Shipping wine from UK to the USA

[AndyK]

Most stores I buy from in Europe / UK ship via CID or Hillebrand

[Andrew_K]

@arash_a

P.S Also one doesn’t need to pay state’s sales tax as wines getting purchased from another country. So the address in the U.S doesn’t matter so much.

Not exactly true. Most states have a use tax that is supposed to be reported and paid on any out of state purchases where tax wasn’t collected. This applies to out of country purchases as much as other states. Naturally compliance is voluntary and variable at best.

[David_Glasser]

@Andrew_K

@arash_a

P.S Also one doesn’t need to pay state’s sales tax as wines getting purchased from another country. So the address in the U.S doesn’t matter so much.

Not exactly true. Most states have a use tax that is supposed to be reported and paid on any out of state purchases where tax wasn’t collected. This applies to out of country purchases as much as other states. Naturally compliance is voluntary and variable at best.

Andrew is correct.

Speaking from personal experience, in at least some cases CBP will pass the declared value on to the state, which may then send you a demand for payment of use tax or documentation that you’ve already paid it. That may come many months later.

[arash_a]

Yes, it appears so. Every day I learn something new.

Based on the fine print of the law in a couple of states, the tax is due only at the time of use. I am not a CPA but it seems one could avoid it as long as the wine remains in the cellar and is not consumed.

[M.Kaplan]

@arash_a

I am not a CPA but it seems one could avoid it as long as the wine remains in the cellar and is not consumed.

Nope.

[John_Morris]

@Andrew_K

Not exactly true. Most states have a use tax that is supposed to be reported and paid on any out of state purchases where tax wasn’t collected. This applies to out of country purchases as much as other states. Naturally compliance is voluntary and variable at best.

Yes. I recall that there were some Berserkers in Florida who were tracked down by state tax agents, who sought tax on wine shipments they’d received from out of state.

[arash_a]

That might be true for other imported goods that are brought in under the buyer’s name, but not for wine which were imported from other countries.

Wine is a regulated product, and only entities licensed as wine importers by the TTB can import it. These companies must obtain a permit for each label they import (COLA). The address they use is typically a bonded warehouse, and CBP almost never knows who the end consumer is. After securing the COLA for each wine label, they eventually ship it to you via FedEx or another carrier.

They provide you with all the documents they receive from the TTB/CBP, including the COLAs. Based on my experience, they always used their own bonded warehouse address in those documents.

I’m not suggesting that anyone should avoid paying taxes. I’m simply pointing out that, in most cases, the authorities do not know who the end user is when the wine is imported. It’s different than buying from Temu.

[arash_a]

I stand corrected,
I looked at user facing sites like this and the statement was saying it’s on items used in the state, however when I looked the RCWs related to that, looks like it’s due at purchase time.

[David_Glasser]

I was referring to items imported directly to an individual. If the individual is not identified to CBP I agree. But as you say, use tax is still owed the state and at that point it becomes a voluntary honor system.

[Andrew_K]

@arash_a

I’m simply pointing out that, in most cases, the authorities do not know who the end user is when the wine is imported.

If you purchased the wine directly, your name and address are on the invoice. When you import the wine you have to send the invoices to the importer in order for them to declare the items and value. I’m not sure those invoices don’t make their way to the CBP at some point to clear the items through customs.