Press Release: Texas to begin Collecting Taxes on Alcohol at Seaports

[irishnyc]

Not sure, but I believe only the Federal gov't can legally levy import taxes on goods from other countries or out of country Duty Free shops... I smell a lawsuit...

 

 

Alcohol has very different rules than regular goods, and they vary from state to state.

[mapsmith]

I am wondering how quickly Carnival (and the other lines) will collect the taxes for the State of Texas to speed things up at disembarkation. I would expect that the Texas based cruises may actually have the tax added (and a sticker to show it has been paid) at the on-board shops. And the "collection desk" at the ports (where you have to leave the booze that you purchased on shore {wink, wink} will have someone to charge the tax to your on board account.

 

I would expect this to be on board in a month or so after the cluster duck at customs during disembarkation.

[Lace]

One thing I do not need is another level of government BS. I shall therefore, avoid the Texas ports all together.

 

That's the right stance!

[timbom]

As someone else said they have been doing this at the border for years. Custom guy would ask if you had any liquor / cigarettes if you did he would direct you to a separate stop where you would pay the tax.

 

Suspect this is how it will be handled at the port.

 

Don't see how this will make money for Texas once they pay several agents to be there year round. As a state resident I think this is a total waste of money and will only piss off those visiting.

 

Really a dumb move by our elected officials. Usually we are much smarter on how we spend our money.

 

Please let this tax be known to everyone to boycott so our state people don't collect anything.

Edited December 22, 2013 by timbom

[aggieastrosfan]

I'm surprised no one's commented on the potential big issue here, that this also now gives them a way to enforce the stricter Texas laws on the amount of liquor you can bring in. Per federal government, you can only bring in one liter per person duty free, and pay duty tax on the rest (should they choose to, of course), but in Texas it's one liter PERIOD. You can't just pay the extra taxes to bring more home.

 

 

Sent from my iPad

[Bevv]

Section 107.07 of the Alcoholic Beverage Code, in effect for over 40 years, requires that each adult (21 years old and over) importing alcoholic beverages into the state for personal consumption pay the state tax and an administrative fee of $3.00. The law limits personal importation by an adult to once every 30 days with limits of: 1 gallon of distilled spirits, 3 gallons of wine, and 288 ounces of malt beverages (24 12-ounce containers). Persons importing alcoholic beverages must personally accompany the product as it enters the state. View our detailed list of the taxes for both cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.

[BubMunkeyBles]

Now the cruise lines have an excuse to pull out of there just like Disney did already.

[waiting4acruise]

Not sure, but I believe only the Federal gov't can legally levy import taxes on goods from other countries or out of country Duty Free shops... I smell a lawsuit...

I wonder how Texas will catch you if you don't declare it.

Edited December 23, 2013 by waiting4acruise

[Carnival_Brides]

I wonder how Texas will catch you if you don't declare it.

 

They'll get you if you bought it on the ship and CCL turned over your S&S information like some have reported.

[waiting4acruise]

They'll get you if you bought it on the ship and CCL turned over your S&S information like some have reported.

 

Not if you bought it onshore and don't give it to the ship personal when you board.

[sharecruises]

Ugh - well don't be surprised if they pull out of Texas all together now

 

Not only the $$ but the hassle of standing in line to pay them = no thanks

Glad I live in Florida

[TruckerDave]

My god people, it is a few dollars relax. It won't break you. I really can't see NCL,RCL,CCL etc etc all pulling out of Texas because if this. The "sky is falling" mentality by some folks on here is laughable sometimes.

 

 

Sent using a small piece of fruit.

[ekatiel]

:TABC personnel have worked with Port of Galveston officials to ensure that the tax collection is done efficiently and with limited "disruption of port operations" and delays to the passengers.

 

Yea right, limited disruption. :rolleyes: I foresee a nightmare.:eek:

 

I agree. Disembarkation is hit or miss in Galveston, anyways. I really don't foresee them being able to handle one more thing to take care of. We've had disembark last longer than 2 hours (Spring Break 2012 on Mariner). We've been luckier recently, but this new tax could change all that. I don't care about the $6 or $7. I care about how much of my time it's going to take to PAY the said amount. I'll be watching threads here to see how it goes in January. We cruise in February on the Magic, and we may forgo purchasing booze if it ends up being a waiting nightmare.

[ed_k_tx]

My god people, it is a few dollars relax. It won't break you. I really can't see NCL,RCL,CCL etc etc all pulling out of Texas because if this. The "sky is falling" mentality by some folks on here is laughable sometimes.

