Compliant Bootlegger · All wholesale states · DTC tool
Illinois Wholesale Distribution Reference
Three-tier distribution reference for out-of-state suppliers of wine, beer, spirits and cider. General information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with state authorities. Listed agency fees are not Compliant Bootlegger service fees.
Illinois — wine
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- Only permitted to holders of a valid Wine Shipper’s license that do not produce more than 25,000 gallons of wine annually solely or combined in affiliation with any other group, and does not sell more than 5,000 gallons to retailers annually
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Non-resident dealer
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- $1,500 for licensees producing 500,000 or more gallons per year; $350 for licensees producing less than 500,000 gallons per year; renewals get a discounted fee if processed online
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes; any agents who contact retailers in the state on behalf of a supplier must register for no fee with the ILCC
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes – each COLA
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- Maximum of 3 liters, only of brands the retailer has not purchased in last 12 months
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No, but when terminating an agreeement, the supplier must file a “Withdrawal of Registration” form with all parties involved.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes – wholesalers may only purhcase or receive wine from the primary source of supply
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $1.39 per gallon of all wines with an ABV less than 20%; $8.55 per gallon of all wines with an ABV of 20% or more
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Yes – RL-26-L Out-of-State Seller’s Shipment Report
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Illinois — beer
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- Yes – Nonresident Dealer licensees, who produce no more than 930,000 gallons annually, may also apply for a Class 1 Brewer’s License ($75 fee), which gives self-distribution permission
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Non-resident dealer
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- $350 annually for breweries with an annual production of less than 500,000 gallons; $1500 annually for breweries with annual production of 500,000 or more gallons
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- It is not required to have an instate representative; but any active representatives must be registered for no fee, with brewer’s initial license application
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes – Brand
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- No more than 3 gallons of any brand, limited to brands not purchased by retailer in previous 12 month
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $0.231 per gallon
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Yes – RL-25 monthly to DOR
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Illinois — spirits
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, Illinois is not a control state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No, an out-of-state spirits manufacturer may not self-distribute to retailers in Illinois.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Illinois requires a Non-Resident Dealer license for out-of-state suppliers to sell to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- Illinois charges $1,500 for licensees producing 500,000 or more gallons per year and $350 for licensees producing less than 500,000 gallons per year for out-of-state suppliers to sell to in-state wholesalers. Renewals get a discounted fee if processed online.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No, you do not need money held in bond to obtain a license in Illinois.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes, in Illinois any agents who contact retailers in the state on behalf of a supplier must register for no fee with the ILCC.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes, Illinois requires product brand/labels to be registered for each COLA before they can be sold to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No, Illinois does not require price posting.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes, Illinois requires Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- Yes, Illinois requires territory assignments to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No, Illinois does not have rules on the exclusivity of territory or brand assignments between suppliers and their wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- In Illinois, a spirits supplier may provide samples of a maximum of 3 liters, and only of brands the retailer has not purchased in last 12 months.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No, there are no franchise rules in Illinois that can restrict a spirits supplier's ability to negotiate or cancel their distributor agreements, but when terminating an agreement, the supplier must file a "Withdrawal of Registration" form with all parties involved.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes. In Illinois, wholesalers may only purchase or receive wine from the primary source of supply.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes, there are come to rest provisions in Illinois.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- Illinois imposes an excise tax of $0.231 per gallon for spirits with an ABV of 20% or less; $1.39 per gallon for spirits with an ABV greater than 20%.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, Illinois does not require out-of-state suppliers to remit the excise taxes.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Illinois requires the RL-26-L Out-of-State Seller's Shipment Report from out-of-state suppliers on their sales to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Illinois — cider
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, Illinois is not a control state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- This is only permitted to holders of a valid Wine Shipper's license that do not produce more than 25,000 gallons of cider annually solely or combined in affiliation with any other group, and do not sell more than 5,000 gallons to retailers annually, may self-distribute to retailers in Illinois.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Illinois requires out-of-state cideries to hold a Non-Resident Dealer license to sell to Illinois wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- An Illinois Non-Resident Dealer license costs $1,500 for suppliers producing 500,000 or more gallons per year or $350 for suppliers producing less than 500,000 gallons per year. Renewal fees may be discounted if processed online.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Illinois does not require suppliers to hold a bond in the state to apply for a license.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes, Illinois requires a supplier's in-state salesperson to hold a Manufacturer's Registered Agent license when representing the supplier in the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes, Illinois requires that cider products are registered per label before they can be sold to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No, Illinois does not require posting prices.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes, Illinois requires Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- Yes, Illinois requires territory assignments to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No, Illinois does not have rules on the exclusivity of territory or brand assignments between suppliers and their wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- In Illinois, suppliers can provide a maximum of three liters as samples to retailers, but only of brands the retailer has not purchased in last 12 months.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No, in Illinois there are not franchise rules that can restrict a supplier's ability to negotiate or cancel their distributor agreements. But when terminating an agreement, the supplier must file a "Withdrawal of Registration" form with all parties involved.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes, in Illinois wholesalers may only purchase or receive wine from the primary source of supply.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes, Illinois requires cider to come to rest at a wholesaler warehouse before being delivered to retailers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- In Illinois, ciders with an ABV of 7% or less are taxed at $0.231 per gallon, and ciders with an ABV greater than 7% are taxed at $1.39 per gallon.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, Illinois wholesalers, not out-of-state suppliers, are required to pay the excise tax on ciders sold in the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Illinois requires out-of-state cider suppliers to file the RL-26-L Out-of-State Seller's Shipment Report.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.