TITLE 26 - US CODE - PART II - OPERATIONS ON BONDED PREMISES

Subpart A - General

26 USC 5211 - Production and entry of distilled spirits

Distilled spirits in the process of production in a distilled spirits plant may be held prior to the production gauge only for so long as is reasonably necessary to complete the process of production. Under such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe, all distilled spirits produced in a distilled spirits plant shall be gauged and a record made of such gauge within a reasonable time after the production thereof has been completed. The proprietor shall, pursuant to such production gauge and in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe, make appropriate entry for

(1) deposit of such spirits on bonded premises for storage or processing;

(2) withdrawal upon determination of tax as authorized by law;

(3) withdrawal under the provisions of section 5214; and

(4) transfer for redistillation under the provisions of section 5223.

26 USC 5212 - Transfer of distilled spirits between bonded premises

Bulk distilled spirits on which the internal revenue tax has not been paid or determined as authorized by law may, under such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe, be transferred in bond between bonded premises in any approved container. For the purposes of this chapter, the removal of bulk distilled spirits for transfer in bond between bonded premises shall not be construed to be a withdrawal from bonded premises. The provisions of this section restricting transfers to bulk distilled spirits shall not apply to alcohol bottled under the provisions of section 5235 which is to be withdrawn for industrial purposes.

26 USC 5213 - Withdrawal of distilled spirits from bonded premises on determination of tax

Subject to the provisions of section 5173, distilled spirits may be withdrawn from the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant on payment or determination of tax thereon, in approved containers, under such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe.

26 USC 5214 - Withdrawal of distilled spirits from bonded premises free of tax or without payment of tax

(a) Purposes
Distilled spirits on which the internal revenue tax has not been paid or determined may, subject to such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe, be withdrawn from the bonded premises of any distilled spirits plant in approved containers

(1) free of tax after denaturation of such spirits in the manner prescribed by law for

(A) exportation;

(B) use in the manufacture of ether, chloroform, or other definite chemical substance where such distilled spirits are changed into some other chemical substance and do not appear in the finished product; or

(C) any other use in the arts and industries (except for uses prohibited by section 5273 (b) or (d)) and for fuel, light, and power; or

(2) free of tax by, and for the use of, the United States or any governmental agency thereof, any State, any political subdivision of a State, or the District of Columbia, for nonbeverage purposes; or

(3) free of tax for nonbeverage purposes and not for resale or use in the manufacture of any product for sale

(A) for the use of any educational organization described in section 170 (b)(1)(A)(ii) which is exempt from income tax under section 501 (a), or for the use of any scientific university or college of learning;

(B) for any laboratory for use exclusively in scientific research;

(C) for use at any hospital, blood bank, or sanitarium), (including use in making any analysis or test at such hospital, blood bank, or sanitarium), or at any pathological laboratory exclusively engaged in making analyses, or tests, for hospitals or sanitariums; or

(D) for the use of any clinic operated for charity and not for profit (including use in the compounding of bona fide medicines for treatment outside of such clinics of patients thereof); or

(4) without payment of tax for exportation, after making such application and entries, filing such bonds as are required by section 5175, and complying with such other requirements as may by regulations be prescribed; or

(5) without payment of tax for use in wine production, as authorized by section 5373; or

(6) without payment of tax for transfer to manufacturing bonded warehouses for manufacturing in such warehouses for export, as authorized by law; or

(7) without payment of tax for use of certain vessels and aircraft, as authorized by law; or

(8) without payment of tax for transfer to foreign-trade zones, as authorized by law; or

(9) without payment of tax, for transfer (for the purpose of storage pending exportation) to any customs bonded warehouse from which distilled spirits may be exported, and distilled spirits transferred to a customs bonded warehouse under this paragraph shall be entered, stored, and accounted for under such regulations and bonds as the Secretary may prescribe; or

(10) without payment of tax by a proprietor of bonded premises for use in research, development, or testing (other than consumer testing or other market analysis) of processes, systems, materials, or equipment, relating to distilled spirits or distilled spirits operations, under such limitations and conditions as to quantities, use, and accountability as the Secretary may by regulations require for the protection of the revenue; or

(11) free of tax when contained in an article (within the meaning of section 5002 (a)(14)); or

(12) free of tax in the case of distilled spirits produced under section 5181; or

(13) without payment of tax for use on bonded wine cellar premises in the production of wine or wine products which will be rendered unfit for beverage use and removed pursuant to section 5362 (d).

