1513-0046 Laws and Regs

1513-0038

Sec. 5005. - Persons liable for tax

(a) General

The distiller or importer of distilled spirits shall be liable for the taxes imposed thereon by section 5001(a)(1).

(b) Domestic distilled spirits

(1) Liability of persons interested in distilling

Every proprietor or possessor of, and every person in any manner interested in the use of, any still, distilling apparatus, or distillery, shall be jointly and severally liable for the taxes imposed by law on the distilled spirits produced therefrom.

(2) Exception

A person owning or having the right of control of not more than 10 percent of any class of stock of a corporate proprietor of a distilled spirits plant shall not be deemed to be a person liable for the tax for which such proprietor is liable under the provisions of paragraph (1). This exception shall not apply to an officer or director of such corporate proprietor.

(c) Proprietors of distilled spirits plants

(1) Bonded storage

Every person operating bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant shall be liable for the internal revenue tax on all distilled spirits while the distilled spirits are stored on such premises, and on all distilled spirits which are in transit to such premises (from the time of removal from the transferor's bonded premises) pursuant to application made by him. Such liability for the tax on distilled spirits shall continue until the distilled spirits are transferred or withdrawn from bonded premises as authorized by law, or until such liability for tax is relieved by reason of the provisions of section 5008(a). Nothing in this paragraph shall relieve any person from any liability imposed by subsection (a) or (b).

(2) Transfers in bond

When distilled spirits are transferred in bond in accordance with the provisions of section 5212, persons liable for the tax on such spirits under subsection (a) or (b), or under any similar prior provisions of internal revenue law, shall be relieved of such liability, if proprietors of transferring and receiving premises are independent of each other and neither has a proprietary interest, directly or indirectly, in the business of the other, and all persons liable for the tax under subsection (a) or (b), or under any similar prior provisions of internal revenue law, have divested themselves of all interest in the spirits so transferred. Such relief from liability shall be effective from the time of removal from the transferor's bonded premises, or from the time of divestment of interest, whichever is later.

(d) Withdrawals free of tax

All persons liable for the tax under subsection (a) or (b), or under any similar prior provisions of internal revenue law, shall be relieved of such liability as to distilled spirits withdrawn free of tax under the provisions of section 5214(a)(1), (2), (3), (11), or (12), or under section 7510, at the time such spirits are so withdrawn from bonded premises.

(e) Withdrawals without payment of tax

(1) Liability for tax

Any person who withdraws distilled spirits from the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant without payment of tax, as provided in section 5214(a)(4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), or (13), shall be liable for the internal revenue tax on such distilled spirits, from the time of such withdrawal; and all persons liable for the tax on such distilled spirits under subsection (a) or (b), or under any similar prior provisions of internal revenue law, shall, at the time of such withdrawal, be relieved of any such liability on the distilled spirits so withdrawn if the person withdrawing such spirits and the person, or persons, liable for the tax under subsection (a) or (b), or under any similar prior provisions of internal revenue law, are independent of each other and neither has a proprietary interest, directly or indirectly, in the business of the other, and all persons liable for the tax under subsection (a) or (b), or under any similar prior provisions of internal revenue law, have divested themselves of all interest in the spirits so withdrawn.

(2) Relief from liability

All persons liable for the tax on distilled spirits under paragraph (1) of this subsection, or under subsection (a) or (b), or under any similar prior provisions of internal revenue law, shall be relieved of any such liability at the time, as the case may be, the distilled spirits are exported, deposited in a foreign-trade zone, used in the production of wine, used in the production of nonbeverage wine or wine products, deposited in customs bonded warehouses, laden as supplies upon, or used in the maintenance or repair of, certain vessels or aircraft, or used in certain research, development, or testing, as provided by law.

f) Cross references

(1) For provisions requiring bond covering operations at, and withdrawals from, distilled spirits plants, see section 5173.

