Washington

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board is composed of three members appointed by the Governor to six-year terms. The Board holds regular public meetings and work sessions with stakeholders, makes policy and budget decisions, and adjudicates contested license applications and enforcement actions on licensees. Board members are also responsible for hiring the agency’s Director, who manages day-to-day operations.

Laws & Rules:

• ABC Law (Title 66 RCW) 
• Liquor Rules (Title 314 WAC)

Required:  Yes

Name:  Out of State Wine Certificate of Approval

Fee:  $200, plus $50 business license processing fee

Expiration: 1 year from issue date

A Wine Out-of-State Certificate of Approval (COA) allows a US winery located outside of Washington, property licensed with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), and the state in which they are located, to sell wine of their own production to licensed Washington State Wine Distributors and Importers. The annual fee for a Wine Out-of-State Certificate of Approval is $200. A WA Business License is a requirement for holding a COA. There is a one-time $50 processing fee for a business license and a $10.00 fee to register each trade name used.

Applicants must also complete the Business License Application and Liquor Control Board Addendum Non-Retail form.

Resources:

• Apply for an Out-of-State Non-Retail License
• Business License Application (paper)
• Business License Application (online)

Required:  Yes

Fee:  No Fee

Approval:  7 days

Expiration:  Does Not Expire

Revision Required:  COLA change

No wines shall be imported or sold within the state of Washington until the certificate of approval holder, domestic winery, or US importer of foreign wine has submitted copies of the federal certificate of label approvals for such wines to the board. Additionally, The Application For Product Tracking Code must be submitted for wines under 7% ABV or cider no greater than 8.5% ABV only.

Suppliers are required to submit copies of the federal COLA by e-mail or U.S. mail.

Resources:

• WAC 314-24-040 – Wine labels
• Application for Product Tracking Code Beer/Wine Less than 7% ABV

Franchise Law:  No

Exclusive Territories:  Not Required

The State of Washington does not have a franchise law for wine.

Required:  Yes

Name: LIQ-778/778A Wine Certificate of Approval Holder Report

Due Date:  Monthly, by the 20th

A Wine Certificate of Approval Holder Summary Tax Report must be completed by all Out of State Certificate of Approval Holders (Wineries) each month and postmarked on or before the 20th of the following month, including those months when there is no activity.

The license number for each Washington Distributor or Importer shipped to during the month must be listed on the report.

Wineries that also hold direct ship permits may have additional reporting requirements and may also have to file additional returns.

Resources:

• Beer and Wine Tax Reporting Guide
• LIQ-778/778A Wine Certificate of Approval Holder Report

Available:  Yes

Fee:  $25

Expiration:  June 30th of each year

An Agent’s license is required for any licensee or employee who calls, visits, takes orders, pours at events or emails businesses with liquor licenses, with the exception of drivers who deliver spirits, beer or wine or licensed domestic wineries or their employees.

Resources:

• Application for Agent’s License

Allowed:  Yes

License:  Wine Out-of-State Shipping Directly to Washington Retailers Endorsement Required

License Fee:  $100

License Expiration:  1 yr from issue date

Product Registration:  Required

Excise Tax:  Required

Reporting:  Required

A certificate of approval holder with a direct shipment endorsement may act as a distributor of its own production. Notwithstanding any language in this title to the contrary, a certificate of approval holder with a direct shipment endorsement may use a common carrier to deliver up to one hundred cases of its own production, in the aggregate, per month to licensed Washington retailers. A certificate of approval holder may not arrange for any such common carrier shipments to licensed retailers of wine not of its own production.

The annual fee for a Wine Out-of-State Shipping Directly to Washington Retailers Endorsement is $100.

The COA must maintain records of sales into Washington for three years.

Resources:

• Apply for an Out-of-State Non-Retail License
• Beer and Wine Tax Reporting Guide

• Fact Sheet-SSB 5394 Liquor  Licensees-Promoting Events Online, effective July 28, 2019
• SSB 5394 Liquor Licensees-Promoting Events Online, Effective July 28, 2019
• Manufacturer, Importer, Wholesaler (MIW) Bulletins
• WSLCB Notification Archive
• WSLCB Topics and Trends Quarterly Newsletter for Licensees
• Department of Revenue Wine Industry Guide