(b) Cross references

(1) For provisions relating to denaturation, see sections 5241 and 5242.

(2) For provisions requiring permit for users of distilled spirits withdrawn free of tax and for users of specially denatured distilled spirits, see section 5271.

(3) For provisions relating to withdrawal of distilled spirits without payment of tax for use of certain vessels and aircraft, as authorized by law, see 19 U.S.C. 1309.

(4) For provisions relating to withdrawal of distilled spirits without payment of tax for manufacture in manufacturing bonded warehouse, see 19 U.S.C. 1311.

(5) For provisions relating to foreign-trade zones, see 19 U.S.C. 81c.

(6) For provisions authorizing regulations for withdrawal of distilled spirits free of tax for use of the United States, see section 7510.

(7) For provisions authorizing removal of distillates to bonded wine cellars for use in the production of distilling material, see section 5373 (c).

(8) For provisions relating to distilled spirits for use of foreign embassies, legations, etc., see section 5066.

26 USC 5215 - Return of tax determined distilled spirits to bonded premises

(a) General rule
Under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, distilled spirits on which tax has been determined or paid may be returned to the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant but only for destruction, denaturation, redistillation, reconditioning, or rebottling.

(b) Applicability of chapter to distilled spirits returned to a distilled spirits plant
All provisions of this chapter applicable to distilled spirits in bond shall be applicable to distilled spirits returned to bonded premises under the provisions of this section on such return.

(c) Return of bottled distilled spirits for relabeling and reclosing
Under such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe, bottled distilled spirits withdrawn from bonded premises may be returned to bonded premises for relabeling or reclosing, and the tax under section 5001 shall not again be collected on such spirits.

(d) Cross reference
For provisions relating to the abatement, credit, or refund of tax on distilled spirits returned to a distilled spirits plant under this section, see section 5008 (c).

26 USC 5216 - Regulation of operations

For general provisions relating to operations on bonded premises see part I of this subchapter.

Subpart B - Production

26 USC 5221 - Commencement, suspension, and resumption of operations

(a) Commencement, suspension, and resumption
The proprietor of a distilled spirits plant authorized to produce distilled spirits shall not commence production operations until written notice has been given to the Secretary stating when operations will begin. Any proprietor of a distilled spirits plant desiring to suspend production of distilled spirits shall give notice in writing to the Secretary, stating when he will suspend such operations. Pursuant to such notice, an internal revenue officer shall take such action as the Secretary shall prescribe to prevent the production of distilled spirits. No proprietor, after having given such notice, shall, after the time stated therein, produce distilled spirits on such premises until he again gives notice in writing to the Secretary stating the time when he will resume operations. At the time stated in the notice of resuming such operations an internal revenue officer shall take such action as is necessary to permit operations to be resumed. The notices submitted under this section shall be in such form and submitted in such manner as the Secretary may by regulations require. Nothing in this section shall apply to suspensions caused by unavoidable accidents; and the Secretary shall prescribe regulations to govern such cases of involuntary suspension.

(b) Penalty
For penalty and forfeiture for carrying on the business of distiller after having given notice of suspension, see sections 5601 (a)(14) and 5615 (3).

26 USC 5222 - Production, receipt, removal, and use of distilling materials

(a) Production, removal, and use

(1) No mash, wort, or wash fit for distillation or for the production of distilled spirits shall be made or fermented in any building or on any premises other than on the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant duly authorized to produce distilled spirits according to law; and no mash, wort, or wash so made or fermented shall be removed from any such premises before being distilled, except as authorized by the Secretary; and no person other than an authorized distiller shall, by distillation or any other process, produce distilled spirits from any mash, wort, wash, or other material.

