tax on wine shipments

[Tom_Lee]

Interesting topic.

Tom

[Adam_Lee]

Here’s the Wine Institute link to direct shipping regulations for all of the states. You can click on the state and it takes you to what is required in that state, and then you can click on those links to the specifics of the laws: http://www.wineinstitute.org/initiatives/stateshippinglaws

Not sure if I were some of the wineries not charging tax I’d be thrilled to be outed here. Unless of course they are paying the tax but just not charging customers for it. In that case, I’d be fine. – But if not, I do wonder if this type of thread might be counterproductive to consumers best interests should it be looked in upon by authorities.

Adam Lee
Siduri Wines

[Brian_Loring]

Adam beat me to the punch. Both of his posts are spot-on and nothing more needs to be said. And as he points out, anything more could be counterproductive to all of us who enjoy the hard fought right of legal interstate shipping.

[Z_A_c_s_a_n]

@Adam Lee

I am acutely aware of people taking a “less strict interpretation” of the the Speed Limit laws than I do. While I feel that I can hit maybe 70 in a 65, others feel like they can go 75 or 80 or even faster. This does not mean that the law is open to interpretation. When it comes to wine law, state taxes, etc Mike is completely correct in his stating of the law.

In the case of other wineries, I do not know if they are purposefully choosing to ignore the law or if they are choosing to pay the taxes and subsidize the purchase (for innumerable reasons…perhaps because they make more money on direct sales, perhaps they don’t have a POS system set up to deal with it, etc). I would not feel comfortable saying they are violating the law, because I don’t know if that is the case.

But I do think that holding a winery, with remarkably fair prices such as Carlisle, up to question because they are doing what the law requires is a bit odd.

Adam Lee
Siduri Wines

I wouldn’t have bothered replying, had the answers been as clear cut and easily understood as following posted speed limits. Obviously, there is a wide range of interpretations as evidenced by my varying experiences with a fair number of CA wineries. I do know wineries use various compliance systems/software to help avoid trouble down the road, and perhaps this is partly to blame for the differing collection practices?

FWIW, I never said Mike’s wines weren’t fairly priced, only that his all-in price makes them comparatively less of a value when you add both state sales taxes and his higher (relative to some of his peers and certain retailers) shipping costs, which work to make his wines less expensive when purchased retail rather than directly.

No slight intended to anyone here. I’m just trying to understand why one winery collects state sales taxes and other do not. Retailers never charge me, and that does give them an advantage – and yes, I realize the responsibility still remains to declare such purchases for tax purposes. I’m not trying to put anyone on the spot here and maybe some things are just better left unsaid. This will be my last post on the subject.

[Scott_Brunson]

good idea

[Wes_Barton]

@Z. A c s a n

Retailers never charge me, and that does give them an advantage – and yes, I realize the responsibility still remains to declare such purchases for tax purposes.

How is it an advantage if you comply with the law and pay the use taxes due? Wouldn’t the advantage then be to the seller who does collect the tax for you?