HB 826

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Increases the alcoholic beverage general license application fee from $65 to $195. The bill also increases the application fee for mixed beverage special event licenses from $15 to $45 and increases the state tax on wine shipper's licenses, beer shipper's licenses, and wine and beer shipper's licenses from $95 to $230. The bill establishes that it is a Class 1 misdemeanor for (i) any person to sell wine to retailers or consumers without paying the wine excise tax or (ii) any retailer to purchase, receive, transport, store, or sell any wine on which such retailer has reason to know such tax has not been paid and may not be paid. The bill provides for a civil penalty for (a) each manufacturer or wholesaler who fails to make any return and pay the full amount of the wine excise tax or (b) each manufacturer or wholesaler who makes a false or fraudulent return, where willful intent exists to defraud the Commonwealth of any excise tax due on each liter of wine. Current law provides for these criminal and civil penalties with regard to failure to pay the excise tax imposed on beer and wine coolers but not for failure to pay the excise tax on wine. This bill is identical to