(2) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to apply to

(A) authorized operations performed on the premises of vinegar plants established under part I of subchapter H;

(B) authorized production and removal of fermented materials produced on authorized brewery or bonded wine cellar premises as provided by law;

(D) fermented materials used in the manufacture of vinegar by fermentation.

(b) Receipt
Under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, fermented materials to be used in the production of distilled spirits may be received on the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant authorized to produce distilled spirits as follows

(1) from the premises of a bonded wine cellar authorized to remove such material by section 5362 (c)(6);

(2) beer conveyed without payment of tax from brewery premises, beer which has been lawfully removed from brewery premises upon determination of tax, or

(3) cider exempt from tax under the provisions of section 5042 (a)(1).

(c) Processing of distilled spirits containing extraneous substances
The Secretary may by regulations provide for the removal from the distilling system, and the addition to the fermented or unfermented distilling material, of distilled spirits containing substantial quantities of fusel oil or aldehydes, or other extraneous substances.

(d) Penalty
For penalty and forfeiture for unlawful production, removal, or use of material fit for distillation or for the production of distilled spirits, and for penalty and forfeiture for unlawful production of distilled spirits, see sections 5601 (a)(7), 5601 (a)(8), and 5615 (4).

26 USC 5223 - Redistillation of spirits, articles, and residues

(a) Spirits on bonded premises
The proprietor of a distilled spirits plant authorized to produce distilled spirits may, under such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe, redistill any distilled spirits which have not been withdrawn from bonded premises.

(b) Distilled spirits returned for redistillation
Distilled spirits which have been lawfully removed from bonded premises free of tax or without payment of tax may, under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, be returned for redistillation to the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant authorized to produce distilled spirits.

(c) Redistillation of articles and residues
Articles, containing denatured distilled spirits, which were manufactured under the provisions of subchapter D or on the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant, and the spirits residues of manufacturing processes related thereto, may be received, and the distilled spirits therein recovered by redistillation, on the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant authorized to produce distilled spirits, under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe.

(d) Denatured distilled spirits, articles, and residues
Distilled spirits recovered by the redistillation of denatured distilled spirits, or by the redistillation of the articles or residues described in subsection (c), may not be withdrawn from bonded premises except for industrial use or after denaturation thereof in the manner prescribed by law.

(e) Products of redistillation
All distilled spirits redistilled on bonded premises subsequent to production gauge shall be treated the same as if such spirits had been originally produced by the redistiller and all provisions of this chapter applicable to the original production of distilled spirits shall be applicable thereto. Any prior obligation as to taxes, liens, and bonds with respect to such distilled spirits shall be extinguished on redistillation. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as affecting any provision of law relating to the labeling of distilled spirits or as limiting the authority of the Secretary to regulate the marking, branding, or identification of distilled spirits redistilled under this section.

Subpart C - Storage

26 USC 5231 - Entry for deposit

All distilled spirits entered for deposit on the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant under section 5211 shall, under such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe, be deposited in the facilities on the bonded premises designated in the entry for deposit.

26 USC 5232 - Imported distilled spirits

(a) Transfer to distilled spirits plant without payment of tax
Distilled spirits imported or brought into the United States in bulk containers may, under such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe, be withdrawn from customs custody and transferred in such bulk containers or by pipeline to the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant without payment of the internal revenue tax imposed on such distilled spirits. The person operating the bonded premises of the distilled spirits plant to which such spirits are transferred shall become liable for the tax on distilled spirits withdrawn from customs custody under this section upon release of the spirits from customs custody, and the importer, or the person bringing such distilled spirits into the United States, shall thereupon be relieved of his liability for such tax.

(b) Withdrawals, etc.
Distilled spirits transferred pursuant to subsection (a)

(1) may be redistilled or denatured only if of 185 degrees or more of proof, and

(2) may be withdrawn for any purpose authorized by this chapter, in the same manner as domestic distilled spirits.

