Compliant Bootlegger · All wholesale states · DTC tool
Tennessee 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.
Tennessee — wine
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- Yes – any party granted a Tennessee Winery License (which is available to out-of-state wineries) can sell up to 5 cases of wine per day to any individual retailer; during transport, the wine must be accompanied with proof that taxes have been paid.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Non-resident Seller’s Permit
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- $150 if selling less than 100 cases annually to Tennessee; $250 annually for unlimited sales
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 – Supplier Representative Permit
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes – per brand, with the Department of Revenue
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
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- Only of brands the retailer has not purchased in last 12 months, and only in bottles no larger than 1.75 L
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No
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
- $1.21 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
- Copies of invoices detailing shipments to Tennessee wholesaler must be filed with the Department of Revenue monthly
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Tennessee — 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
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Non-resident Seller’s License
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- $150 if selling less than 100 cases annually to Tennessee; $250 annually for unlimited sales
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 – Representatives of suppliers must receive a Suppliers Representative Permit, for a $50 annual fee
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
- For High Alcohol Content Beer, no more than 1-1.75mL per brand per retailer, only of brands the retailer has not purchased in previous 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
- 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
- $1.21 per gallon for beer with an ABW of 8% or more; $1.20 per gallon for beer with an ABW less than 8%
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 – High Content Beer suppliers must send in monthly copies of invoices
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Tennessee — spirits
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, Tennessee 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 Tennessee.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Tennessee requires a Non-Resident's Seller's Permit 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
- Tennessee charges $250 for its out-of-state supplier license, or $150 if selling fewer than 100 cases annually.
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 Tennessee.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes, Tennessee requires a Distiller's Representative Permit for suppliers' in-state representatives.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes, Tennessee requires product brand/labels to be registered per brand before they can be sold to in-state wholesalers. Brand registrations are made to the Tennessee DOR.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No, Tennessee does not require price posting.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes, Tennessee 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, Tennessee 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
- Yes, Tennessee has 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 Tennessee, a spirits supplier may provide samples only of brands the retailer has not purchased in last 12 months, and only in bottles no larger than 1.75 L.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No, there are no franchise rules in Tennessee that can restrict a spirits 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
- Yes, Tennessee has sourcing restrictions on whom wholesalers can purchase from.
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 Tennessee.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- Tennessee imposes an excise tax on spirits of $4.40 per gallon.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, Tennessee 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
- Tennessee requires that copies of invoices detailing shipments to Tennessee wholesalers must be filed with the Department of Revenue monthly.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Tennessee — cider
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, Tennessee 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 cider manufacturer may not self-distribute to retailers in Tennessee.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Tennessee requires out-of-state cideries to hold a Non-resident Seller's License to sell to Tennessee wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- A Tennessee Non-resident Seller's License costs $150 if selling less than 100 cases annually to the state, or $250 annually for unlimited sales.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Tennessee 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, Tennessee requires salespersons employed by a supplier to hold a Suppliers Representative Permit.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes, Tennessee requires that cider products are registered per brand 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, Tennessee does not require posting prices.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes, Tennessee 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, Tennessee 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, Tennessee 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 Tennessee, cider suppliers may provide no more than one 1.75mL container per brand per retailer, and only of brands that the retailer has not purchased in the previous 12 months.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes, in Tennessee 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
- Yes, Tennessee has 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, Tennessee 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
- Tennessee imposes a barrelage tax on cider at a rate of $4.29 per 31-gallon barrel, and separate wholesale tax of $35.60 per 31-gallon barrel. Both taxes are to be paid by the Tennessee wholesaler, but are remitted separately to different state and local agencies.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, Tennessee does not require out-of-state suppliers to remit excise taxes on their products sold in the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Tennessee requires cider suppliers to file a monthly report providing copies of their wholesaler invoices.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.