TTB Recommends Delaying Submission of 2026 Q1 CBMA Importer Refund Claims

 

Electronic Payment Mandate

March 27, 2026 TTB Recommends Delaying Submission of 2026 Q1 CBMA Importer Refund Claims Due to potential data errors in the myTTB CBMA Importer Claims System, we recommend that importers carefully check the quantity information for each entry summary line before submitting claims for the first quarter of 2026. We ask that importers with data errors wait to submit first quarter claims until we can ensure the correct data displays in the system. What happened? The myTTB CBMA Importer Claims System allows importers to see relevant data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and identify the specific entries to include in their CBMA refund claim. For a significant number of first quarter 2026 entries, the ACE data was subject to a transmission error that increased the quantity imported in TTB’s database. Entry summary and post-summary correction data from January 2026 – mid-February 2026 are the most impacted. What are we doing to fix the issue? TTB and CBP are diligently working together to ensure that all importers’ ACE data is accurately displayed in the myTTB CBMA Importer Claims System. We anticipate this issue will be corrected by the end of April. We will inform importers as soon as the issue is resolved. What should importers do? Please wait to file claims for entry summary lines with inaccurate quantity information until the data is corrected. Importers must always verify the accuracy of their ACE data in myTTB, including quantity information, before submitting a claim to TTB based on that data. After this quantity data issue is resolved, importers will be able to submit claims as usual. Due to the design of the CBMA Importer Claims System, importers will be unable to submit a claim through the alternate manual claims procedure for inaccurate entry summary lines caused by this data issue because the system will show that data is available to claim through the regular process. Trying to submit a claim with inaccurate data will cause additional complications and delay, including possible claim rejection, erroneous updates to assignment quantities, and impacts on future claims. CBMA Import Resources

TTB Proposes New Champlain Valley of Vermont AVA and Establishes New AVAs in Massachusetts and Tennessee This week we proposed the establishment of the Champlain Valley of Vermont American Viticultural Area (AVA) and established the Nashoba Valley and Nine Lakes of East Tennessee AVAs. We are proposing or finalizing these AVAs in response to petitions submitted on behalf of local vineyard owners and vintners. We designate viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase.   Proposed – Champlain Valley of Vermont: In Notice No. 240, we propose to establish a new 1,035,104-acre AVA called “Champlain Valley of Vermont”, located in western Vermont. The proposed AVA is not located within, nor does it contain any other established AVA. See Docket No. TTB-2026-0002 at Regulations.gov to view copies of the proposed rule, selected supporting materials, and any comments we receive about this proposal. You may electronically submit a comment on this proposed AVA via the comment form posted within that docket. Comments are due to TTB by May 26, 2026.   New – Nashoba Valley: This approximately 18,367-acre AVA is located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. This new AVA is not located within, nor does it contain any established AVA. See Docket No. TTB–2023–0012 on Regulations.gov for all documents and public comments related to this rulemaking.   New – Nine Lakes of Tennessee: This approximately 4,064-square mile AVA covers portions of 14 counties in northeastern Tennessee. This new AVA is not located within, nor does it contain any established AVA. See Docket No. TTB–2023–0008 on Regulations.gov for all documents and public comments related to this rulemaking.   Bottlers who wish to label their wines with these new AVAs as an appellation of origin must obtain a new Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) for the label, even if the currently approved label already contains another AVA appellation of origin.  Please do not submit COLA applications for labels using the new AVA names until April 23, 2026, the effective date of these final rules.    You also may view the boundaries of the proposed Champlain Valley of Vermont AVA and the newly established Nashoba Valley and Nine Lakes of East Tennessee AVAs on our AVA Map Explorer.   More About AVAs Can I Destroy Untaxpaid Wine Without Paying Tax? We are often asked whether a winery may destroy untaxpaid wine without payment of tax. Yes – the regulations provide for the destruction of wine. However, if you plan to destroy wine, you must have prior approval from TTB.   Follow these steps for wine destruction – from how to get TTB approval to how to reflect the destruction on your operational report:   Submit application for approval: A bonded wine premises proprietor can submit an application to TTB requesting permission to destroy a lot of wine. A complete application includes the following information:   Name and address Where wine will be destroyed  Registry number Proposed date of destruction Kind of wine Reason for destruction  Alcohol content Printed Name Approximate volume in gallons   Signature (must have signing authority)   Telephone Number   Email your application to wine.excisetax@ttb.gov with the subject “Request for Approval to Destroy Wine” or see Wine FAQ W26 for alternate submission methods.   Proceed with destruction: You may destroy the wine if you are notified by TTB that you may proceed with the destruction without supervision. If you are informed that TTB will supervise the destruction, we will notify you when the destruction may take place. The wine must be destroyed in compliance with your local environmental and waste disposal rules.   Reporting: Show the amount destroyed on TTB F 5120.17, “Report of Wine Premises Operations” for the period in which the product was destroyed. The volume of bulk wine destroyed will be entered in the write-in entry Lines 24-28 of Part I, Section A. The volume of bottled wine destroyed will be entered in the write-in entry lines 15-17 of Part I, Section B. The volume of wine spirits destroyed will be entered on line 7 of Part III.   See Wine FAQ W26 for more information, including the process for destruction of wine spirits.   Wine Industry Resources

What's Trending on TTB.gov: Wine Wine Labeling Wine Statistics Wine Labeling: Health Warning Statement Established American Viticultural Areas Wine FAQs

Upcoming TTB Outreach Activities April 17-18: American Craft Spirits Convention and Expo April 20-22: Craft Brewers Conference

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