Distilled spirits are considered to have been used in the manufacture of a product under this part if the spirits are consumed in the manufacture, are incorporated into the product, or are determined by TTB to have been otherwise utilized as an essential part of the manufacturing process. However, spirits lost by causes such as spillage, leakage, breakage or theft, and spirits used for purposes such as rinsing or cleaning a system, are not considered to have been used in the manufacture of a product.

(a) General. Distilled spirits shall be considered used in the manufacture of a product as soon as that product contains all the ingredients called for by its formula.

(b) Spirits used in an ion exchange column. Distilled spirits used in recharging an ion exchange column, the operation of which is essential to the production of a product, shall be considered to be used when the spirits are entered into the manufacturing system in accordance with the product's formula.

(c) Products requiring additional processing or treatment. Further manipulation of a product, such as aging or filtering, subsequent to the mixing together of all of its ingredients, shall not postpone the time when spirits are considered used, as determined under paragraph (a) of this section. This is true even if at the time of use there has not yet been a final determination of alcoholic content by assay. If, however, it is later found necessary to add more distilled spirits to standardize the product, such added spirits shall be considered as used in the period during which they were added.

(d) Nonbeverage products used to manufacture other products. Nonbeverage products may be used to manufacture other nonbeverage (or intermediate) products. However, such subsequent usage of a nonbeverage product shall not affect the time when the distilled spirits contained therein are considered used. When distilled spirits are used in the manufacture of a nonbeverage product, the time of use shall be the point at which that product first contains all of its prescribed ingredients, and such use shall not be determined by the time of any subsequent usage of that product in another product.

(a) Recovery from intermediate products. Eligible spirits recovered in the manufacture of intermediate products are not subject to drawback until such recovered spirits are used in the manufacture of a nonbeverage product. (However, see § 17.127 with respect to optional treatment of ingredients as unfinished nonbeverage products, rather than as intermediate products.) Spirits recovered in the manufacture of intermediate products shall be reused only in the manufacture of intermediate or nonbeverage products.

(b) Recovery from nonbeverage products. Distilled spirits recovered in the manufacture of a nonbeverage product are considered as having been used in the manufacture of that product. If the spirits were eligible when so used, they became subject to drawback at that time. Upon recovery, such spirits may be reused in the manufacture of nonbeverage products, but shall not be reused for any other purpose. When reused, such recovered spirits are not again eligible for drawback and shall not be used in the manufacture of intermediate products.

(c) Cross references. For additional provisions respecting the recovery of distilled spirits and related recordkeeping requirements, see §§ 17.168 and 17.183.

Spirits contained in an intermediate product are not subject to drawback until that intermediate product is used in the manufacture of a nonbeverage product.

Spirits consumed in the manufacture of an intermediate product—which are not contained in the intermediate product at the time of its use in nonbeverage products—are not subject to drawback. Such spirits are not considered to have been used in the manufacture of nonbeverage products. However, see § 17.127 with respect to optional treatment of ingredients as unfinished nonbeverage products, rather than as intermediate products.

Upon the filing of a claim as provided in this subpart, drawback shall be allowed to any person who meets the requirements of this part. Drawback shall be paid at the rate specified by 26 U.S.C. 5114 on each proof gallon of distilled spirits on which the tax has been paid or determined and which have been used in the manufacture of nonbeverage products. The drawback rate is $1.00 less than the effective tax rate. Drawback shall be allowed only to the extent that the claimant can establish, by evidence satisfactory to the appropriate TTB officer, the actual quantity of taxpaid or tax-determined distilled spirits used in the manufacture of the product, and the effective tax rate applicable to those spirits.

(a) General. The manufacturer must file claim for drawback with the appropriate TTB officer who has the authority to approve or disapprove claims. A separate claim shall be filed for each place of business. Each claim shall pertain only to distilled spirits used in the manufacture or production of nonbeverage products during any one quarter of the tax year. Unless the manufacturer is eligible to file monthly claims (see §§ 17.143 and 17.144), only one claim per quarter may be filed for each place of business. Claims shall be filed on TTB Form 2635 (5620.8), Claim—Alcohol and Tobacco Taxes.

