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 $19 processing fees

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 $19 processing fee for a business license and a $5.00 fee to register each trade name used.

Applicants must also complete the Business License Appplication 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)
• Non-Retail Tied House Statement
• Non-Retail Licensing FAQ

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:  Wine Importers Summary Tax 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 WA 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
• Wine Certificate of Approval Holder Summary Tax Report Form (LIQ-778)

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
• Non-Retail Licensing FAQ

Allowed:  Yes

License:  Required

License Fee:  $100

License Expiration:  1 yr from issue date

Product Registration:  Required

Excise Tax:  Required

Reporting:  Required

A “Wine Out-of-State Shipping Directly to Washington Retailers” endorsement allows a US winery holding a Certificate of Approval (COA) with Washington to ship an unlimited amount of wine of their own production directly to licensed retailers approved to receive shipments. The annual fee is $100.

The COA and Washington retailer must follow the current in-state delivery requirements. The COA delivers the product to the Washington retailer using its own employees; the Washington retailer picks up the product at the COA location; or the retailer, at his own cost and initiative, arranges for a common carrier to pick up the product and deliver it to the retailer location. In-state and out-of-state wineries can use common carriers for shipping up to 100 cases of their own products directly to licensed retailers.

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

Resources:

• Application for Added Endorsement
• 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
• Non-Retail Enforcement FAQS
• Distributor FAQS
• Manufacturer, Importer, Wholesaler (MIW) Bulletins
• Non-retail liquor license descriptions and fees
• Volume Discounts Advisory
• WSLCB Notification Archive
• WSLCB Topics and Trends Quarterly Newsletter for Licensees
• Department of Revenue Wine Industry Guide