Microbreweries Can Drink to Bill that Would Lower Tax
Congressional bill would cut excise tax for brewers in half
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Brewmasters are toasting a bill that would cut the tax for microbreweries.
Brewmasters are toasting a congressional bill that would cut the tax for microbrewers.
"Do I think it would be good for craft beers? Absolutely," said Ryan Robertson, the brewmaster at Uncle Buck's in Grapevine.
The bill would cut the excise tax of brewers that make less than 60,000 barrels of beer per year from $7 to $3.50.
"That little bit of money that you're talking about adds up to thousands of dollars for us," said Cleon Converse, the general manager of Uncle Buck's. "Microbreweries, a lot of people think that since we make beer, it's cheap. But by the time you pay the taxes
and the maintenance and salaries and insurance, it all adds up at the end of the year."
Converse said the money saved could be used to hire staff, for brewery maintenance or even to make a new beer.
"It's a good start," he said.
HR 4278 is currently in committee.
Posted Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 - 11:18 PM CST
