WA residents: where do you buy your alcohol?
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WA residents: where do you buy your alcohol?
I love living in Washington but our astronomically-high spirits tax isn’t one of them. Like so many BHers, I can afford paying the most expensive prices per bottle in the country, but it still bothers me.
That said, does anyone have a go-to method for avoiding WA booze taxes: Some ideas:
—crossing the border to Oregon or Idaho (not that much cheaper)
—making a friend in the military and having them buy from a Class VI store on base
—road trip to California/Nevada and stocking up at Costco or another big box
—duty free store at Peace Arch
—bringing bottles back in checked baggage
—anything I’m forgetting?
For those unaware, WA has two spirits taxes: a 20.5% sales tax and a $3.77/liter bottle tax. So a 750ml bottle selling for $19.99 sells for $26.92 after tax. Or a handle at Costco selling for $39.99 goes for $54.79.
That said, does anyone have a go-to method for avoiding WA booze taxes: Some ideas:
—crossing the border to Oregon or Idaho (not that much cheaper)
—making a friend in the military and having them buy from a Class VI store on base
—road trip to California/Nevada and stocking up at Costco or another big box
—duty free store at Peace Arch
—bringing bottles back in checked baggage
—anything I’m forgetting?
For those unaware, WA has two spirits taxes: a 20.5% sales tax and a $3.77/liter bottle tax. So a 750ml bottle selling for $19.99 sells for $26.92 after tax. Or a handle at Costco selling for $39.99 goes for $54.79.
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Re: WA residents: where do you buy your alcohol?
Thanks for the reminder...duckcalldan wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 10:21 pm —making a friend in the military and having them buy from a Class VI store on base
https://militarybenefits.info/expanded- ... rivileges/
All service disabled veterans can shop at the class 6.
One of these days i'll have to check it out.
Earned 43 (and counting) credit hours of financial planning related education from a regionally accredited university, but I am not your advisor.
Re: WA residents: where do you buy your alcohol?
Yes, just pay the tax and enjoy your position in life that allows you to do this.duckcalldan wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 10:21 pm I love living in Washington but our astronomically-high spirits tax isn’t one of them. Like so many BHers, I can afford paying the most expensive prices per bottle in the country, but it still bothers me.
That said, does anyone have a go-to method for avoiding WA booze taxes: Some ideas:
—crossing the border to Oregon or Idaho (not that much cheaper)
—making a friend in the military and having them buy from a Class VI store on base
—road trip to California/Nevada and stocking up at Costco or another big box
—duty free store at Peace Arch
—bringing bottles back in checked baggage
—anything I’m forgetting?
For those unaware, WA has two spirits taxes: a 20.5% sales tax and a $3.77/liter bottle tax. So a 750ml bottle selling for $19.99 sells for $26.92 after tax. Or a handle at Costco selling for $39.99 goes for $54.79.
Re: WA residents: where do you buy your alcohol?
Oregon (0% sales tax), but I don’t buy liquor often and live close to the border.
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Re: WA residents: where do you buy your alcohol?
Legally, you should still pay the same taxes to WA for those 2 ideas:duckcalldan wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 10:21 pm —crossing the border to Oregon or Idaho (not that much cheaper)
—road trip to California/Nevada and stocking up at Costco or another big box
https://dor.wa.gov/taxes-rates/use-taxUse tax is due if:
Goods are purchased in another state that does not have a sales tax or a state with a sales tax lower than Washington’s.
"One of the funny things about stock market, every time one is buying another is selling, and both think they are astute" - William Feather
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Re: WA residents: where do you buy your alcohol?
Total Wine and Costco have similar prices in my experience. I visit Costco more frequently, but Total Wine has a much bigger selection, and sometimes Costco only sells a given spirit in a 1.75L size, which is more than I care to have a single spirit.
I'm not going to make a dedicated trip to another state to buy liquor. I have considered doing so in the course of trips planned for other reasons, but generally decided it wasn't an effective use of my vacation time.
Double-checking that now for the sake of discussion with respect to some of my most recent states of travel, a bottle of Woodford Reserve at Total Wine in...
