Compliant Bootlegger · All wholesale states · DTC tool
Montana 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.
Montana — wine
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- Yes, for fortified wine (with an ABV greater than 16%)
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- Yes – holders of a “Out-of-State Winery License” may sell both to Montana wholesalers and retailers using their own equipment
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Foreign Winery or Importer
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- No fee, if shipping 60 or fewer cases per year; $100, if shipping 61-500 cases; $200, if shipping 501-1,000 cases; $300, if shipping 1,001-2000 cases; $400, if shipping more than 2,000 cases
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
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes – per label
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
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- No
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
- $0.27 per liter
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 – monthly WSM report
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Montana — 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 – breweries, both in and out of Montana, that produce less than 60,000 barrels a year, may sell and deliver to Montana retailers, but only using their own equipment and vehicles
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Foreign Brewer or Importer
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- $500 annually
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
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes – per label
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
- Samples to retailers are permitted
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
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes – products must be shipped to and unloaded at wholesaler’s warehouse
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- Based on brewer’s annual production (or wholesaler’s annual distribution): up to 5,000 barrels: 1.30 per barrel; 5,000-10,000 barrels: 2.30 per barrel; over 10,000 barrels: $4.30 per barrel; as of October 1, 2017, Montana has removed the special tax rate for production between 10,000 and 20,000 barrels.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No – unless you engage in sales directly to retailers
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Yes – monthly BSM report
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Montana — spirits
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- Yes, Montana is a control state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Yes, Montana requires a Vendor Permit for out-of-state spirits suppliers to sell to the control board.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- Montana charges $100 for its license for out-of-state spirits suppliers to sell to the control board.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
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
- Only registered vendor representatives may provide samples to Montana retailers. Sample bottles may not be larger than 750 mL and cannot be of any product that a retailer has purchased in the previous 12 months. Representatives are limited to no more than 200 total liters of any single product for sampling. Samples must be purchased from agency liquor stores.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- No, Montana does not require a follow up reports from spirits suppliers for sales to its control board.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Control-board listing process
- Who may present a listing
- Vendor Permittees are required to employ at least one, but no more than four, representatives who will act on their behalf when dealing with the Montana Control Division and who must be under the direct supervision and control of the Vendor Permittee. Vendor's representatives must be residents of Montana.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Listing representative license
- Spirits Vendor Permittees in Montana must register their representatives at a charge of $50 each.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Listing schedule
- Montana holds listing meetings monthly but new products may be listed at any time, depending on available sales.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Container size limits
- Montana does not impose size limits on spirits product listings.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Listing submission information
- Montana only requires spirits vendors to present a product description and the NABCA standard quotation form for a proposed listing.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Board pricing
- Montana pricing of spirits is based on a combination of excise taxes, license taxes and a standard mark-up, all of which vary depending on the product being sold and the size of the manufacturer. Montana provides a liquor price calculator.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price changes
- Price changes must be formally submitted to the Montana Control Division for approval 60 days prior to their taking effect. Price changes may only occur on the first of February, May, August or November in a year, though new spirits products may be listed at any time at the ABC's discretion.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Product codes
- Montana uses NABCA product codes.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Further listing guidance
- Contact the Montana Control Division: https://mtrevenue.gov/liquor-tobacco/agency-liquor-stores/product-information/.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Montana — cider
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- Yes, Montana is a control state, but cider is sold in the private sector.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- Yes, out-of-state cider manufacturers who are holders of an "Out-of-State Winery License" may sell both to Montana wholesalers and retailers but only using their own equipment.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Montana requires out-of-state cideries to hold a Foreign Winery or Importer to sell to Montana wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- A Montana Foreign Winery or Importer license fee varies depending on how much cider will be sold into the state per year. There is no fee if shipping 60 or fewer cases per year, $100 if shipping 61-500 cases, $200 if shipping 501-1,000 cases, $300 if shipping 1,001-2000 cases, $400 if shipping more than 2,000 cases.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Montana 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
- No, Montana does not require suppliers' representatives to be licensed.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes, Montana 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, Montana does not require posting prices.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes, Montana 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, Montana 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, Montana 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 Montana, suppliers can provide a maximum of three liters as samples to retailers, but only of brands the retailer has not purchased in the last 12 months.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes, in Montana there are franchise rules that can restrict a supplier's ability to negotiate or cancel their distributor agreements.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- No, Montana does not have sourcing restrictions on from whom wholesalers can purchase.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes, Montana 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
- Montana imposes a tax on cider of $0.037 per liter.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, Montana 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
- Montana requires out-of-state cider suppliers to file the WSM Monthly Report of Wine.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.