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Regulatory change and evolving technology continue to fuel modern tax. Businesses need to map out near- and long-term strategies that keep pace with the digital transformation of tax. But working with the right team is essential to organizational success. That’s where the Sovos Customer Success team comes into play. Sovos knows that being able to […]

One of the most important assets that a successful beverage alcohol producer has is their brand. A clear, readily identifiable brand is critical for bringing consumers in and making sure they will become repeat purchasers. But as the number of producers has exploded over the last few decades, the likelihood of consumer confusion around a […]

All alcohol is divided into three parts—beer, wine and spirits. At least, those are the primary product types of beverage alcohol recognized by popular perception and defined by state and federal statutes. Determining what is in a bottle (or can or keg or firkin) is vital for anyone who manufactures, distributes or sells the product, […]

Managing beverage alcohol compliance and tax in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment takes expertise and a relentless attention to detail. Odds are, you didn’t get into the industry to spend countless hours each week pouring over mandate changes, tax laws and regulatory updates. Partnering with a compliance software company is an easy way to mitigate […]

In another blow to proponents of expanded direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of wine, a court in the Southern District of Ohio earlier this week ruled in favor of the state, rejecting plaintiff’s claims that Ohio’s DtC shipping laws for retailers were discriminatory and harmful to consumers. What happened in this case? The case, Block v. Capera […]

Among the numerous rules and regulations that suppliers of beverage alcohol have to deal with, those governing the advertising and marketing of their products may not always be top of mind. However, both federal and various state regulators have signaled their intent to ramp up policing of this area of alcohol regulation, particularly when it […]

Are you making sales into or within Puerto Rico? Would you like to expand into PR but are uncertain of the sales tax compliance hurdles you may face? (¡¿Habláis Español?!) If so, you’ll want to understand the tax implications of your activities and be aware of the key sales tax issues and unique tax situation […]

By Diane Yetter, President and Founder of Sales Tax Institute When it comes to building a strategy to manage sales tax, every company will have its own set of obligations, complications and concerns. What is consistent among nimble sales tax strategies (those that improve efficiency and adaptability while reducing risk) are the components you need […]

Direct-to-consumer (DtC) alcohol shipping can at times seem convoluted and increasingly complicated. States continue to evolve their DtC shipping requirements, which can understandably create some confusion over what is and is not allowed. However, working with the right partner can help to clear up some of that confusion. Here are some of the top misconceptions […]

The summer months can be ideal for enjoying a hard cider, but it’s always a good time for cider producers to brush up on three-tier compliance rules. Before expanding into new markets, you must be familiar with the specific rules of each state. In this blog, we will cover the major regulatory and tax rules […]

A lot has changed in the direct-to-consumer (DtC) wine shipping channel since the January release of our Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping Report—changes in volume and value that have the market resembling pre-pandemic patterns. Note: The proprietary data featured in this mid-year report is compiled from an algorithm measuring total DtC shipments based on millions of anonymous […]

The legal landscape for direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of alcohol is a hodgepodge of rules and regulations that vary from state to state. This follows the broad principle set out in the 21st Amendment that each state shall govern the “transportation or importation . . . therein of intoxicating liquors.” As such, New Hampshire can permit the […]

The Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission in Massachusetts recently announced that they will be conducting Minimum Purchase Age Compliance Checks in retail stores and aimed at direct-to-consumer (DtC) wine shippers through December 31, 2022. With this information in mind, now is a great time to refresh your age verification knowledge and company policy. What are age […]

Smaller product categories in wine and beer/malt lead the way  Summer has officially arrived, and with rising temperatures also come rising beverage alcohol product registrations. While the industry is not seeing the same spikes as during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still signs of positive growth. There were increases in Product Registration […]

The three-tier system is the most prevalent way that spirits are sold in the United States. We have compiled a comprehensive state-by-state guide that outlines the complex requirements distillers must keep in mind when expanding into a new state. In this blog, we will break down the main regulatory and tax rules that distillers distributing […]

Earlier this month, Washington released an Interim Guidance Statement on the taxability of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). In short, the Washington Department of Revenue (DOR) suggested that certain types of NFTs would be subject to sales and use tax under existing rules applicable to digital goods and would also be subject to their business and occupancy […]

On July 13, the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) voted to approve a model act that could impose significant burdens on businesses engaged in direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of beverage alcohol. (Read on to find out just who the ULC is, anyway.) While the model bill has not garnered a lot of attention yet, what attention it […]

Sales tax is commonly a driving force for revenue, yet it can be utilized by legislatures to influence change in public policy. Whether the policy sought is centered on economic, public welfare or environmental grounds, tax has been historically used as a facilitator. For example, plastic bags at checkouts of food markets are often subject […]