Washington = $41
Oregon = $34 (OLCC price)
Las Vegas = $35
Arizona = $28
California = $29
So there is certainly some savings to be had, but I'm not going to bother unless I have time to spare, happen to be in a convenient location, and know exactly what I want.
https://lcb.wa.gov/licensing/individual ... rsonal-use
Also note the text in the link you provided that gives a easy out if you already took a sip before returning to Washington:
I'm not going to make a dedicated trip to another state to buy liquor. I have considered doing so in the course of trips planned for other reasons, but generally decided it wasn't an effective use of my vacation time.
Double-checking that now for the sake of discussion with respect to some of my most recent states of travel, a bottle of Woodford Reserve at Total Wine in...
Washington = $41
Oregon = $34 (OLCC price)
Las Vegas = $35
Arizona = $28
California = $29
So there is certainly some savings to be had, but I'm not going to bother unless I have time to spare, happen to be in a convenient location, and know exactly what I want.
There is a 2 liter exemption.BogleMelon wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 12:21 amLegally, you should still pay the same taxes to WA for those 2 ideas:duckcalldan wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 10:21 pm —crossing the border to Oregon or Idaho (not that much cheaper)
—road trip to California/Nevada and stocking up at Costco or another big box
https://dor.wa.gov/taxes-rates/use-taxUse tax is due if:
Goods are purchased in another state that does not have a sales tax or a state with a sales tax lower than Washington’s.
https://lcb.wa.gov/licensing/individual ... rsonal-use
Also note the text in the link you provided that gives a easy out if you already took a sip before returning to Washington:
Use tax, unlike sales tax, is due at the rate where you first use the article, not where the sale takes place.
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Re: WA residents: where do you buy your alcohol?
You used to have to buy from the state run liquor stores. Buying from the grocery store is certainly more convenient.
Not sure how the taxes changed as part of the “deregulation” though.
Not sure how the taxes changed as part of the “deregulation” though.
Re: WA residents: where do you buy your alcohol?
I am a "member" of BEVMO. Every month, I get a $10 coupon for purchase of either $50 or $75 for the next weekend, which is about my monthly budget. The coupons used to come in the Wednesday grocery adds in the mailbox, but now they are coming by email. I realize that this is a marketing gimmick, and sometime I am irked by the limited time of these offers.
For a special event, I went to COSTCO and was advised by a family member in the wine industry.
I haven't fired up Excel yet to do a direct comparison.
For a special event, I went to COSTCO and was advised by a family member in the wine industry.
I haven't fired up Excel yet to do a direct comparison.
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Re: WA residents: where do you buy your alcohol?
We are 45 miles north of downtown Seattle. We don't go through very much hard liquor in a year. We buy the occasional gin, vodka and tequila at the local Costco, and specialty liquors for recipes and cocktails at the large local Fred Meyer, which has the best local selection. As an IPA lover, I am very pleased how the local Costco has really upped the selection of these beers.
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Re: WA residents: where do you buy your alcohol?
When we lived there, we just went to BevMo, and remembered that since we weren’t paying any income tax, the state has to get the money from somewhere.
Re: WA residents: where do you buy your alcohol?
How about the Indian reservations? Have they figured this out yet, as I thought they sold tax exempt cigarettes and can do all the gambling we can't do in the rest of the state.
Mark |
Somewhere in WA State
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Re: WA residents: where do you buy your alcohol?
Unless you already live near OR, the effort to drive for hours to save $20~$50 ain't worth it imo.
I'm sure the folks living in Vancouver / Camas, WA do this on a regular basis.
I'm sure the folks living in Vancouver / Camas, WA do this on a regular basis.
Re: WA residents: where do you buy your alcohol?
We live in Camas... maybe we just don't buy enough alcohol, but it isn't really worth our time which we value highly. Our Costco is pretty good price-wise and has a nice selection.Marseille07 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 1:24 pm Unless you already live near OR, the effort to drive for hours to save $20~$50 ain't worth it imo.
I'm sure the folks living in Vancouver / Camas, WA do this on a regular basis.
Re: WA residents: where do you buy your alcohol?
I just pay the tax. We don't buy enough alcohol for it to be meaningful to our budget.