quarterly by the 15th
  • Record Retention: At least 3 years

Product Requirements

Identify Labels for Direct Shipment
  • Complete and submit Wine Shipper Brand Listing Form with permit application
  • No Fee
  • Letter of approval not required for products only sold direct-to-consumer
  • Direct shippers must notify their NC wholesaler of intent to direct ship any brand labels already in distribution

Additional Information

Effective October 1, 2003, holders of a Federal Basic Permit to manufacturer wine located within and outside this state, may apply for a Wine Shipper Permit. There is no fee for this permit. All shipments must be made through an approved common carrier.

  • Wineries must complete the Department of Revenue Business Registration Application to register for a Sales and Use Tax account ID number.
  • The Brand Listing form must be amended accordingly to add or remove brands so that the Commission has an updated list of brands being shipped.
  • Quarterly Direct Shipment Reports must be submitted to the ABC Commission.
  • Excise Tax Return and Annual Sales Report must be filed with the Department of Revenue.
  • All wine shipper and wine shipper packager permittees shipping wines pursuant to this section shall affix a notice in 26-point type or larger to the outside of each package of wine shipped within or to the State in a conspicuous location stating: “CONTAINS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; SIGNATURE OF PERSON AGED 21 YEARS OR OLDER REQUIRED FOR DELIVERY.”

A Wine Shipper Permit is not a requirement for making on-site direct shipments to NC consumers. Any winery holding a federal basic permit may ship up to 5.5 cases (50 liters) to an NC consumer that purchases the wine during a visit to the winery.

North Carolina Reporting Changes for DTC & Wholesale

January 10, 2019

The North Carolina Department of Revenue (NCDOR) has made several changes to the alcoholic beverages tax forms that impact members who make sales and ship directly to consumers and/or wholesalers in NC. Sales to NC-licensed wholesalers after Jan. 1, 2019 must be reported on a different form than direct-to-consumer sales; prior to this change, the … Read More ⟶

View All North Carolina Alerts View All Compliance Alerts

Licensing Forms

  • Wine Shipper Permit Application (Out-of-State)
  • Direct Wine Shipper Brand Listing Report (Submit with Permit Application)
  • Tax Registration Form Beer/Wine Permittee
  • Business Registration Application for Sales and Use Tax (NC-BR)
  • Distribution Agreement Filing Form, if applicable

Reporting Forms

  • Direct Wine Shipper-Quarterly Shipment Report
  • B-C-786, Wine Shipper Permittee Annual Excise Tax Return (for calendar year 2023 and after)
  • Instructions for B-C-786, Wine Shipper Permittee Annual Excise Tax Return (for calendar year 2023 and after)
  • Sales and Use Tax Return Preparation Checklist
  • State Sales and Use Tax Return Instructions
  • North Carolina Sales and Use Tax Center

Statutes & Advisories

  • DTC Statutes
  • NCDOR Notice on Revised Alcoholic Beverages Tax Forms - December 21, 2018
  • NCDOR Notice on Filing Requirements for Wine Shipper Permittees - December 1, 2017

CONTACT INFORMATION

North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission
4307 Mail Service Center
Raleigh , NC 27699
Phone: (919) 779-0700
Fax: (919) 661-5927
North Carolina Department of Revenue
PO Box 25000
Raleigh, NC 27640
Phone: (877) 252-3052
Wine Institute Logo
The information contained on this site is a result of a partnership between Wine Institute and Avalara.
Please Note: This information is intended for winegrower licensees only. All information on WineInstitute.ComplianceRules.org is provided as an informational aid and is not legal advice. Data may be out-of-date or incomplete. Please consult a lawyer before taking any action.
Wine Institute prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability and marital or familial status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact communications@wineinstitute.org
Privacy Policy   © 2025 Wine Institute
Wine Institute
  • Home
  • About
    • The Collaboration
    • Wine Institute Membership
    • Contact
  • DTC Shipping
    • DTC Shipping Map
    • Off-Site Direct Shipping Summary
    • Tax Lookup Tool
  • Wholesale
  • Resources
    • Compliance Alerts
    • Shipping Laws FAQs
    • State Shipping Background
    • State Control Directory
    • State Legislatures
    • State Excise Tax Rates on Wine
    • Volume Converter
    • FedEx Membership Benefits
    • Free the Grapes
    • Glossary
Top
  • Home
  • About
    • The Collaboration
    • Wine Institute Membership
    • Contact
  • DTC Shipping
    • DTC Shipping Map
    • Off-Site Direct Shipping Summary
    • Tax Lookup Tool
  • Wholesale
  • Resources
    • Compliance Alerts
    • Shipping Laws FAQs
    • State Shipping Background
    • State Control Directory
    • State Legislatures
    • State Excise Tax Rates on Wine
    • Volume Converter
    • FedEx Membership Benefits
    • Free the Grapes
    • Glossary
x