 

 

Sent using a small piece of fruit.

 

Well said Trucker.

[fireofficer5]

how can a state tax you on purchases made outside of the state?

It doesn't make sense.

Oops.....

 

 

 

 

feed the pig

[Chief1369]

I'm surprised no one's commented on the potential big issue here, that this also now gives them a way to enforce the stricter Texas laws on the amount of liquor you can bring in. Per federal government, you can only bring in one liter per person duty free, and pay duty tax on the rest (should they choose to, of course), but in Texas it's one liter PERIOD. You can't just pay the extra taxes to bring more home.

 

 

Sent from my iPad

 

I believe texas allows one GALLON per person, not one liter. A couple can still very likely get away with two 3-liter bottles with no issue (other than the extra $11 charge).

[Chief1369]

If I were still a smoker though, the $1.50 per pack of smokes would have me a bit perturbed.

[glrounds]

My god people, it is a few dollars relax. It won't break you.

 

Isn't this exactly what the government said 100 years ago (today) when the FED was born and the first income tax was started. :rolleyes:

[glrounds]

In California we aren't paying taxes for liquor we carry off.

We do pay around 10% in taxes on purchases (bar and photo) during embark and debark.

 

Texas is collecting a tax for all liquor carried off. Texas has other alcohol laws for the cruise industry as well.

 

Thanks for the clarification, Sadie. I thought everyone was speaking of drinks purchased on the ship before setting sail. One's bar receipt when doing so shows California sales tax on it. Sorry for the misinformation. :o

[Gardeneroflove]

I'm surprised no one's commented on the potential big issue here, that this also now gives them a way to enforce the stricter Texas laws on the amount of liquor you can bring in. Per federal government, you can only bring in one liter per person duty free, and pay duty tax on the rest (should they choose to, of course), but in Texas it's one liter PERIOD. You can't just pay the extra taxes to bring more home.

 

 

Sent from my iPad

 

Yeah, but how does any body know? We put our bottles in our roll on between our pillows, no one checks.

 

Though, we only brought back 1 additional bottle of rum and 5 beers, the rest we brought with us originally, and we're just bringing them back home ( I failed at actually drinking last week).

 

Which brings up the question, how would they know what we brought on board with us-thus I already paid taxes, as opposed to what we bought in Nassau? In many cases we don't drink all we bring. Last week we did drink the bottle of rum, thus bought a new bottle in Nausea.

 

I'm assuming the bigger deal is people buying lots...not just one.

[glrounds]

Yeah, but how does any body know? We put our bottles in our roll on between our pillows, no one checks.

 

Though, we only brought back 1 additional bottle of rum and 5 beers, the rest we brought with us originally, and we're just bringing them back home ( I failed at actually drinking last week).

 

Which brings up the question, how would they know what we brought on board with us-thus I already paid taxes, as opposed to what we bought in Nassau? In many cases we don't drink all we bring. Last week we did drink the bottle of rum, thus bought a new bottle in Nausea.

 

I'm assuming the bigger deal is people buying lots...not just one.

 

There should be a TAX STAMP on the cap of the bottle extending down the neck of the bottle.

[SadieN]

Thanks for the clarification, Sadie. I thought everyone was speaking of drinks purchased on the ship before setting sail. One's bar receipt when doing so shows California sales tax on it. Sorry for the misinformation. :o

 

Hey no problem :)

 

Though we were surprised when we got dinged for tax when we purchased that last photo.

[It's a Ship!!!]

That's like saying you're only slightly pregnant. You either are or aren't. In this case, you are getting screwed. You are paying for something that you didn't have to pay for before.

You can't be slightly pregnant, but you can be pregnant with triplets.

[TruckerDave]

Isn't this exactly what the government said 100 years ago (today) when the FED was born and the first income tax was started. :rolleyes:

 

I left my tin foil hat at home and have no time for the paranoid anti govt tea party types. So I'll just be over here and that sound you hear is me (and folks like me) laughing as you folks get all torqued up over this. :)

 

 

Sent using a small piece of fruit.

[glrounds]

I left my tin foil hat at home and have no time for the paranoid anti govt tea party types. So I'll just be over here and that sound you hear is me (and folks like me) laughing as you folks get all torqued up over this. :)

 

 

Sent using a small piece of fruit.

 

The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. When the government puts a 100% tax on cruising and you're left home sucking your thumb, try to remember the whole idea was, originally, something you found amusing.

 

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