Looking to enter a new market or expand your product line? Growing any business can be complicated, and the beverage alcohol industry is no exception. Not knowing how or where to begin can be the biggest hurdle. From market research and branding to strategic considerations and compliance, this 10-step guide will get you on the […]
For the first time in history, international business and governments have come together. Their aim was to define and agree a guiding set of principles for tax compliance in a world where continuous tax controls (CTCs) are becoming the norm. The International Chamber of Commerce‘s (ICC) executive board has now formally approved the first set […]
This is a common question wineries face when entering the direct-to-consumer (DtC) market, and the answer is yes. In order to ship wine DtC, a winery needs to have a DtC shipper’s license. This can be challenging as the rules and requirements to obtain this license vary by state. Because of this, an increasing number […]
The Coronavirus pandemic revived a longstanding debate amongst lawmakers about what unemployment benefits to provide to independent contractors and how to decrease the underreporting of income. Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee’s Taxation and IRS Oversight Subcommittee, John Thune, believes simplifying tax requirements would ensure that self-employed workers report accurately, pay all taxes owed and […]
How much can change in fifteen years? It was May 2005 when the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in Granholm v. Heald, one of the most consequential beverage alcohol-related cases the Court has heard. The case challenged laws in Michigan and New York that permitted in-state wineries to make direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipments to their […]
Direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of beverage alcohol products is a $3 billion dollar market that continues to grow annually. DtC shipping can be a great way to grow your business by reaching new audiences, expanding your customer base, and increasing your sales. But, before you can take advantage of this growing market, there are some steps […]
With the acquisition of Eagle Technology Management (ETM) and Booke Seminars, Sovos has united the very best in statutory reporting solutions, technology and expertise. Below is an overview of our strategy following these acquisitions: Sovos’s SaaS and Security Strategy Sovos at its core is a Software as a Service (SaaS) and cloud-first company. This means […]
Do you have questions about the rules, regulations, and compliance requirements of the beverage alcohol industry? This series, Ask Alex, is a perfect opportunity to get those pressing questions answered straight from one of the industry’s regulation and market experts, Alex Koral, Senior Regulation Counsel, Sovos ShipCompliant. To take advantage of this opportunity and get […]
To be an expert, one has a specialty. Ours is beverage alcohol compliance. Since compliance sits at the heart of operations, being connected at every step helps our customers focus on their business instead spending countless hours on manual processes. Compliance is challenging, but we make it easier with a large and robust network of […]
Tax exemption certificate management might not be the topic at the forefront of every executives mind, but if your organization is serious about reducing the risk of adverse audit assessments (including penalties and interest), it’s a process you absolutely have to get right. Manual processes have proven time and time again that they are no […]
Maintaining valid tax exemption certificates is one of the more difficult and labor intensive, yet critical, compliance requirements. Doing it correctly and completely is essential to protecting your business from audit exposure. As the tax landscape continues to evolve and grow more complex, managing this process is becoming increasingly difficult and time consuming. Many companies […]
As businesses begin to re-open as lockdown orders and advisories are lifted, accounting for the increased cost of doing business is top of mind. The reality is that supply chain costs are generally higher, safety and sanitation expenses are significant, and, in many cases, governmental orders are requiring businesses to operate at substantially decreased occupancy. […]
In February, some of the largest U.S. insurers came together for a Sovos-sponsored virtual forum. The forum focused on how these insurers managed their reporting obligations for the new IRS Forms 1099-LS and 1099-SB. Below you will find important background information on Forms 1099-LS and SB and four tips for issuing Form 1099-SB gathered from […]
A trend is emerging across the country. In the last year, Illinois, Virginia, Florida and Maryland changed their reporting requirements for the 1099-K. Below are the new requirements, by state: Illinois: Beginning with tax year (TY) 2019, issuers of Form 1099-K will be required to submit those reports to Illinois electronically if required by the […]
Our recent webinar with WineDirect and Enolytics, Post-Pandemic Planning: Customer Engagement for the Road Ahead, was a timely topic that drew lively Q&A—too many to address in our allotted hour! Here are our panelists’ take on the most-surfaced themes in your questions. (Missed the live webinar? You can still access the recording and slides on […]
The direct-to-consumer wine shipping channel continues to grow each year, with a 7.4 percent increase in value and 4.7 percent increase in volume in 2019. But starting mid-March 2020, as the pandemic progressed, and buying patterns shifted to rely heavily on ecommerce, we’ve seen a significant spike in growth over last year’s numbers. The DtC […]
As of April 28, 2020 the state of New York and the alcohol suppliers within its borders will now be able to streamline the process of filing brand registrations and renewing licenses. With Sovos ShipCompliant’s Product Registration Online (PRO) tool, the process and cost of getting registrations approved for beer, wine and spirits will greatly […]
Unclaimed property compliance is a year-round job. Preparations must be made monthly in order to stay compliant. Below are the top 5 ways you can stay ahead of your unclaimed property obligations, before they turn into penalties. 1. Review procedures and document them: A lack of good audit trails and procedure documentation is commonplace in […]