TTB Asks for Input on Alcohol-Tobacco Paperwork Rules
Published Date: 10/6/2026
Notice
Summary
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) wants your thoughts on their paperwork rules to make things easier for businesses and people who deal with alcohol and tobacco. If you’re affected by these info collections, now’s the time to speak up before December 7, 2026. This effort aims to cut down on hassle without changing fees or deadlines.
Analyzed Economic Effects
11 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 6 costs, 1 mixed.
Monthly Reports for Distilled Spirits Plants
Distilled spirits plant proprietors must keep records and submit monthly summary reports using TTB F 5110.28. TTB estimates 6,100 respondents filing 12 reports per year (73,200 responses) with an average per-response burden of 2 hours (1 hour recordkeeping + 1 hour reporting), totaling 146,000 hours annually; TTB is increasing its estimates due to growth in the number of DSPs.
Record CO2 to Verify Hard Cider Tax Eligibility
Proprietors who produce or receive effervescent products taxed as hard cider must record carbon dioxide levels. Wines with more than 0.392 grams CO2 per 100 mL are taxed as effervescent (at $3.30/gal artificially carbonated or $3.40/gal naturally carbonated); apple/pear wines with no more than 0.64 grams CO2 per 100 mL and not exceeding 8.5% alcohol by volume qualify for the hard cider tax rate of $0.226 per gallon. TTB estimates 50 respondents, 100 responses, and 100 total burden hours annually.
CBMA Importer Refund and Foreign Producer Registration
Under the Craft Beverage Modernization Act (CBMA) rules, U.S. importers must pay full excise tax at entry and then submit refund claims to TTB to receive assigned CBMA tax benefits; foreign producers must register to assign benefits. TTB estimates 12,000 respondents, 33,000 responses, an average 2 hours per response, and 66,000 total annual burden hours (TTB is decreasing respondent estimates but increasing average responses per respondent).
Petition Process to Create or Modify AVAs
To establish or modify an American Viticultural Area (AVA), petitioners must submit the information specified in 27 CFR part 9. TTB estimates 12 respondents filing one petition each with an average per-response burden of 130 hours and a total annual burden of 1,560 hours.
Pilot Combined Excise Tax Return for Brewers
TTB is piloting combined alcohol excise tax returns and simplified operations reports for brewers as an alternative to separate tax returns and operations reports. The pilot is available via letterhead application; TTB estimates 10,000 respondents, 58,000 responses, 1 hour average per response, and 58,000 total burden hours for the collection.
TTB seeks comments to reduce paperwork
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is asking for public comments on its information collections to reduce paperwork and respondent burden. You can submit comments through Regulations.gov or by mail; TTB says this effort aims to reduce hassle without changing fees or deadlines, and comments are due December 7, 2026.
Form to Authorize Tax Representatives
If you want to let a representative (who is not a power of attorney) receive your confidential tax information from TTB, you must file TTB Form 5000.19, Tax Information Authorization. The agency estimates 10 respondents, one response each, and 1 hour per response (total 10 hours annually).
Large Cigar Wholesale Price Recordkeeping
Manufacturers or importers of large cigars must maintain records of the wholesale price used to calculate the excise tax. TTB estimates 300 respondents, one response each, average per-response burden of 2.33 hours, and 699 total burden hours annually.
Certification for Imported Natural Wine (post-2004)
Importers of natural wine produced after December 31, 2004, must provide a certification with an affirmed laboratory analysis that the wine received proper cellar treatment. TTB estimates 20 respondents with an average of 3.25 responses per respondent and a total burden of 22 hours annually.
Hard Cider Tax Class Statement on Labels
Beverage containers eligible for the hard cider tax rate must display the tax class statement "Tax class 5041(b)(6)" on labels (domestic and imported). TTB estimates 20 respondents making about 40 responses annually with an average per-response burden of 1 hour (40 total hours).
Application for Tax-Free Firearms/Ammunition Transactions
Businesses and certain governments that want to engage in tax-free sales or purchases of firearms and ammunition under 26 U.S.C. 4221 must apply using TTB Form 5300.28 to obtain a Certificate of Registry. TTB estimates 85 respondents, one response each, 3 hours per response, and 255 total burden hours annually.
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Related Federal Register Documents
2026-16701, Establishment of the Columbia Hills Viticultural Area
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) establishes the 29,387-acre "Columbia Hills" American viticultural area (AVA) in Klickitat County, Washington. The newly established AVA is located entirely within the existing Columbia Valley viticultural area. TTB designates viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase.
2026-16670, Proposed Establishment of the Llano Uplift and Hickory Sands District Viticultural Areas
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to establish the 2,096-square mile "Llano Uplift" American viticultural area (AVA) in portions of Blanco, Burnet, Gillespie, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, and San Saba Counties in Texas. The proposed AVA entirely encompasses the established Bell Mountain AVA. TTB is also proposing to establish the 193-square mile "Hickory Sands District" AVA in portions of Llano, Mason, McCulloch, and San Saba Counties in Texas. TTB is proposing these two AVAs simultaneously because, if established, the proposed Hickory Sands District AVA would be located entirely within the proposed Llano Uplift AVA. Additionally, both proposed AVAs are located entirely within the boundaries of the existing Texas Hill Country AVA. TTB designates viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase. TTB invites comments on these proposals.
2026-16671, Proposed Establishment of the Rancho Santa Fe Viticultural Area
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to establish the 15,827-acre "Rancho Santa Fe" American viticultural area (AVA) in San Diego County, California. The proposed AVA is located entirely within the existing South Coast AVA. TTB designates viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase. TTB invites comments on these proposals.
2026-16669, Proposed Establishment of the Mill Creek-Walla Walla Valley Viticultural Area
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to establish the approximately 4,898-acre "Mill Creek--Walla Walla Valley" American viticultural area (AVA) in Walla Walla County, Washington. The proposed viticultural area lies entirely within the established Columbia Valley and Walla Walla Valley AVAs. TTB designates viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase. TTB invites comments on this proposed addition to its regulations.
2026-16668, Proposed Establishment of the Kaw Valley Viticultural Area
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to establish the approximately 3,515,482-acre (5,493-square mile) "Kaw Valley" American viticultural area in northeastern Kansas. The proposed viticultural area is not within any other established viticultural area. TTB designates viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase. TTB invites comments on this proposed addition to its regulations.
2026-05741, Proposed Establishment of the Champlain Valley of Vermont Viticultural Area
The government wants to create a new wine region called the Champlain Valley of Vermont, covering over a million acres in western Vermont. This helps local winemakers label their wines with a special place name, making it easier for wine lovers to know where their bottle comes from. If you have thoughts, you’ve got until May 26, 2026, to share them—no cost to weigh in!
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