Massachusetts alcohol tax permits and rules

DTC License Required: Yes

License Type: DTC Permit

License Fee: $300, $150 for subsequent renewals

License Expiration: December 31 of each year

License Bond: No

State Sales Tax: No

Local Sales Tax: No

Sales Tax on Shipping: No

Alcoholic Beverages Excise Tax: $0.55–$0.70/gal

Consumer Limit: Limit of 12 cases per individual per calendar year for combined onsite and offsite sales.

Per State Aggregate: Unlimited

Sales and Use Tax: N/A

Excise Tax: Monthly by the 20th

Direct Shipment: Annually by Jan 31st

Record Retention: At least 3 years

Product Restrictions: None

Product Registration: Not required

Registration Fees: None

Product Requirements: Direct shipments shall be clearly labeled with words that indicate that the package contains alcohol and that the signature of a person, age 21 years 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.

Massachusetts 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.