Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 139 - Beverage and tobacco taxes.
139.06 - Liquor tax returns; exceptions.

139.06 Liquor tax returns; exceptions.
(1)
(a) The taxes imposed under s. 139.03 (intro.) on intoxicating liquor at the rates under s. 139.03 (2m) shall be paid to, and a monthly return filed with, the department of revenue on or before the 15th of the month following the month in which the tax liability is incurred. An administrative fee of 11 cents per gallon on intoxicating liquor taxed at the rates under s. 139.03 (2m) is imposed, shall be paid along with the taxes and shall be deposited in the appropriation under s. 20.566 (1) (ha).
(b) Liability for taxes at the rates under s. 139.03 (2m) on intoxicating liquor is incurred by a shipper when intoxicating liquor is shipped into this state, except that liability on liquor produced or bottled in this state or imported directly from a foreign country into this state by a Wisconsin permittee is incurred at the time of the first sale in this state and except that liability for liquor under sub. (3) or (4) is incurred when a Wisconsin permittee receives that liquor.
(c) Each person subject to the tax under s. 139.03 shall file an information report on the dates prescribed by the secretary.
(2)
(a) The taxes on wine containing not in excess of 21 percent of alcohol by volume shall be paid to and a monthly return filed on or before the 15th of the month following the month in which tax liability is incurred. Tax liability is incurred by the shipper when wine is shipped into the state. In the case of wine produced or bottled within the state and wine imported directly from a foreign country into the state by a Wisconsin permittee or winery licensee, tax liability is incurred by the permittee or winery licensee at the time of first sale within the state.
(b) All persons required to file a return and pay intoxicating liquor taxes shall first provide security in the amount, at the time and of the type required by the department or enter into a surety bond with a corporate surety to secure payment of the tax with bond and surety to be approved by the department. Such bond shall be twice the department's estimate of the taxpayer's maximum monthly tax liability but shall not be less than $1,000 nor more than $100,000. The bonds shall be filed.
(c) Further to secure the payment of the taxes at the rates under s. 139.03 (2m) on intoxicating liquor, the department shall require all persons liable for the return and payment of such taxes in either of the 2 previous fiscal years to maintain a deposit of the department's estimate of tax liabilities in an amount equal to 20 percent of the estimated tax liability for fiscal year 1985-86 or an amount specified by the department. Such deposit payment shall be paid to the department on July 15, 1986, or according to an arrangement specified by the department. This deposit shall be deposited in the general fund. On August 15, 1987, the department shall credit 25 percent of the deposit against taxes due for the quarter beginning on the first day of the month before the month when the taxes are due or a later quarter. At the end of each succeeding 12-month period the department shall credit 25 percent of the original deposit until 100 percent of each deposit has been refunded. If any permittee has an unpaid tax liability at the time that a credit would be allowed the permittee, the department shall not allow the credit until the liability is paid in full.
(3) In shipping intoxicating liquor in bulk for the purpose of bottling or rectifying to a rectifier located within the state, the manufacturer shall securely affix thereto a label or statement, in such form as is prescribed by the secretary, reciting that the shipment is made for the purpose of bottling or rectifying. Each manufacturer making such shipments shall file an information report that shows the dates and quantities of shipments and the name and address of each consignee.
(4) When intoxicating liquor is stored in an alcohol beverage warehouse for which a permit has been issued under s. 125.19, by a manufacturer or rectifier holding a permit under s. 125.52 as a pledge for the loan of money, it is not necessary to affix front labels to the containers until the liquor is sold or removed from the warehouse. When it becomes necessary for a pledgee to sell such intoxicating liquor in good faith pursuant to the terms of the pledge, and not for the purpose of avoiding ss. 139.01 to 139.25 or ch. 125, it shall be sold to a manufacturer, rectifier or wholesaler holding a permit under s. 125.52 for the purpose of affixing front labels. All such sales shall be reported to the secretary by the pledgee.
History: 1973 c. 121; 1977 c. 142, 203; 1981 c. 79; 1985 a. 120; 1987 a. 399; 1991 a. 39; 1997 a. 27; 2005 a. 25.
The plaintiff in this case bought various distilled spirits in bulk from a distillery and mixed the distilled spirits with soda, water, and various flavorings to produce bottles of premixed cocktails that the plaintiff sold to liquor wholesalers, who sold them to retailers. In this case, the first taxable sales of intoxicating liquors under sub. (1) (b) were sales by the plaintiff of its bottled mixtures to the plaintiff's wholesaler customers. Section 139.04 (4) excludes from consideration all transactions between the plaintiff and its distiller. Also, the entire volume of each bottle was an intoxicating liquor, each liter of which was subject to the intoxicating liquor occupational tax. Arty's, LLC v. DOR, 2018 WI App 64, 384 Wis. 2d 320, 919 N.W.2d 590, 17-0886.

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