(2) For provisions relating to transfer of tax liability to redistiller in case of redistillation, see section 5223.

(3) For liability for tax on denatured distilled spirits, articles, and volatile fruit-flavor concentrates, see section 5001(a)(5) and (6).

(4) For liability for tax on distilled spirits withdrawn free of tax, see section 5001(a)(4).

(5) For liability of wine producer for unlawfully using wine spirits withdrawn for the production of wine, see section 5391.

(6) For provisions relating to transfer of tax liability for wine, see section 5043(a)(1)(A)

Transfers Between Bonded Premises

§ 19.505 Authorized transfers.

(a) Spirits.

Bulk spirits or denatured spirits may be transferred in bond between the bonded premises of plants qualified under 26 U.S.C. 5171 or 26 U.S.C. 5181, in accordance with §§ 19.506 and 19.998, respectively.

(b) Wine.

(1) Wines may be transferred (i) from a bonded wine cellar to the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant, (ii) from the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant to a bonded wine cellar, or (iii) between the bonded premises of distilled spirits plants.

(2) Wines transferred to the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant may be used in the manufacture of a distilled spirits product, and may not be removed from such bonded premises for consumption or sale as wine.

(c) Alcohol for industrial purposes.

Alcohol bottled for industrial purposes, as provided in § 19.398, may be transferred between the bonded premises of distilled spirits plants in accordance with the procedures prescribed in §§ 19.506 through 19.510 for bulk distilled spirits.

(Sec. 201, Pub. L. 85-859, 72 Stat. 1362, as amended, 1380, as amended (26 U.S.C. 5212, 5362); sec. 232, Pub. L. 96-223, 94 Stat. 278 (26 U.S.C. 5181))

[T.D. ATF-198, 50 FR 8464, Mar. 1, 1985, as amended by T.D. ATF-297, 55 FR 18064, Apr. 30, 1990]

§ 19.506 Application to receive spirits in bond.

When a proprietor qualified under 26 U.S.C. 5171 desires to have spirits or denatured spirits transferred to him in bond which shall not include spirits withdrawn from customs custody under 26 U.S.C. 5232, he shall make application for such transfer to the appropriate TTB officer on Form 5100.16. Application to receive such spirits by transfer in bond shall not be approved unless the applicant's operations or unit bond is in the maximum penal sum, or, if in less than the maximum penal sum, is sufficient to cover the tax on the spirits or denatured spirits to be transferred in addition to all other liabilities chargeable against such bond. The applicant shall deliver one of the approved copies of the application to the consignor proprietor.

(Sec. 201, Pub. L. 85-859, 72 Stat. 1318, as amended, 1362, as amended (26 U.S.C. 5005, 5112))

§ 19.509 Reconsignment.

Where, prior to or on arrival at the premises of a consignee, spirits, denatured spirits, or wines transferred in bond are found to be unsuitable for the purpose for which intended, were shipped in error, or, for any other bona fide reason, are not accepted by such consignee, or are not accepted by a carrier, they may be reconsigned, by the consignor, to himself, or to another consignee. In such case, application to receive spirits or denatured spirits by transfer in bond (on Form 5100.16) shall have been previously approved for the consignee (not required in the case of wines or in the case of alcohol fuel plants receiving spirits or denatured spirits) and the bond of the proprietor to whom the spirits, denatured spirits, or wines are reconsigned shall cover such spirits, denatured spirits, or wines while in transit after reconsignment. Notice of cancellation of the shipment shall be made by the consignor to the consignee. Where the reconsignment is to another proprietor, a new transfer record shall be prepared and prominently marked with the word "Reconsignment".

(Sec. 201, Pub. L. 85-859, 72 Stat. 1367, as amended, 1380, as amended

(26 U.S.C. 5212, 5362))

§ 19.686 Return of spirits withdrawn without payment of tax.

