Alcoholic Beverage Tax

Authority.  T.C.A. §§ 57-3-301 through 57-3-308.

Description.  This tax is on the sale or distribution by sale or gift of wine, beer and distilled spirits with an alcoholic content of more than 5 percent by weight.  T.C.A. § 57-3-301.

Rate: $1.21 per gallon (32 cents per liter) of wine and $4.40 per gallon ($1.17 per liter) of distilled spirits.  T.C.A. § 57-3-302. Notwithstanding T.C.A. § 57-3-302, the state tax on intoxicating liquor or alcoholic beverages with an alcoholic content of seven percent (7%) or less shall be one dollar and ten cents ($1.10) per gallon and no identification stamps shall be required to be fixed to the retail container of such alcoholic beverage. T.C.A. §§ 57-3-303(l) and 57-3-308.

Distribution.  The tax is distributed as follows:

1. Any county where a distillery is located receives four cents (4¢) per liter of the tax imposed on the sale of distilled spirits.
2. Except for the distribution as provided in (1), eighty-two and one-half percent (82.5 %) of the proceeds of this tax to the state general fund.
3. Except for the distribution as provided in (1), seventeen and one-half percent (17.5%) of the proceeds of this tax to counties (general fund) as follows:

a.  Seventy-five (75%) percent of this amount is apportioned according to county population.

b.  Twenty-five percent (25%) of this amount is apportioned according to county area.

c.   However, thirty percent (30%) of the amount distributed to counties with a population of more than 250,000 is distributed to cities in the county with population over 150,000.  T.C.A. § 57-3-306.