One the annoying but necessary things we gotta do is something we as an industry call "compliance." What that really means is "taxes." And "fees."
Now, I'm not really complaining because every state we have to do "compliance" with is a state we can ship wine to - and that means happy customers and money in the bank. But yesterday was the day I write the excise tax checks to various states. Excise taxes are taxes paid per gallon or case shipped. Here's a sampling of what we paid:
Arizona = $6.43 (not bad)
Colorado = $0.31 (are you serious?)
Florida = $0.52 (can we just save a stamp?)
Illinois = $1.74 (I know you guys drink more wine than that out there!)
New York = $4.69 (better)
Oregon = $0.62 (there's more to life than Pinot!)
Virginia = $2.40 (thanks Sonadora!)
Washington = $1.19 (dittot the Pinot!)
For those of you who live in these states, I can't tell you how happy I would be to pay more taxes - especially taxes that actually net more than the cost of collecting them! Won't you please help?
Is i it funny! Some of the checks and labor cost more to do than the taxes!! In fact labor on both ends! They have deposit it, put it in the system, etc, etc....It's just crazy!
Hey, but at least you paid them!
Posted by: David Cole | August 12, 2008 at 10:53 PM
Okay, is all that tax really attributable to me??? Did I really singularly order that much wine from you this year?
Posted by: Sonadora | August 13, 2008 at 06:14 PM
Errr, my first comment didn't post.
Is that seriously all attributable to me? If so, I think it confirms my status as VA Wino Extrodinaire!
Posted by: Sonadora | August 13, 2008 at 06:15 PM
I'm pretty sure that wasn't a yearly return...! And while you (probably) aren't responsible for all of it, you certainly deserve something like an Honorable Mention!
Posted by: el jefe | August 13, 2008 at 06:20 PM