Blog

Don’t Let Tax Be An Inhibitor to Sales in 2022

Managing sales tax doesn’t have to be a complicated, overwhelming and time-consuming process. Assuming of course that you properly evaluate your internal capabilities, existing technology and varying levels of expertise correctly. With thousands of tax regulations that can change at a moment’s notice, it can seem a nearly impossible task for businesses to remain compliant. […]

Read More
4 Fast Facts from the 2022 Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping Report

Among the many facts and analysis shared during our recent webinar on the 2022 Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping Report, a few really stood out. We gathered some highlights and key stats from the session. The report is an annual collaboration between Sovos ShipCompliant and Wines Vines Analytics, providing detailed insights into the DtC wine channel. The […]

Read More
California Introduces Unclaimed Property VDA Program

On February 16, 2022, California introduced AB 2280, allowing the California Controller to establish a California Voluntary Compliance Program (VDA Program). This is a significant development as California has long declined to provide a formal or informal unclaimed property voluntary disclosure agreement (VDA) program, despite automatically assessing 12% interest on late reported property. In the […]

Read More
Retention Pays Off Big with Increase in DtC Wine Shipping

By Andrew Adams, Editor, Wine Analytics Report This year’s annual Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping Report featured an additional set of data to help put the past two years of unprecedented winery shipment growth in context. Since the surge of shipment volume in March and April 2020, there has been sustained interest in trying to understand just […]

Read More
Sales Tax Compliance Challenges and the Great Resignation

If the last two years have been any indication, no industry is safe from the Great Resignation. The latest PwC Pulse Survey found that 77% of respondents said hiring and retaining employees is their most critical growth driver this year. As we have previously covered, many employees see the current job market as the perfect […]

Read More
Three-Tier System Essentials: Getting Licensed

The three-tier system is the prevailing way that alcohol is distributed and sold in the United States, based on a clear cut distinction between different sectors (or “tiers”) of the beverage alcohol market. In the three-tier system, suppliers, such as producers and importers, are required to sell to wholesalers and distributors, who in turn sell […]

Read More
Insights on Developing State Compliance Efforts

As unclaimed property regulations continue to change and the methods that states implement to engage holders evolve, it is important for holders to gain from the lessons learned and make adjustments to remain compliant and effectively manage unclaimed property liabilities. The following information captures just a few of the insights and lessons Sovos learned throughout […]

Read More
DtC Shipping Is One Reform Among Many Suggested in Treasury Report

On February 9, the Treasury Department issued a report on competition in the beverage alcohol industry, identifying several areas where possible reforms could foster a more level playing field for small businesses, craft producers and new market entrants. The report was part of Executive Order 14036, initiated by the Biden Administration to investigate ways to […]

Read More
Compliant DtC Wine Shipping: Things to Know for a Successful 2022

It’s hard to believe that the first month of 2022 is already in the rearview mirror, but the same way that time keeps moving along, the DtC wine shipping world continues to change. With more states implementing DtC shipping options — and some that took a step in the other direction — it can be […]

Read More
What to Expect for This Year’s Sales Tax Holidays

This blog was updated on September 14, 2023 While the concept of a sales tax holiday, or a tax free weekend, is not new, it is one that can evolve and change over time. A state may have initially not had one, but implemented one within the last few years. Retailers’ tax departments must remain […]

Read More
Will the Pink Tax Be a Thing of the Past?

Several states are redefining their sales tax laws to better consider gender equality in evaluating what is a necessary good. Often, this means states are looking into how the “pink tax” is applied. The “pink tax” refers to the application of sales tax or value-added tax (VAT) in a way that is considered disproportionally unfair […]

Read More
Cryptocurrency is Subject to Unclaimed Property Too?

It seems like you can’t go a day without hearing something about cryptocurrency or the associated terms like virtual currencies, bitcoin and fiat currencies. Since the release of Bitcoin in 2009, thousands of cryptocurrencies have emerged, with Ethereum being another prominent name. The current cryptocurrency market is estimated to be worth more than $3 trillion […]

Read More
Delaware Unclaimed Property VDA 2023 Invitation Dates

This blog was updated on January 10, 2023 Delaware’s Secretary of State (SOS) recently advised that they plan to send invitations to participate in the Delaware VDA program around February 24, 2023 and July 14, 2023. If a company receives an invitation to participate in the VDA program and is interested in taking advantage of […]

Read More
How Compliant Is ‘Three-Tier DtC’ Alcohol Shipping?

As the direct-to-consumer (DtC) beverage alcohol shipping market continues to grow, spurring more interest in the market, there has been a recent rise in, as it’s called, “three-tier DtC shipping” services. In this arrangement, a beverage alcohol supplier—a winery, brewery, distillery, importer or other supplier who might be looking to establish their own DtC program—works […]

Read More
More Changes to Form 1042-S

No matter the size of the business, the tax season kicked off this past month with tax reporting professionals tackling the massive task of issuing and filing annual 1099s, W-2s, and other tax returns by January 31st. When January is in the rear-view mirror, businesses will turn to the next hurdle of 2022 tax reporting season; annual reporting of Form 1042-S […]

Read More
5 Highlights from the 2022 Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping Report

This January, Sovos ShipCompliant released the 2022 Direct-to-Consumer (DtC) Wine Shipping Report with our partner, Wines Vines Analytics. The report is the most comprehensive, complete and exclusive collection of data and insights on the state of the industry. Wine shipments to consumers reached a record $4.2 billion in 2021, meaning this is a fantastic time […]

Read More
Beating the Post-Holiday Sales Slump with DtC Wine

By Zach Kamphuis, Vice President of Business Development at Commerce7 October, November and December represent the best direct-to-consumer (DtC) sales months for many wineries. With the 2021 holiday season now behind us, how can wineries capitalize on the new customers gained through the past months and avoid falling into a post-holiday sales slump for DtC […]

Read More
Beer/Malt New Product Registrations See Increase in Q4 2021

Near Beer registrations have robust 55% growth from Q3 2021  The final months of 2021 saw some fluctuations from recent beverage alcohol brand registration patterns. This is not a complete surprise, as the industry is putting a cork in the second year of doing business and introducing new brands in a pandemic-influenced marketplace. For example, […]

Read More