Archive for June, 2010
Hawaii Amends Due Date for Gallonage Tax
June 14th, 2010
Effective July 1, 2010, the filing and payment due date the Hawaii Gallonage Tax, will change from the last day of the month to the 20th day of the month. Wineries shipping to consumers in Hawaii are required to file a “Combined Monthly Return of Liquor Tax and Report of Wine Gallons and Dollar Volume of Taxable Sales” (Form M-18) and pay gallonage tax to Hawaii’s Department of Taxation each month. Please see the document, “Announcement No. 2010-02,” issued by the Department of Taxation for additional information about changes to the payment of taxes in Hawaii.
By Annie Bones, State Relations – Wine Institute
Set Your Sights on the Hawkeye State: Get Started by Applying for a Direct Shipping License in Iowa
June 14th, 2010
The direct shipping applications for Iowa are now available. As of July 1, 2010 Iowa will require wineries to obtain a direct shipping license to ship wine directly to consumers. Previously a reciprocal state, Iowa’s borders will soon be open to all wineries across the country who obtain a permit, regardless of reciprocity status with the state. Additionally, there are no restrictive requirements on the winery (such as a volume production cap), making Iowa’s market accessible to all permitted wineries.
The permit application can only be completed online at Iowa’s elicensing website. You may view Iowa’s user guide for instructions on how to begin the licensing process. The “Wine Direct Shippers License (DS)” requires a fee of $25 and a $5,000 bond. Though the direct shipper license application is completed online, copies of state and federal winery licenses, and bond should be mailed to the Iowa Department of Commerce, Alcoholic Beverages Division. Monthly reports and excise taxes are required although they have yet to release these forms. Iowa will not require wine direct shippers to collect sales tax. Start your application process today and be one of the first to become compliant in Iowa.
Direct Shipping Conference Focuses on Building Customer Loyalty, Understanding Marketing and Fulfillment Agents, the Impact of HR 5034 and More…
June 4th, 2010
Hundreds of wineries will get an inside look at leading strategies for building customer loyalty, hear about the latest and upcoming changes in the direct shipping environment, learn best practices to get the most out of their direct shipping program, and be the first to see the unveiling of groundbreaking new features at ShipCompliant’s 5th annual Direct Shipping Seminar & Users Conference.
This year’s event, taking place June 10 at the Napa Valley Marriott, is staged to be the most comprehensive conference yet with the addition of in-depth breakout sessions to help wineries get a closer look at some of the most important issues affecting the direct shipping environment.
Nationally-recognized speaker and best-selling author, Fred Reichheld, will kick of the day describing how some of the world’s most successful firms–including Apple, Zappos and eBay—are creating more loyal customers and generating new customers through word-of-mouth recommendations to friends and colleagues. Reichheld is considered by many to be the world’s leading authority on loyalty. Jim Gordon, editor of Wines & Vines, will follow Reichheld with a first look at new market research on direct-to-consumer wine shipments developed by Wines & Vines in conjunction with ShipCompliant.
Steve Gross, director of state relations at Wine Institute, will lead the second half of the day with a state-by-state review of all recent and upcoming legislative changes that affect wine direct shippers. Gross and respected attorney Evan Lawson, senior partner at Lawson & Weitzen, will debate the issues surrounding controversial HR 5034 and its potential impact for the wine industry.
In the Third-Party Marketing and Fulfillment panel discussion, Matt Botting, general counsel for the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and John Hinman, partner at Hinman & Carmichael will help wineries understand the intricacies of evaluating third-party marketing and fulfillment agents—a valuable discussion for any winery considering this option.
ShipCompliant will be unveiling an impressive new set of features to help further streamline compliance and reporting for wineries that ship direct and will provide hands-on training for customers at the event.
ShipCompliant’s certified technology partners will also be showcasing their software solutions and latest and greatest features and integrations.
This Direct Shipping Seminar sells out every year and draws approximately 400 wine producers, wine retailers, compliance experts, and wine shippers among others. Register now to secure your seat to hear Fred Reichheld, Steve Gross, Matt Botting, John Hinman, Evan Lawson, and other expert speakers address the issues critical to your wine direct shipping business.
