You will generally be required to pay Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) if you:
- make wine or import wine for consumption in Australia
- sell wine by wholesale.
WET is a tax of 29% of the wholesale value of wine. It is generally only payable if you are registered or required to be registered for GST. It is designed to be paid on the last wholesale sale of wine, which is usually between the wholesaler and retailer. WET may apply in other circumstances, such as cellar door sales or tastings, where there hasn't been a wholesale sale. WET is also payable on imports of wine (whether or not you are registered for GST).
WET applies to a number of alcoholic beverages that contain more than 1.15% by volume of ethyl alcohol. This includes any of the following alcoholic products:
- grape wine, including sparkling wine and fortified wine
- grape wine products such as marsala, vermouth, wine cocktails and creams
- other fruit wines and vegetable wines, including fortified fruit wines and vegetable wines
- cider and perry
- mead and sake, including fortified mead.
