Section 28-7-16 - Tax on sale of table wine; disposition of proceeds(a)Levy. There is hereby levied in addition to the license taxes provided for by this chapter and municipal and county license taxes and in addition to any marked-up price made by the board on wine sold by the board a privilege or excise tax measured by and graduated in accordance with the volume of sales of table wine containing not more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume and shall be an amount equal to forty-five cents ($.45) per liter of table wine containing not more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume sold to the wholesale licensee or board, to be collected from the purchaser by the board or by a licensed retailer.(b) Collection, Monthly Return, Remittance, Right to Examine Books and Records.(1) The tax levied by subsection (a) shall be added to the sales price of all table wine containing not more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume sold and shall be collected from the purchasers. The tax shall be collected in the first instance from the wholesaler where table wine containing not more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume is sold or handled by wholesale licensees, and by the board from whomever makes sales when table wine containing not more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume is sold by the board. It shall be unlawful for any person who is required to pay the tax in the first instance to fail or refuse to add to the sales price and collect from the purchaser the required amount of tax, it being the intent and purpose of this provision that the tax levied is in fact a levy on the consumer. The person who pays the tax in the first instance is acting as an agent of the state for the collection and payment of the tax and as such may not collect a tax on table wine containing not more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume for any other level of government.(2) The tax hereby levied shall be collected by a monthly return, which shall be filed by the wholesale licensees as follows: A monthly return filed with the board not later than the 15th day of the second month following the month of receipt of table wine containing not more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume by the wholesaler on a form prescribed by the board showing receipts by the wholesalers from manufacturer, importer, or other wholesaler licensees during the month of receipt and the taxes due thereon at the rate of thirty-eight cents ($.38) per liter of table wine containing not more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume sold to the wholesale licensee or board; the taxes due at such rate shall be remitted to the board along with the return; a monthly return filed with the county or municipality within which the wine is sold at retail filed not later than the 15th day of each month showing sales by wholesalers during the preceding month and the county or municipality in which sold and the taxes due thereon at the rate of seven cents ($.07) per liter of table wine containing not more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume sold; and the taxes due at such rate shall be remitted to the county or municipality along with the return.(3) The tax hereby levied shall be collected by the board on the table wine containing not more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume sold by the board and shall be paid as follows: Taxes at the rate of thirty-eight cents ($.38) per liter of table wine containing not more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume sold shall be remitted by the board to the State Treasurer and taxes at the rate of seven cents ($.07) per liter of table wine containing not more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume sold shall be remitted by the board to the county or municipality within which the wine was sold at retail not later than the last day of the month following the month of sale, as set forth in subsection (c).(4) The board and the governing body of each county and municipality served by the wholesaler shall have the authority to examine the books and records of any person who sells, stores, or receives for the purpose of distribution any table wine, containing not more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume to determine the accuracy of any return required to be filed with it.(c) Disposition of proceeds. The proceeds of the tax levied by subsection (a) shall be paid and distributed as follows:(1) Thirty-eight cents ($.38) per liter of table wine containing not more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume sold shall be collected by the board on its sales or paid to the board by wholesale licensees on their sales, and by the board paid to the State Treasurer to be credited as net profits from operation of the board to be distributed as provided by law.(2) Seven cents ($.07) per liter of table wine containing not more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume sold shall be paid by the board on its sales or by wholesale licensees on their sales, either into the treasury of the municipality in which the table wine was sold at retail within its corporate limits, or, where sold outside the corporate limits of any municipality, into the treasury of the county in which the table wine was sold at retail.(d) There is hereby levied in addition to the license taxes provided for by this chapter and municipal and county license taxes and in addition to any marked-up price made by the board on wine sold by the board a privilege or excise tax measured by and graduated in accordance with the volume of sales of table wine containing more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume. The tax shall be an amount equal to two dollars and forty-two cents ($2.42) per liter of table wine containing more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume sold to the wholesale licensee or board, to be collected from the purchaser by the board or by a licensed retailer.(e) Collection, Monthly Return, Remittance, Right to Examine Books and Records.(1) The tax levied by subsection (d) shall be added to the sales price of all table wine containing more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume sold and shall be collected from the purchasers. The tax shall be collected in the first instance from the wholesaler where table wine containing more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume is sold or handled by wholesale licensees, and by the board from whomever makes sales when table wine containing more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume is sold by the board. It shall be unlawful for any person who is required to pay the tax in the first instance to fail or refuse to add to the sales price and collect from the purchaser the required amount of tax, it being the intent and purpose of this provision that the tax levied is in fact a levy on the consumer. The person who pays the tax in the first instance is acting as an agent of the state for the collection and payment of the tax and as such may not collect a tax on table wine containing more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume for any other level of government.(2) The tax levied in subsection (d) shall be collected by a monthly return, which shall be filed by the wholesale licensees with the board not later than the 15th day of the second month following the month of receipt of table wine containing more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume by the wholesaler on a form prescribed by the board showing receipts by the wholesalers from manufacturer, importer, or other wholesaler licensees during the month of receipt and the taxes due thereon at the rate of two dollars and forty-two cents ($2.42) per liter of table wine containing more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume sold to the wholesale licensee or board; the taxes due at such rate shall be remitted to the board along with the return.(3) The tax levied in subsection (d) shall be collected by the board on table wine containing more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume sold by the board and shall be paid as follows: Taxes at the rate of two dollars and forty-two cents ($2.42) per liter of table wine containing more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume sold shall be remitted by the board to the State Treasurer.(4) The board shall have the authority to examine the books and records of any person who sells, stores, or receives for the purpose of distribution any table wine containing more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume, to determine the accuracy of any return required to be filed with it.(f) Disposition of proceeds. The proceeds of the tax levied by subsection (d) shall be paid and distributed as follows:(1) Thirty-seven percent to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.(2) Thirty-four percent to the State General Fund.(3) Twenty and eight-tenths percent to the Department of Human Resources.(4) Eight and two-tenths percent to the Department of Mental Health.(g) Mead shall be taxed at the same rate as table wine as follows:(1) Mead containing not more than sixteen and one-half percent of alcohol by volume shall be taxed pursuant to subsection (a).(2) Mead containing more than sixteen and one-half percent and not more than eighteen percent alcohol by volume shall be taxed pursuant to subsection (d).(h) Taxes exclusive. The taxes herein levied are exclusive and shall be in lieu of all other and additional taxes and licenses of the state, county, or municipality, imposed on or measured by the sale or volume of sale of table wine; provided, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to exempt the retail sale of table wine from the levy of tax on general retail sales by the state, county, or municipality in the nature of, or in lieu of, a general sales tax.(i) Trade between wholesalers exempt. The taxes levied by subsections (a) and (d) shall not be imposed upon the sale, trade, or barter of table wine by one licensed wholesaler to another wholesaler licensed to sell and handle table wine in this state, which transaction is hereby made exempt from the tax; provided, however, the board may require written reporting of any such transaction in the form as the board may prescribe.Ala. Code § 28-7-16 (1975)
Amended by Act 2023-525,§ 1, eff. 9/1/2023.Acts 1980, No. 80-382, p. 505, §16; Acts 1983, No. 83-594, p. 927, §1; repealed by Act 2001-1114, 4th Sp. Sess., p. 1179, §2; added by Act 2001-1114, 4th Sp. Sess., p. 1179, §3; Act 2010-607, p. 1478, § 1.