2016-31417: Changes to Certain Alcohol-Related Regulations Governing Bond Requirements and Tax Return Filing Periods

Summary

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is amending its regulations relating to alcohol excise taxes to implement certain changes made to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (IRC) by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH Act). This rulemaking implements section 332 of the PATH Act, which amends the IRC to change tax return due dates and remove bond requirements for certain eligible taxpayers. Section 332 authorizes a new annual return period for taxpayers paying taxes imposed with respect to distilled spirits, wines, and beer on a deferred basis who reasonably expect to be liable for not more than $1,000 in such taxes imposed for the calendar year and who are liable for not more than $1,000 in such taxes in the preceding calendar year. Section 332 also removes bond requirements for taxpayers who are eligible to pay excise taxes on distilled spirits, wines, and beer using quarterly or annual return periods and who pay those taxes on a deferred basis. Under section 332, such taxpayers are exempt from bond requirements with respect to distilled spirits and wine only to the extent those products are for nonindustrial use. TTB is soliciting comments from all interested parties on these amendments through a notice of proposed rulemaking published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

The agency’s own summary, as published.

What this changes

Amends 8 parts of the Code of Federal Regulations — the standing rules this notice rewrites.

• 27 CFR 18 Production of Volatile Fruit-Flavor Concentrate
• 27 CFR 19 Distilled Spirits Plants
• 27 CFR 24 Wine
• 27 CFR 25 Beer
• 27 CFR 26 Liquors and Articles from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
• 27 CFR 27 Importation of Distilled Spirits, Wines, and Beer
• 27 CFR 28 Exportation of Alcohol
• 27 CFR 30 Gauging Manual