Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 139 - Beverage and tobacco taxes.
139.03 - Liquor tax.

139.03 Liquor tax. An occupational tax is imposed upon the selling of intoxicating liquor as follows:
(2m) The rate of that tax is 85.86 cents per liter on intoxicating liquor, except wine containing not in excess of 21 percent of alcohol by volume, containing 0.5 percent or more of alcohol by volume. The department of revenue may, by rule, set the amount of the taxes imposed under this section for various sizes of containers if the amounts set are in the same proportion to the size of the containers as the rate per liter under this subsection.
(2n) The rate of that tax is 6.605 cents per liter on wine other than cider containing 14 percent or less of alcohol by volume, 1.71 cents per liter on cider and 11.89 cents per liter on wine containing more than 14 percent of alcohol by volume but not in excess of 21 percent of alcohol by volume.
(2x) Intoxicating liquor floor tax imposed; procedures.
(a) Floor tax imposed. On the date tax rate changes become effective under this section a floor tax is imposed upon every manufacturer, rectifier, wholesaler and retailer who is in possession of any intoxicating liquor held for resale on which the intoxicating liquor tax already has been imposed. The person shall determine the volume of that intoxicating liquor and shall file a return by the 15th day of the month following the month in which the new tax rate becomes effective and shall pay any tax due on it, as determined under par. (b).
(b) Floor tax computation. The amount of any intoxicating liquor floor tax shall be computed by multiplying the number of liters of intoxicating liquor held in inventory as determined under par. (a) by the difference between the tax rate already paid and the new tax rate, and expressing the resulting figure in dollars.
(c) Administration. Sections 71.74 (1), (2), (10), (11), (13) and (14), 71.75 (4) to (7), 71.80 (12), 71.82 (2), 71.83 (2) (b) 3., 71.88 (1) (a) and (2) (a), 71.89, 71.90, 71.91 (1) (a) and (c) and (2) to (7), 71.92, 73.01, 73.015 and 73.0301 apply to the administration of this subsection for the assessment and collection of additional taxes when tax rate changes become effective.
(d) Late filing fee. Any person who fails to file a floor tax return when due shall pay a late filing fee of $10. A return that is mailed shall be considered filed in time if it is mailed in a properly addressed envelope with postage duly prepaid, if the envelope is officially postmarked, or marked or recorded electronically as provided under section 7502 (f) (2) (c) of the Internal Revenue Code, on the date due and if the return is actually received by the department or at the destination that the department prescribes within 5 days of the due date. A return that is not mailed is timely if it is received on or before the due date by the department or at the destination that the department prescribes. For purposes of this paragraph, “mailed" includes delivery by a delivery service designated under section 7502 (f) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(e) Delinquent interest. If the tax imposed in this subsection is not paid when due, interest at the rate of 1.5 percent per month accrues from the date the tax became due until the tax is paid.
(f) Penalty. If any person liable for the tax under this subsection files a false or fraudulent return, there shall be added to the tax an amount equal to the tax the person evaded or attempted to evade.
(3) Not more than one occupational tax shall be required to be paid on any one container of intoxicating liquor.
(4) Sections 71.74 (1), (2), (10), (11), (13) and (14), 71.75 (4) to (7), 71.80 (12), 71.82 (2), 71.83 (2) (b) 3., 71.88 (1) (a) and (2) (a), 71.89, 71.90, 71.91 (1) (a) and (c) and (2) to (7), 71.92, 73.01, 73.015 and 73.0301 apply to the administration of this section for the assessment and collection of additional taxes when a tax rate change becomes effective.
(5)
(a) No person who enters this state from another state may have in his or her possession and bring into the state any intoxicating liquor or wine. The prohibition in this paragraph does not apply to a person who changes his or her domicile from another state or a foreign country to this state and who brings into this state intoxicating liquor and wine constituting household goods. The prohibition in this paragraph does not apply to intoxicating liquor or wine consigned to any person having a permit from the secretary to engage in the sale of such intoxicating liquor or wine.
(b)
1. Except as provided in subd. 2., any person, except an underage person as defined under s. 125.02 (20m), who leaves a foreign country, after spending at least 48 hours in that foreign country, with the purpose of entering this state may have in that person's possession and bring into the state intoxicating liquor or wine in sealed original containers in amounts not to exceed, in the aggregate, 4 liters without payment of the tax imposed under this subchapter. The 4 liters of tax-free intoxicating liquor and wines may not be sent, shipped or carried into the state other than in the immediate possession of the person as qualified by this subsection.
2. A person who is a member of the national guard, the U. S. armed forces or a reserve component of the U. S. armed forces; who is a state resident; and who leaves a foreign country, after spending at least 48 hours in that foreign country on duty or for training, with the purpose of entering into this state may bring into the state, in sealed original containers and in the person's immediate possession, intoxicating liquor and wine in an aggregate amount not exceeding 16 liters without paying the tax imposed under this subchapter on that amount.
(c) Any person who violates any provision of pars. (a) and (b) by having in his or her possession more than the amount specified may be fined not less than $25 nor more than $500 or imprisoned for not more than 90 days or both. If any such person is convicted of a 2nd or subsequent offense, the person may be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months or both.
(d) Any intoxicating liquor or wine involved in a violation of this section is declared forfeit and upon confiscation by the department of revenue shall be disposed of in accordance with s. 125.14 (2) (e).
History: 1971 c. 125, 164, 211, 336; 1973 c. 121; 1975 c. 224; 1977 c. 12, 81, 203, 418; 1981 c. 20; 1981 c. 79 s. 18; 1981 c. 317; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 302; 1987 a. 312 s. 17; 1987 a. 399; 1993 a. 482; 1995 a. 233; 1997 a. 27, 136, 237; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 49.
Sales of intoxicating liquors are taxed at higher rates than are sales of the same volume of wine, which are taxed higher than sales of the same volume of fermented malt beverages. This methods-of-production taxation system does not violate the equal protection clause. It is not unconstitutional not to impose higher taxes based on higher alcohol content. Arty's, LLC v. DOR, 2018 WI App 64, 384 Wis. 2d 320, 919 N.W.2d 590, 17-0886.
The occupational liquor tax is not an excise tax upon liquor itself. Instead, it is a tax on the privilege to sell intoxicating liquor and applies only to intoxicating liquor in possession of persons who are engaged in the business of selling intoxicating liquor. Thus, the tax is a tax on sales of liquor and not a tax on liquor. Arty's, LLC v. DOR, 2018 WI App 64, 384 Wis. 2d 320, 919 N.W.2d 590, 17-0886.

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