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What’s the difference and why does it matter? Consumers may not care about the legal technicalities of how their favorite alcoholic beverages arrive at their front doors, but federal and state regulators absolutely do. Here’s a quick guide to what producers and retailers must know about direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping versus local delivery of beverage alcohol. […]

In 2022, wine producers and wine consumers can enjoy unparalleled access to each other through the market for direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of wine. The current map for DtC wine shipping of 47 states and the District of Columbia, is thanks in no small part to vigorous lobbying and advocacy efforts over the past few decades, […]

For suppliers of beverage alcohol, one of the most critical steps in getting to market is ensuring that their product labels comply with all applicable federal and state laws. An alcohol label contains critical information identifying the contents and producers, and as such it is highly regulated with rules at both the federal and state […]

This blog was updated on March 9, 2023. Every 1099 form transmitted to the IRS has the potential to become a costly penalty; these penalties can be alleviated with proactive TIN matching. For organizations experiencing rapid growth, an influx of new contractors, distributors or service providers can be exciting, but fraught with risk as tax […]

Direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping is increasingly becoming a hot topic in the craft beer and spirits worlds, with both producers and consumers pushing for greater access. However, while 47 states and the District of Columbia allow wine to be shipped DtC, just six states and D.C. do so for spirits. Several states have bills that could […]

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have always been inherent in the financial institution landscape but have recently increased at an unprecedented pace. A recent Fortune.com article indicated a whopping $2.4 trillion in M&A deals in 2021, up 158% from last year. In February 2022, the FDIC prioritized policy updates to the 25-year-old Bank Merger Act in […]

This blog was updated on March 24, 2023 Did you know that approximately one in 10 people have unclaimed property (UP) in their name? Research conducted by Sovos found that there is upwards of $77 billion in UP assets currently in the United States. As states crack down to close the estimated $600 billion tax […]

Brandy registrations see impressive 322% spike from Q4 2021  As spring and the warmer months inch closer, beverage alcohol brand registration patterns are also continuing to creep higher. The industry is perhaps gaining a better understanding of how to move forward in a marketplace working through a pandemic. There were increases in Product Registration Online […]

Sovos ShipCompliant’s Alex Koral, regulatory general counsel, invited Tom Wark, executive director of the National Association of Wine Retailers and author of the Fermentation Newsletter, for a conversation about the three-tier system’s role in the modern-day beverage alcohol regulatory landscape. Tom shares his take on how Prohibition may have initially shaped the approach to regulating […]

The three-tier system, under which beverage alcohol is predominately sold in the United States, establishes a clear distinction between the different “tiers” of the market. As it is designed to work, alcohol suppliers sell solely to wholesalers, who in turn sell solely to retailers, who then are the entities that consumers purchase alcohol from. In […]

With the annual 2021 statutory filing season behind us, the focus now is on 2022 with all the accounting and reporting changes that it will entail. Do not be fooled into thinking that implementation of these changes will be effortless or without a time investment. Hopefully these items have been considered and addressed already. However, […]

West Virginia’s governor signed WV HB 4511 into law on March 28, 2022. The newly enacted law includes significant changes to West Virginia’s unclaimed property. The provisions of this bill will become effective June 10, 2022, which is 90 days after its passage by the legislature. The changes are as follows: Electronic Mail: The definition […]

Editor’s note: This blog was updated on December 28, 2022 Update: Since this content was published, the IRS released guidance that the implementation of the reduced $600 threshold for 1099-K reporting will be delayed until tax year 2023.  As a result, the federal threshold for the 1099-K form reporting for tax year 2022 will remain unchanged […]

We’ve previously discussed the details of direct-to-consumer (DtC) beer shipping, and what shippers must keep in mind to stay compliant. It’s also important to stay current on updates to DtC beer shipping regulations. That way shippers can make any necessary changes to remain compliant should more (or fewer) states allow beer to be shipped directly […]

The 2022 Sovos ShipCompliant Beverage Alcohol Summit virtual event included in-depth data analysis, discussions on the latest regulatory updates and insightful thought leadership. Here are some Summit highlights and quick facts from our sessions. Big picture industry updates Alex Koral, regulatory general counsel, Sovos ShipCompliant, shared some observations about the role of regulations in the […]

What does wedding season have to do with sales tax? Depending on the products and services your business offers, there could be more involved than you think. Find out if your organization is prepared for these sales tax considerations connected with the upcoming wedding season. According to a study done by The Knot, 80% of […]

We’ve previously discussed the importance for producers to get licensed for the three-tier system when beginning to sell and distribute their alcoholic products. However, it’s also critical that when a supplier distributes into a new state, they first recognize if they will be selling into a “control system.” In the control state model, state agencies […]

Despite the reputation of being a “once a year” thing, tax information reporting and withholding is a year-round organizational compliance process. Add unclaimed property (UP) obligations and crypto tax compliance to the monthly to-do list, and businesses have a lot of compliance obligations to prepare for – all throughout the year. This quarterly blog series […]