Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau said a “significant number of wholesalers and importers of alcohol beverages who have undergone a change in control or change in proprietorship but failed to file a new permit application within 30 days of the change, as required by law.”
The agency announced a temporary program permitting wholesalers to voluntarily disclose the change, and has created a temporary program that ends Dec. 31. It provides a streamlined approach that allows eligible wholesalers and importers to report, disclose, and apply for a new permit all at one time.
The program is described in TTB Circular 2019-2. The big benefit is that industry members who are otherwise compliant will be able to continue operations until TTB takes action on the application.
TTB won’t seek civil or criminal penalties for continued operation while applications are reviewed, nor will it deny applications on the sole basis that the wholesaler or importer operated without a permit, provided the wholesaler was in compliance with statutes and regulations.
In addition, the agency has created a set of four videos to help wholesalers and importers take part in the program. You can find the videos here.