Blog

3 Ways for Retailers to Spend Less Time Managing Sales Tax

Omnichannel retailers know that they cannot overlook sales tax, but it is a time-consuming and complicated process. Especially when retailers operate in numerous jurisdictions and balance in-person and virtual sales, it is difficult to properly manage sales tax. A recent Sovos survey interviewed full-time finance and accounting decision makers at retail companies with annual revenues […]

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3 Questionable Practices DtC Alcohol Shippers Should Be Wary About

It’s no secret that direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of alcohol is a valuable and growing market. Wineries, breweries, distilleries, and retailers alike have benefited from having direct access to consumers across the country. With consumer demand at an all-time high, it is understandable more alcohol sellers want to get into the DtC game as soon as […]

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3 Reasons for Automated Sales Tax Compliance

At this point, knowing that increasingly complex sales tax requirements exist is not the issue. Organizations know that they’re facing more complicated rules and regulations, but it’s more a matter of taking the time to invest in the necessary tools to properly face those challenges. With an automated sales tax compliance solution, businesses can better […]

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Insurance Statutory Reporting Due Dates

Insurance statutory reporting filing due dates for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) are spread across the calendar year causing a jumble of different deadlines that apply to certain insurers. The quarterly and annual filings can be easier to remember, but the additional filings certain insurers are required to submit can be tricky to […]

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Marketing Strategy 2022: Key Elements for Successful Wine e-Commerce

By Chloe Cristallini, Marketing Manager for Bloom Studio Recently, one of our webinar attendees asked, “What advice would you give someone who is first starting to sell alcohol DtC, or who wants to grow their DtC channel?” Buying a bottle of wine should be as easy for people as buying a pair of shoes. Other […]

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Why Can’t I Ship Alcohol Through the USPS?

Vino drinkers in 48 locales can get their favorite wines shipped direct-to-consumer (DtC) to their home, while beer and liquor aficionados only can have their top libations delivered in 12 and seven locations, respectively. These shipments must also be through a private carrier, as the United States Postal Service (USPS) is forbidden from delivering alcohol […]

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California and Maine Curtail Bills for DtC Spirits Shipping

Despite the broad interest among Americans for direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of beer and spirits, there is clear reluctance among state legislators to change laws to enable these sales. In California, the would-be DtC shipping expansion bill SB 620 was recently amended by the State Assembly in a way that will severely impair the ability of […]

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Three-Tier System Essentials: Distributor Relationships

When it comes to the three-tier system of beverage alcohol sales, there is perhaps no more important relationship than that between a beverage supplier and their distributors (also known as wholesalers). The support provided by distributors is invaluable in accessing a state’s market, from handling complex logistical arrangements to guiding a supplier on state laws […]

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Why Can’t I Get Liquor Shipped to My Home?

Have you ever wanted to order your favorite out-of-state liquor and get it shipped right to your front steps? The COVID-19 pandemic pushed consumers to rethink how they obtain the necessities and conveniences, but ordering distiller spirits for home delivery is not that easy, with only eight locales nationally permitting the direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of […]

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Three-Tier System Essentials: Tax Determination and Reporting

Tax compliance can easily become an overlooked area as alcohol producers work on numerous aspects of their three-tier distribution compliance, including state license forms and brand registration requirements. For alcohol producers distributing in the three-tier system, excise tax determination and reporting is especially critical. Businesses must ensure they stay compliant as they scale into new […]

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Understanding Delivery v. DtC Shipping in Beverage Alcohol

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. […]

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What’s in Store for the DtC Wine Shipping Market in 2022

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, […]

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Three-Tier System Essentials: Product Registrations

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 […]

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Take Advantage of Real-Time TIN Matching

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 […]

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Legislation Stalls but the Time is Right for DtC Spirits Shipping

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 […]

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Tax and Unclaimed Property for Mergers and Acquisitions

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 […]

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Unclaimed Property: How to Stay Ahead of Compliance Challenges

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 […]

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Spirits New Product Registrations Jump 108% in Q1 2022

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 […]

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