16-1-404. License tax on liquor -- amount -- distribution of proceeds. (1) Except as provided in subsection (4), the department shall collect at the time of sale and delivery of any liquor under any provisions of the laws of the state of Montana a license tax of:

(a) 10% of the retail selling price on all liquor sold and delivered in the state by a company that manufactured, distilled, rectified, bottled, or processed and that sold more than 200,000 proof gallons of liquor nationwide in the calendar year preceding imposition of the tax pursuant to this section;

(b) 8.6% of the retail selling price on all liquor sold and delivered in the state by a company that manufactured, distilled, rectified, bottled, or processed and that sold more than 50,000 proof gallons but not more than 200,000 proof gallons of liquor nationwide in the calendar year preceding imposition of the tax pursuant to this section;

(c) 2% of the retail selling price on all liquor sold and delivered in the state by a company that manufactured, distilled, rectified, bottled, or processed and that sold not more than 50,000 proof gallons of liquor nationwide in the calendar year preceding imposition of the tax pursuant to this section.

(2) The license tax must be charged and collected on all liquor produced in or brought into the state and taxed by the department. The retail selling price must be computed by adding to the cost of the liquor the state markup of 40.5% for all liquor other than sacramental wine, for which the markup must be 20%, and fortified wine containing more than 16% but not more than 24% alcohol by volume, for which the markup must be 51%. The license tax must be figured in the same manner as the state excise tax and is in addition to the state excise tax. The department shall retain in a separate account the amount of the license tax received. The department, in accordance with the provisions of 17-2-124, shall allocate the revenue as follows:

(a) Thirty-four and one-half percent is allocated to the state general fund.

(b) Sixty-five and one-half percent must be deposited in the state special revenue fund to the credit of the department of public health and human services for the treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention of alcoholism and chemical dependency.

(3) The license tax proceeds that are allocated to the department of public health and human services for the treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention of alcoholism and chemical dependency must be credited quarterly to the department of public health and human services. The legislature may appropriate a portion of the license tax proceeds to support alcohol and chemical dependency programs. The remainder must be distributed as provided in 53-24-206.

(4) The following are exempt from the tax and markup imposed by this section:

(a) flavors and other nonbeverage ingredients containing alcohol that are imported or purchased by a brewery under conditions set by the department as provided in 16-3-214; and

(b) necessary distilled spirits imported in bulk for use by a distillery or microdistillery under conditions set by the department as provided in 16-4-311 and 16-4-312.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 217, L. 1957; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 153, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 302, L. 1974; Sec. 4-240, R.C.M. 1947; amd. and redes. 4-1-401 by Sec. 44, Ch. 387, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 414, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 4-1-401; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 711, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 277, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 690, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 703, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 262, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 22, Ch. 455, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 25, Ch. 18, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 51, Ch. 546, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 422, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 389, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 470, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 104, Ch. 574, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 591, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 20, Ch. 475, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 277, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 362, L. 2015.