The Brewers Association has announced a “Day of Action” for December 1, urging independent breweries across the country to reach out to their members of Congress. The goal is to support passage of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act, which would extend the brewery excise tax rates that are set to expire at the end of the year.
The current excise tax rates went into effect two years ago and have continued only temporarily while the BA lobbies to extend them indefinitely. “Making the language permanent has always been a priority, but now it is more important than ever,” the association says in an announcement on its website. “If the current rates expire, most breweries across the U.S. will see their excise tax rates increase by 100 percent. The effects could be devastating to an industry that has been severely impacted by COVID-19.”
The BA says that making the current rates permanent “would provide much needed certainty and stability during a difficult time—particularly for those breweries whose sales are primarily on-premise.” Meanwhile, Congress has yet to agree on additional economic stimulus—which might or might not include relief for small businesses and the unemployed.
The association tells members to expect further communication on December 1, including a “call-to-action link to an easy-to-use form to connect with your legislators” and additional social media assets.