This bill amends RCW 66.24.210 to provide a tax exemption for the first 20,000 gallons of table wine or cider sold by a winery in Washington. Specifically, wineries that sell less than 20,000 gallons in a calendar year will be subject to a reduced tax rate of $0.0528 per liter for their sales of table wine or cider, and they will not be subject to any other taxes under this section for those first 20,000 gallons, except for taxes imposed for the Washington wine commission. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the collection and allocation of these taxes, stating that the revenues must be deposited in the liquor revolving fund.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a tax preference performance statement aimed at promoting the development of small wineries in Washington. It outlines the legislature's intent to provide tax relief to these businesses, which face unique challenges compared to larger wineries. The performance statement emphasizes the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of this tax preference in increasing the number of wineries, wine industry jobs, and excise taxes collected, with the intention of extending the tax preference if successful outcomes are observed.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 66.24.210