Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)
Overview of Liquor Licensing Process
ABC/Customer Relations/Licensing
Segment
The Licensing Segment has worked diligently to improve and streamline
our processes. Your assistance is important to ensure the licensing
process goes smoothly for you. In addition to liquor enforcement
and liquor drink tax types, this segment is also responsible for
the maintenance of other tax types, some of which are associated
to the liquor drink or liquor enforcement accounts.
Overview of Liquor Licensing Process
New Applications:
- To obtain an application packet for a new On or Off-Premise
establishment:
- While visiting our website at www.ksrevenue.org/abc, click on Liquor Registration Forms then click on Licensing Processing Packets to download the forms or
- Call 1-785-368-8222. Due to the diversity of the Kansas Department of Revenue, our automated phone system has several options. Please select the option to speak to a representative in Liquor, Cigarette or Bingo taxes.
K.S.A. 41-319 allows Alcoholic Beverage Control 30 days to process your application (20 days if you are a manufacturer, distributor or non-beverage user.) This allows appropriate time to complete the administrative tasks involved. Please keep this in mind when selecting the date your business will start operating.
- Legibly complete the forms in the packet.
- Prior to mailing, complete the checklist provided to you on the cover letter.
- Mail the application, documentation and applicable fee to the address indicated on the cover letter.
- You may hand-deliver your application to our office in Topeka. Please call prior to your visit to make an appointment with a Licensing Representative. Please note that your license will not be issued the day of your visit. At the time of your visit, a Licensing Representative will:
- Review the checklist for missing documents
- Briefly review the documentation you have brought in for completeness
- Give a receipt to you for any license fee collected
- Answer questions regarding the process or statutes
- Advise you of the 30-day processing statute (K.S.A. 41-319)
- Give you a business card with their name & phone number
- The 30-day time limit begins when ALL documentation has been received. The Licensing Representative will:
- Review all forms to ensure they are legible, completed entirely, and are notarized, when applicable. If forms are missing or incomplete, the representative will either call the applicant or send a letter requesting the additional information.
- Verify that all requirements of the license type applied for have been met as provided for by statute and regulation. If not, the representative will call or send a letter requesting the additional information.
- Verify if there is an active existing business at the location.
- Submit documents to ABC Enforcement for the background investigation.
- Issue the license and tax certificate when all documentation is received and reviewed, and the background investigation is approved.
Renewal Applications:
- As a courtesy, we will mail your renewal packet to you 60 days
prior to your expiration date. If you DO NOT receive your packet
45 days prior to expiration, please call us to verify your mailing
address so we can send you a renewal packet. You may also:
- While visiting our website at www.ksrevenue.org/abc, click on Liquor Registration Forms then click on Licensing Processing Packets to download the forms or
- Call 1-785-368-8222. Due to the diversity of the Kansas Department of Revenue, our automated phone system has several options. Please select the option to speak to a representative in Liquor, Cigarette or Bingo taxes.
K.S.A. 41-319 allows Alcoholic Beverage Control 30 days to process your renewal application (20 days if you are a manufacturer, distributor or non-beverage user.) This allows appropriate time to complete the administrative tasks.
- Legibly complete the forms in the packet.
- Prior to mailing, complete the checklist provided to you on the cover letter.
- Mail the application, documentation, and applicable renewal fee to the address indicated on the cover letter at least 30 days prior to your expiration.
- Renewal applications are worked in date order according to the date the Licensing Segment receives them.
- Walk-in customers:
- If you have mailed your application and wish to meet with us in person, contact us for an appointment
- If you are hand-delivering your renewal application 30 days prior to expiration a Licensing Representative will:
- Review the checklist for missing documents
- Briefly review the documentation you have brought in for completeness
- Give a receipt to you for any monies collected
- Answer questions regarding the process or statutes
- Advise you of the 30-day statute (K.S.A. 41-319)
- Give you a business card with their name & phone number
- Set another appointment, if you desire
- If you are hand-delivering your application less than 30 days prior to expiration, a Licensing Representative will:
- Review the checklist for missing documents
- Briefly review the documentation you have brought in for completeness
- Give you a receipt for any license fee or taxes collected
- Answer questions regarding the process or statutes
- Advise you of the 30-day statute (K.S.A. 41-319)
- Give you a business card with their name & phone number
- Set another appointment, if you desire
- There is no guarantee the license will be issued prior to expiration.
- The 30-day time limit begins when ALL documentation has been received. A Licensing Representative will:
- Review all forms to ensure they are legible, completed entirely, and are notarized, when applicable. If forms are missing or incomplete, the representative will either call the applicant or send a letter requesting the additional information.
- Verify all requirements of the license type applied for have been met as provided for by statute and regulation. If not, the representative will call or send a letter requesting the additional information.
- Verify tax compliance.
- Verify bond information and requirements.
- Submit documents to ABC Enforcement for the background investigation.
- Issue the license when all documentation is received and reviewed, the background investigation is approved, and all fees and taxes have been paid.
The Renewal Process
Make your renewal stress-free:
- Follow the checklist we provide you in your renewal packet
- Send us your renewal application 30 days prior to expiration
- Ensure all of your liquor returns have been filed and paid, as well as any fines
- Inform us of mailing address changes
- Notify us if you have not received your renewal packet 45 days prior to expiration
Some of the instances when you should contact us:
- New employees are hired (request Form ABC 280S or download the form from our website)
- Change in ownership or ownership type
- Change of mailing address or business location
- Business is closing or is sold. In order to issue a refund of any license fee that may be due or to release your bond, you must surrender your license certificate with your signature, the date your business closed and a current mailing address written on the back of the certificate.
- You have not received a renewal packet within 45 days of your expiration date.
Common Omissions:
- No copy of ATF form and check (New applications)
- The documents for the loan/mortgage is not finalized-is still in draft form (New Applications)
- The lease and/or bond is not in the name of the entity applying for the license (New applications)
- The city/county seal is not on the zoning form (New and Renewal applications)
- Spousal information is missing and/or incomplete on the ABC 280-OD (New and Renewal applications)
- Supporting documentation is missing for the balance sheet (loan agreement, amortization statement, bank statement) (New applications)
- Employee registration information is incomplete or not legible (New and Renewal applications)
- Process Agent is not identified on ABC-280-OD (New and Renewal applications)
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