26 USC 5233 - Repealed. Pub. L. 9639, title VIII, 807(a)(34), July 26, 1979, 93 Stat. 286]

Section, added Pub. L. 85–859, title II, § 201, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1366; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §§ 1905(a)(16), 1906 (b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1820, 1834, related to the bottling of distilled spirits in bond. A prior section 5233, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 644, made a cross reference provision to establishment of bottling in bond department, prior to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 85–859. Provisions similar to those comprising subsecs. (a) to (d) and (e)(1) of section 5233 added by Pub. L. 85–859, title II, § 201, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1366, were contained in prior section 5243 (a) to (c), (g), act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 645, as amended by Pub. L. 85–859, title II, § 206(c), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1431.

26 USC 5234 - Repealed. Pub. L. 9639, title VIII, 807(a)(35), July 26, 1979, 93 Stat. 286]

Section, added Pub. L. 85–859, title II, § 201, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1367; amended Pub. L. 89–44, title VIII, § 805(f)(11), June 21, 1965, 79 Stat. 162; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §§ 1905(a)(17), 1906 (b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1820, 1834; Pub. L. 95–176, § 5(a), Nov. 14, 1977, 91 Stat. 1366, related to the mingling and blending of distilled spirits. Provisions similar to those comprising section 5234 (a)(1)(A) and (b) to (d) of this title were contained in prior sections of act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, prior to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 85–859, as follows: The prior sections, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, are set out in 68A Stat. 606, 641, 649, 657.

26 USC 5235 - Bottling of alcohol for industrial purposes

Alcohol for industrial purposes may be bottled, labeled, and cased on bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant prior to payment or determination of tax, under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe.

26 USC 5236 - Discontinuance of storage facilities and transfer of distilled spirits

When the Secretary finds any facilities for the storage of distilled spirits on bonded premises to be unsafe or unfit for use, or the spirits contained therein subject to great loss or wastage he may require the discontinuance of the use of such facilities and require the spirits contained therein to be transferred to such other storage facilities as he may designate. Such transfer shall be made at such time and under such supervision as the Secretary may require and the expense of the transfer shall be paid by the owner or the warehouseman of the distilled spirits. Whenever the owner of such distilled spirits or the warehouseman fails to make such transfer within the time prescribed, or to pay the just and proper expense of such transfer, as ascertained and determined by the Secretary, such distilled spirits may be seized and sold by the Secretary in the same manner as goods are sold on distraint for taxes, and the proceeds of such sale shall be applied to the payment of the taxes due thereon and the cost and expenses of such sale and removal, and the balance paid over to the owner of such distilled spirits.

Subpart D - Denaturation

26 USC 5241 - Authority to denature

Under such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe, distilled spirits may be denatured on the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant qualified for the processing of distilled spirits. Distilled spirits to be denatured under this section shall be of such kind and such degree of proof as the Secretary shall by regulations prescribe. Distilled spirits denatured under this section may be used on the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant in the manufacture of any article.

26 USC 5242 - Denaturing materials

Methanol or other denaturing materials suitable to the use for which the denatured distilled spirits are intended to be withdrawn shall be used for the denaturation of distilled spirits. Denaturing materials shall be such as to render the spirits with which they are admixed unfit for beverage or internal human medicinal use. The character and the quantity of denaturing materials used shall be as prescribed by the Secretary by regulations.

26 USC 5243 - Sale of abandoned spirits for denaturation without collection of tax

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any distilled spirits abandoned to the United States may be sold, in such cases as the Secretary may by regulation provide, to the proprietor of any distilled spirits plant for denaturation, or redistillation and denaturation, without the payment of the internal revenue tax thereon.

26 USC 5244 - Cross references

(1) For provisions authorizing the withdrawal from the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant of denatured distilled spirits, see section 5214 (a)(1).

(2) For provisions requiring a permit to procure specially denatured distilled spirits, see section 5271.