(b) Manufacturers who are also proprietors of distilled spirits plants. If a manufacturer of nonbeverage products is owned and operated by the same business entity that owns and operates a distilled spirits plant, the manufacturer's claim for drawback may be filed for credit on Form 2635 (5620.8). After the claim is approved, the distilled spirits plant may use the claim as an adjustment decreasing the taxes due in Schedule B of TTB Form 5000.24, Excise Tax Return. Adjustments resulting from an approved drawback claim are not subject to interest. This procedure may be utilized only if the manufacturer of nonbeverage products and the distilled spirits plant have the same employer identification number.

If the manufacturer has notified the appropriate TTB officer, in writing, of an intention to file claims on a monthly basis instead of a quarterly basis, and has filed a bond in compliance with the provisions of this part, claims may be filed monthly instead of quarterly. The election to file monthly claims shall not preclude a manufacturer from filing a single claim covering an entire quarter, or a single claim covering just two months of a quarter, or two claims (one of them covering one month and the other covering two months). An election for the filing of monthly claims may be withdrawn by the manufacturer by filing a notice to that effect, in writing, with the appropriate TTB officer.

Each person intending to file claims for drawback on a monthly basis shall file an executed bond on TTB Form 5154.3, conforming to the provisions of subpart E of this part. A monthly drawback claim shall not be allowed until bond coverage in a sufficient amount has been approved by the appropriate TTB officer. When the limit of liability under a bond given in less than the maximum amount has been reached, further drawback on monthly claims may be suspended until a strengthening or superseding bond in a sufficient amount is furnished.

Quarterly claims for drawback shall be filed within six months after the quarter in which the distilled spirits covered by the claim were used in the manufacture of nonbeverage products. Monthly claims for drawback may be filed at any time after the end of the month in which the distilled spirits covered by the claim were used in the manufacture of nonbeverage products, but shall be filed not later than the close of the sixth month succeeding the quarter in which the spirits were used.

The claim shall show the following:

(a) [Reserved]

(b) That the distilled spirits on which drawback is claimed were fully taxpaid or tax-determined at the effective tax rate applicable to the distilled spirits.

(c) That the distilled spirits on which the drawback is claimed were used in the manufacture of nonbeverage products.

(d) Whether the nonbeverage products were manufactured in compliance with quantitative formulas approved under subpart F of this part. (If not, attach explanation.)

(e) That the data submitted in support of the claim are correct.

(a) Each claim for drawback shall be accompanied by supporting data presented according to the format shown on TTB Form 5154.2, Supporting Data for Nonbeverage Drawback Claims (or according to any other suitable format which provides the same information). Modifications of Form 5154.2 may be used without prior authorization, if the modified format clearly shows all of the required information that is pertinent to the manufacturing operation. Under § 17.123, the appropriate TTB officer may require additional supporting data when needed to determine the correctness of drawback claims.

(b) Separate data shall be shown for eligible distilled spirits taxpaid at different effective tax rates. This requirement applies to all eligible spirits, including eligible recovered alcohol and eligible spirits contained in intermediate products.

(c) Separate data shall be shown for imported rum, spirits from Puerto Rico containing at least 92% rum, and spirits from the U.S. Virgin Islands containing at least 92% rum. The total number of proof gallons of each such category used subject to drawback during the claim period shall also be shown, with separate totals for each effective tax rate. These amounts shall include eligible spirits and rum from intermediate products or recovered alcohol.

(d) Any gain in eligible distilled spirits reported in the supporting data shall be reflected by an equivalent deduction from the amount of drawback claimed. Gains shall not be offset by known losses.

(a) General. Except in the case of fraudulent noncompliance, no claim for drawback shall be denied for a failure to comply with either 26 U.S.C. 5111-5114 or the requirements of this part, if the claimant establishes that spirits on which the tax has been paid or determined were in fact used in the manufacture of medicines, medicinal preparations, food products, flavors, flavoring extracts, or perfume, which were unfit for beverage purposes.

(b) Penalty. Noncompliance with the requirements of 26 U.S.C. 5111-5114 or of this part subjects the claimant to a civil penalty of $1,000 for each separate product, reflected in a claim for drawback, to which the noncompliance relates, or the amount claimed for that product, whichever is less, unless the claimant establishes that the noncompliance was due to reasonable cause. Late filing of a claim subjects the claimant to a civil penalty of $1,000 or the amount of the claim, whichever is less, unless the claimant establishes that the lateness was due to reasonable cause.

(c) Reasonable cause. Reasonable cause exists where a claimant establishes it exercised ordinary business care and prudence, and still was unable to comply with the statutory and regulatory requirements. Ignorance of law or regulations, in and of itself, is not reasonable cause. Each case is individually evaluated.