The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, statutorily named the Tax and Trade Bureau and frequently shortened to TTB, is a bureau of the United States Department of the Treasury, which regulates and collects taxes on trade and imports of alcohol, tobacco, and firearms within the United States.[1]
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | January 24, 2003 |
| Preceding agency | |
| Headquarters | 1310 G Street NW Washington, D.C. |
| Employees | 531 (2006) |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency | Department of the Treasury |
| Website | www.ttb.gov |
Overview
editTTB was created on January 24, 2003, when the Homeland Security Act of 2002 split the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) into two new organizations with separate functions.[2] Specifically, the Act transferred ATF and its law enforcement functions from the Department of the Treasury to the Department of Justice. ATF's other functions, dealing with tax collection and regulation of legitimate trade, remained within the Treasury Department and became part of the new TTB.
Organization
editTTB's Field Operations are organized into five divisions:[3]
- National Revenue Center: reconciles returns, reports, and claims; screens applications and promptly issues permits; and provides expert technical assistance for industry, the public and government agencies to ensure fair and proper revenue collection and public safety.[4]
- Risk Management: develops, implements, and maintains monitoring programs for collecting the revenue due the Federal Government and protecting the public, and ensures resources are effectively used.[5]
- Tax Audit: verifies the proper payment of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and ammunition excise taxes and ensures compliance with laws and regulations by taxpayers in a manner that protects the revenue, protects the consumer, and promotes voluntary compliance.[6]
- Trade Investigations: comprises investigators who ensure industry compliance with the laws and regulations administered by the TTB.[7]
- Tobacco Enforcement Division: protects the revenue and promotes voluntary compliance by monitoring the domestic tobacco trade, ensuring only qualified applicants enter the tobacco trade, ensuring compliance with the tax laws relating to tobacco, and facilitating TTB's enforcement functions in cases of non-compliance.[8]
The Advertising, Labeling, and Formulation Division (ALFD) implements and enforces a broad range of statutory and compliance provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and the Federal Alcohol Administration Act. This act requires importers and bottlers of beverage alcohol to obtain certificates of label approval or certificates of exemption from label approval (COLAs) for most alcohol beverages prior to their introduction into interstate commerce. ALFD acts on these COLAs to ensure that products are labeled in accordance with federal laws and regulations. ALFD also examines formulas for wine and distilled spirits, statements of process, and pre-import applications filed by importers and proprietors of domestic distilleries, wineries, and breweries for proper tax classification and to ensure that the products are manufactured in accordance with federal laws and regulations.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Wagner, Daniel (8 December 2012). "Booze, smokes on agenda for quirky gov't group (Associated Press)". U.S. News & World Report. New York City. Archived from the original on 2012-12-08. Retrieved 30 August 2017 – via archive.org.
- ^ Arthur J. Libertucci (1 April 2003). "Welcome from the Administrator". Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). Archived from the original on 1 April 2003. Retrieved 19 August 2018 – via archive.org.
- ^ "Organizational chart". Archived from the original on 2006-06-15. Retrieved 2006-05-23.
- ^ "National Revenue Center". Archived from the original on 2006-04-27. Retrieved 2006-05-23.
- ^ "Risk Management". Archived from the original on 2006-07-21. Retrieved 2006-05-23.
- ^ "Tax Audit". Archived from the original on 2006-07-19. Retrieved 2006-05-23.
- ^ "Trade Investigations". Archived from the original on 2006-06-18. Retrieved 2006-05-23.
- ^ "Tobacco Enforcement Division". Archived from the original on 2007-03-13. Retrieved 2006-05-23.
- ^ "Advertising, Labeling, and Formulation Division (ALFD)". Archived from the original on 2006-02-27. Retrieved 2006-05-23.
External links
edit- Tax and Trade Bureau website
- Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in the Federal Register
- Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) materials required to be maintained - Tax and Trade Bureau
- History of TTB
- Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives website
- National Conference of State Liquor Administrators (all state administrators)