S. 1562, the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act, was introduced in the U.S. Senate on June 11 by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and companion H.R. 2903 was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on June 25 by Representatives Erik Paulsen (R-MN) and Ron Kind (D-WI). S. 1562 has 48 total sponsors in the U.S. Senate and H.R. 2903 has 274 total sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives.The legislation incorporates provisions of the Small Brewer Reinvestment and Expanding Workforce Act (Small BREW Act), excise tax recalibration legislation supported by the Brewers Association in the past several Congresses.
S. 1562/H.R. 2903 would reduce excise taxes, compliance burdens, and regulations on breweries, cideries, wineries, and distilleries. Tax provisions for breweries include: 1) Any domestic brewery that produces less than 2 million barrels a year would pay $3.50/barrel on the first 60,000 barrels and $16 barrel on anything above 60,000-2 million barrels; 2) Any domestic brewery that produces more than 2 million barrels a year would pay $16/barrel on their first 6 million barrels; 3) All importers would pay $16/barrel on the first barrel they import through 6 million barrels. Those importers that import more than 2 million barrels would pay $18/barrel on any barrel over 6 million.