(1) There is hereby imposed upon all wines except cider sold to wine distributors within the state a tax at the rate of twenty and one-fourth cents per liter. Any domestic winery or certificate of approval holder acting as a distributor of its own production must pay taxes imposed by this section. There is hereby imposed on all cider sold to wine distributors within the state a tax at the rate of three and fifty-nine one-hundredths cents per liter. However, wine sold or shipped in bulk from one winery to another winery is not subject to such tax.

(a) The tax provided for in this section shall be collected by direct payments based on wine purchased by wine distributors.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, every person purchasing wine under the provisions of this section must on or before the twentieth day of each month report to the board all purchases during the preceding calendar month in such manner and upon such forms as may be prescribed by the board, and with such report must pay the tax due from the purchases covered by such report unless the same has previously been paid. Any such purchaser of wine whose applicable tax payment is not postmarked by the twentieth day following the month of purchase will be assessed a penalty at the rate of two percent a month or fraction thereof. The board may require that every such person shall execute to and file with the board a bond to be approved by the board, in such amount as the board may fix, securing the payment of the tax. If any such person fails to pay the tax when due, the board may suspend or cancel the license until all taxes are paid.

(c) Any licensed retailer authorized to purchase wine from a certificate of approval holder with a direct shipment endorsement or a domestic winery must make monthly reports to the liquor and cannabis board on wine purchased during the preceding calendar month in the manner and upon such forms as may be prescribed by the board.

(2) An additional tax is imposed equal to the rate specified in RCW 82.02.030 multiplied by the tax payable under subsection (1) of this section. All revenues collected during any month from this additional tax must be transferred to the state general fund by the twenty-fifth day of the following month.

(3) An additional tax is imposed on wines subject to tax under subsection (1) of this section, at the rate of one-fourth of one cent per liter for wine sold after June 30, 1987. After June 30, 1996, such additional tax does not apply to cider. An additional tax of five one-hundredths of one cent per liter is imposed on cider sold after June 30, 1996. All revenues collected under this subsection (3) shall be disbursed quarterly to the Washington wine commission for use in carrying out the purposes of chapter 15.88 RCW.

(4) An additional tax is imposed on all wine subject to tax under subsection (1) of this section. The additional tax is equal to twenty-three and forty-four one-hundredths cents per liter on fortified wine as defined in RCW 66.04.010 when bottled or packaged by the manufacturer, one cent per liter on all other wine except cider, and eighteen one-hundredths of one cent per liter on cider. All revenues collected during any month from this additional tax shall be deposited in the state general fund by the twenty-fifth day of the following month.

(5)(a) An additional tax is imposed on all cider subject to tax under subsection (1) of this section. The additional tax is equal to two and four one-hundredths cents per liter of cider sold after June 30, 1996, and before July 1, 1997, and is equal to four and seven one-hundredths cents per liter of cider sold after June 30, 1997.

(b) All revenues collected from the additional tax imposed under this subsection (5) must be deposited in the state general fund.

(6) For the purposes of this section, "cider" means table wine that contains not less than one-half of one percent of alcohol by volume and not more than eight and one-half percent of alcohol by volume and is made from the normal alcoholic fermentation of the juice of sound, ripe apples or pears. "Cider" includes, but is not limited to, flavored, sparkling, or carbonated cider and cider made from condensed apple or pear must.

(7) For the purposes of this section, out-of-state wineries must pay taxes under this section on wine sold and shipped directly to Washington state residents in a manner consistent with the requirements of a wine distributor under subsections (1) through (4) of this section, except wineries shall be responsible for the tax and not the resident purchaser.

(8) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any domestic winery or wine certificate of approval holder acting as a distributor of its own production that had total taxable sales of wine in Washington state of six thousand gallons or less during the calendar year preceding the date on which the tax would otherwise be due is not required to pay taxes under this section more often than annually.

Explanatory statement—2023 c 470: See note following RCW 10.99.030.

Effective date—2009 c 479: See note following RCW 2.56.030.

Effective date—2006 c 302: See note following RCW 66.24.170.

Effective date—2001 c 124: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2001." [ 2001 c 124 § 2.]

Effective date—1997 c 321: See note following RCW 66.24.010.

Effective date—1996 c 118: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1996." [ 1996 c 118 § 2.]

Contingent partial referendum—1994 sp.s. c 7 §§ 901-909: "Sections 901 through 909, chapter 7, Laws of 1994 sp. sess. shall be submitted as a single ballot measure to the people for their adoption and ratification, or rejection, at the next succeeding general election to be held in this state, in accordance with Article II, section 1 of the state Constitution, as amended, and the laws adopted to facilitate the operation thereof unless section 13, chapter 2, Laws of 1994, has been declared invalid or otherwise enjoined or stayed by a court of competent jurisdiction." [ 1994 sp.s. c 7 § 911 (Referendum Bill No. 43, approved November 8, 1994).]

Reviser's note: Sections 901 through 909, chapter 7, Laws of 1994 sp. sess., were adopted and ratified by the people at the November 8, 1994, general election.

Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following RCW 43.70.540.

Effective date—1993 c 160: See note following RCW 66.12.180.

Effective dates—1989 c 271: See note following RCW 66.28.200.

Severability—1989 c 271: See note following RCW 9.94A.510.

Construction—Effective dates—1987 c 452: See RCW 15.88.900 and 15.88.901.

Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3: See notes following RCW 82.04.255.

Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.

Effective date—1981 1st ex.s. c 5: See RCW 66.98.100.

Floor stocks tax: "There is hereby imposed upon every licensed wine distributor who possesses wine for resale upon which the tax has not been paid under section 2, chapter 204, Laws of 1973, a floor stocks tax of sixty-five cents per wine gallon on wine in his or her possession or under his or her control on June 30, 1973. Each such distributor shall within twenty days after June 30, 1973, file a report with the Washington state liquor control board in such form as the board may prescribe, showing the wine products on hand July 1, 1973, converted to gallons thereof and the amount of tax due thereon. The tax imposed by this section shall be due and payable within twenty days after July 1, 1973, and thereafter bear interest at the rate of one percent per month." [ 1997 c 321 § 9; 1973 1st ex.s. c 204 § 3.]

Effective date—1973 1st ex.s. c 204: See note following RCW 82.08.150.

Effective date—1969 ex.s. c 21: See note following RCW 66.04.010.

Giving away liquor prohibited—Exceptions: RCW 66.28.040.

No tax on wine shipped to bonded warehouse: RCW 66.24.185.