CA

California DTC compliance

Registration, tax, and operational requirements for shipping wine, beer, and spirits direct-to-consumer in California. Every rule traces to a primary source.

Permitted

DTC is permitted in California today.

Statute

82 – Wine Direct Shipper Permit This permit authorizes winegrowers located in other states to sell and ship wine directly to residents of California who are at least 21 years of age.

https://www.abc.ca.gov/licensing/license-types/

Compliance reference

  • common_carrier_allowed

    Cross-source verified

    true

  • permit_expiration_anchor

    Single source

    anniversary

  • direct_ship_allowed

    Preliminary

    true

  • age_verification_required

    Cross-source verified

    true

  • reporting_frequency_threshold_gallons

    Single source

    0

  • reporting_frequency

    Single source

    annually

  • permit_fee_usd

    Cross-source verified

    30

  • sales_tax_collected_by

    Cross-source verified

    shipper

  • permit_term_years

    Cross-source verified

    1

  • excise_tax_collected_by

    Preliminary

    shipper

  • volume_limit_basis

    Preliminary

    per_winery_per_year

  • permit_required

    Cross-source verified

    true

  • ncsl_statute_citation

    Preliminary

    Type of Alcohol and Whether License or Permit Required: Cal. Business & Professions Code §23661.3 Wine; requires wine direct shipper permit Direct Shipping License or Permit: Cal. Business & Professions Code §23661.3 (a) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, any person currently licensed in this state or any other state as a winegrower who obtains a wine direct shipper permit pursuant to this section may sell and ship wine directly to a resident of California, who is at least 21 years of age, for the resident's personal use and not for resale. Before sending any shipment to a resident of California, the wine direct shipper permitholder must: (1) File an application with the department. (2) Pay the application fee as specified in subdivision (a) of §23320 if the winegrower is not currently licensed by the department. (3) Provide the department its California alcoholic beverage license number or a true copy of its current alcoholic beverage license issued by another state. (4) Obtain from the department a wine direct shipper permit. (5) Obtain a seller's permit or register with the State Board of Equalization pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with §6001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. (b) A wine direct shipper permit authorizes the permitholder to do all of the following: (1) Sell and ship wine to any person 21 years of age or older for their personal use and not for resale. (2) Ship wine directly to a resident in this state only in containers that are conspicuously labeled with the words: “CONTAINS ALCOHOL: SIGNATURE OF PERSON AGE 21 YEARS OR OLDER REQUIRED FOR DELIVERY.” (3) Ship wine only if the permitholder requires the carrier to obtain the signature of any individual 21 years of age or older before delivering any wine shipped to an individual in this state. (4) If the permitholder is located outside of this state, report to the department no later than Jan. 31 of each year, the total amount of wine shipped into the state during the preceding calendar year under the wine direct shipper permit. (5) If the permitholder is located outside of this state, pay to the State Board of Equalization all sales and use taxes, and excise taxes on sales to residents of California under the wine direct shipper permit. For excise tax purposes, all wine sold pursuant to a direct shipper permit shall be deemed to be wine sold in this state. (6) If located within this state, provide the department any necessary additional information not currently provided to ensure compliance with this section. (7) Permit the department or the State Board of Equalization to perform an audit of the wine direct shipper permitholder's records upon request. (8) Be deemed to have consented to the jurisdiction of the department or any other state agency and the California courts concerning enforcement of this section any related laws, rules, or regulations. (c) A wine direct shipper permitholder located outside of the state may annually renew its permit with the department by paying an annual fee as specified in subdivision (b), and adjusted pursuant to subdivisions (d) and (e) of §23320 and providing the department with a true copy of its current alcoholic beverage license issued by another state. A wine direct shipper permitholder located in California shall renew its wine direct shipper permit in conjunction with its master license. For purposes of this section, “master license” means a winegrower's license issued by the department. (d) The department and the State Board of Equalization may promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this law. (e) The department may enforce the requirements of this section by administrative proceedings to suspend or revoke the wine direct shipper permit, and the department may accept payment of an offer in compromise in lieu of suspension as provided by this division. Any hearing held pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with §11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code against a permitholder outside of California shall be held in Sacramento. (f) Sales and shipments of wine direct to consumers in California from winegrowers who do not possess a current wine direct shipper permit from the department are prohibited. Any person who knowingly makes, participates in, transports, imports, or receives such a shipment is guilty of a misdemeanor pursuant to §25617.

Sales-tax rate

Base state sales-tax rate

Cross-source verified

7.25%

Confirmed across ≥2 independent governmental/industry sources.

Rate facts

Data coming soon. Sales and excise rates, volume limits, and reporting cadences will appear here as we add them.

Primary sources

3