Connecticut alcohol tax permits and rules

DTC License Required: Yes

License Type: DTC Permit

License Fee: $315, plus one-time $100 fee

License Expiration: 1 year from issue date

License Bond: Yes

License Notes: N/A

State Sales Tax: Yes

State Sales Tax Rate: 6.350%

Local Sales Tax: No

Sales Tax on Shipping: Yes

Alchoholic Beverage Tax: $0.20-$1.98/gal

Consumer Limit: Two cases (18 liters) per person every two months.

Per State Aggregate: Unlimited

Sales Tax & Use Tax: Last day of each month

Excise Tax: Last day of each month

Direct Shipment: Last day of each month

Record Retention: At least 3 years

Product Restrictions: Only wines manufactured by the permittee on the permitted premises may be sold and shipped to consumers.

Product Registration: Labels approved for wholesale distribution are also approved for direct-to-consumer sales.

Registration Fees: $200 per label for a 3-year period.

Product Requirements: Wine sold and shipped directly to consumers in Connecticut must be packaged in containers conspicuously labeled to indicate alcoholic contents and the signature of a person 21 years of age or older is required for delivery.

*Nearly all states have some kind of rule regarding how wine must be labeled when being shipped direct to consumer. Please check for the unique rule for your state.

Tax can get complicated when it comes to direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipments. The beverage alcohol industry is different from other industries in that licensed alcohol shippers are required to register for sales tax in most states, independent of economic or physical nexus.

Depending on the state, sales and use tax can be applied at the state, county, city, or special district levels. Address accuracy is important to determine if a location falls into an incorporated or unincorporated section of a county or a special district.

On top of the sales tax requirements, alcohol taxes also apply to DTC shipments. Several states have “markup” taxes, where the retail value of the alcohol is multiplied by a percentage rate. Most of these markup taxes are either required or can be passed through to the consumer. 

Traditional “gallonage”-based excise taxes are also usually due on DTC shipments. Most of the time these are factored into the price of the item and not passed through to the consumer. In a few cases, these excise taxes are required to be passed on to the consumer. 

Rules and regulations for your winery, brewery, or other beverage alcohol business change frequently. Avalara for Beverage Alcohol helps distill the beverage alcohol compliance process so you can focus on your business.

Connecticut DOR site

Please note: Tax rates, rules, and regulations change frequently. Although we hope you'll find this information helpful, this page is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal or tax advice.