Compliant Bootlegger · All wholesale states · DTC tool
Wisconsin 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.
Wisconsin — wine
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No; except that small wineries (producing no more than 25,000 gallons in a year) may organize to create a Small Winery Cooperative Wholesaler, which can distribute the wines of its member wineries to Wisconsin retailers
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Out-of-State Shipper’s Permit
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- $520, for a 2-year license
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Yes – an excise tax security is required, of no less than $1,000 but no more than $100,000
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes – Salesperson Permit, for any party who will personally solicit orders in Wisconsin
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- No
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 – Wholesaler to provide the state with notice of authority to distribute products
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- Yes – Wholesaler to provide Territory information along with authorization notice
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
- Retailers may be provided only with samples of brand that they have not previously purchased
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes – Wisconsin applies general rules, not specific to wine, under its “Fair Dealership Law”
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
- $0.06605 per liter on all wines with an ABV of 14% or less; $0.1189 per liter on all wines with an ABV greater than 14%, but no greater than 21%; $0.8586 per liter on wines with an ABV greater than 21%
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Yes – AB-130 & AB-131 Liquor Tax and Wholesale Schedule
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Wisconsin — 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 – licensed OOS brewers who produce 300,000 or less total barrels annually may sell and ship directly to Wisconsin retailers upon registration with the state, and compliance with rules for Wisconsin wholesalers
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Out-of-State Shipper’s Permit – Beer
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- No cost, but must be renewed biennially
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Yes – an amount equal to twice the estimated maximum monthly tax liability, of not less than $1,000 but not more than $100,000, must be held in security
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
- No
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
- No – your Wisconsin wholesaler is to provide the state with notice of authority to distribute products
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No – your Wisconsin Wholesaler is to provide Territory information along with authorization notice
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
- Not 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
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes – all beer sold to Wisconsin wholesalers must be delivered to and unloaded at the wholesaler’s warehouse
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $2 per barrel; brewers who produce less than 300,000 total barrels annually are eligible for a $1 credit on every barrel for the first 50,000 barrels subject to the beer excise tax
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Yes – Monthly BT-104, includes tax payment
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Wisconsin — spirits
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Wisconsin requires an Out-of-State Shipper'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
- Wisconsin charges $520 for a two-year out-of-state supplier license to sell to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Yes, an excise tax security of no less than $1,000 but no more than $100,000 is required to obtain a license in Wisconsin.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes, Wisconsin requires a Salesperson Permit for any party who will personally solicit orders in Wisconsin.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- No, Wisconsin does not require product brand/labels to be registered 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, Wisconsin does not require price posting.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes. In Wisconsin, the wholesaler provides the state with notice of authority to distribute products.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- Yes. In Wisconsin, the wholesaler provides the Territory information along with authorization notice.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No, Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin, retailers may be provided only with samples of brand that they have not previously purchased.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes, Wisconsin applies general rules, not specific to spirits, under its "Fair Dealership Law" that impact a spirits supplier's distributor agreements.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes, Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- Wisconsin imposes an excise tax on spirits of $3.25 per gallon.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- Yes, Wisconsin requires out-of-state suppliers to remit the excise taxes.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Wisconsin requires the AB-130 & AB-131 Liquor Tax and Wholesale Schedule reports 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.
Wisconsin — cider
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, Wisconsin is not a control state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No, out-of-state cider manufacturers may not self-distribute to retailers in Wisconsin, except that small cideries (producing no more than 25,000 gallons in a year) may organize to create a Small Winery Cooperative Wholesaler, which can distribute the cider of its member wineries to Wisconsin retailers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Wisconsin requires out-of-state cideries to hold an Out-of-State Shipper's Permit to sell to Wisconsin wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- A Wisconsin Out-of-State Shipper's Permit costs $520 for a two-year license.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Wisconsin requires applicants for an Out-of-State Shipper's Permit to hold a bond of no less than $1,000 but no more than $100,000 in the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes, Wisconsin requires salespersons employed by a supplier to hold a Salesperson Permit, which is required to solicit orders in the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- No, Wisconsin does not require that cider brands/labels be registered with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No, Wisconsin does not require posting prices.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes, Wisconsin requires Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators. The wholesaler is to provide the state with notice of authority to distribute products.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- Yes, Wisconsin requires Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators. The wholesaler is to provide the state with notice of authority to distribute products.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No, Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin, retailers may be provided only with samples of brands that they have not previously purchased.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes, in Wisconsin there are franchise rules that can restrict a supplier's ability to negotiate or cancel their distributor agreements. Wisconsin applies general rules, not specific to wine, under its "Fair Dealership Law."
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes, Wisconsin 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, Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin, ciders with an ABV of 7% or less are taxed at $0.0171 per liter, and ciders with an ABV greater than 7% are taxed at $0,06605 per liter.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- In Wisconsin, ciders with an ABV of 7% or less are taxed at $0.0171 per liter, and ciders with an ABV greater than 7% are taxed at $0,06605 per liter.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Wisconsin requires out-of-state cider suppliers to file the AB-130 & AB-131 Liquor Tax and Wholesale Schedule.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.