(a) Spirits withdrawn for export. Spirits lawfully withdrawn without payment of tax under the provisions of 27 CFR Part 28 for exportation, or for transfer to a customs bonded warehouse or a customs manufacturing bonded warehouse, or for deposit in a foreign-trade zone, or for use on vessels and aircraft, and not so exported, transferred, deposited, or used (or laden for use) on a vessel or aircraft, may be returned, under the applicable provisions of this part and 27 CFR Part 28: (1) To the bonded premises of any plant authorized to produce or process distilled spirits, for redistillation; or (2) To the bonded premises from which withdrawn pending subsequent removal for a lawful purpose.

(b) Spirits withdrawn for use in wine production. Wine spirits withdrawn under §19.532 for use in wine production, and not so used, may be returned to the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant. The consignee proprietor shall obtain approval, as provided in § 19.506. The wine spirits shall be removed from the winery in accordance with the provisions of 27 CFR Part 24.

(c) Spirits withdrawn for research, development, or testing. Spirits withdrawn without payment of tax, under the provisions of subpart V of this part, for research, development, or testing may be returned to the bonded premises of the distilled spirits plant from which withdrawn. After returning these spirits to bonded premises, they shall be destroyed, returned to containers, or returned to vessels in the distilling system containing similar spirits.

(d) Procedure. When spirits are received, they shall be gauged by the proprietor. When spirits which were removed for exportation are returned to bonded premises pending subsequent removal for a purpose other than exportation, all export marks on the containers in which the spirits are returned shall be obliterated.

(Sec. 201, Pub. L. 85-859, 72 Stat. 1362, as amended, 1365, as amended, 1382, as amended (26 U.S.C. 5214, 5223, 5373); sec. 3, Pub. L. 91-659, 84 Stat. 1965, as amended (26 U.S.C. 5066))

[T.D. ATF-198, 50 FR 8464, Mar. 1, 1985, as amended by T.D. ATF-206, 50 FR 23952, June 7, 1985]

§ 19.998 Transfer in bond of spirits.

(a) Transfer between alcohol fuel plants.

A proprietor may remove spirits from the bonded premises of an alcohol fuel plant (including the premises of a small plant) for transfer in bond to another alcohol fuel plant. Bulk conveyances in which spirits are transferred shall be secured with locks, seals or other devices as prescribed by § 19.96. The spirits need not be rendered unfit for beverage use prior to transfer. Spirits so transferred may not be withdrawn, used, sold, or otherwise disposed of for other than fuel use.

(b) Transfer to or from other distilled spirits plants.

Spirits (not including spirits produced from petroleum, natural gas, or coal) may be transferred in bond from distilled spirits plants qualified under subpart G of this part to alcohol fuel plants. Alcohol fuel plants may transfer spirits in bond to distilled spirits plants qualified under subpart G of this part. Bulk conveyances in which spirits are transferred shall be secured with locks, seals, or other devices as prescribed by § 19.96. The spirits need not be rendered unfit for beverage use prior to transfer. Spirits so transferred may not be withdrawn, used, sold, or otherwise disposed of for other than fuel use.

c) Transfer procedures.

The procedures in §§19.999 through 19.1001 pertain only to the transfer of spirits between alcohol fuel plants. The procedures in §§ 19.506 through 19.509 and 19.770 pertain to the transfer of spirits from an alcohol fuel plant to a distilled spirits plant qualified under 26 U.S.C. 5171. The alcohol fuel plant transferring in bond spirits filled into portable containers to the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant qualified under 26 U.S.C. 5171 shall mark each container as required by § 19.1008(b). The procedures in §§ 19.508, 19.510 and 19.770 pertain to the transfer of spirits from a distilled spirits plant to an alcohol fuel plant.

(Sec. 201, Pub. L. 85-859, 72 Stat. 1362, as amended (26 U.S.C. 5212); sec. 232, Pub. L. 96-223, 94 Stat. 278 (26 U.S.C. 5181))