Can I ship wine, spirits or beer to consumers in Illinois?
Wine: out-of-state producers can ship direct to consumers. Wineries need a Winery Shipper's License. It costs $350 to start and $200 to renew online for wineries under 250,000 gallons a year, $1,000 and $750 for 250,000 to 500,000 gallons, and $1,500 and $1,200 above that. Each person can receive up to 12 cases a year. You can ship only wine you make, and every label must be registered in Illinois unless it is already registered for sale to an Illinois distributor. (Source: Illinois Liquor Control Act, 235 ILCS 5/5-3 (fees), and ILCC Winery Shipper's License application)
Spirits: out-of-state producers cannot ship direct to consumers. Illinois offers no direct shipping license for out-of-state distilleries. Illinois does not allow interstate direct-to-consumer spirits shipping. (Source: Sovos ShipCompliant)
Beer: out-of-state producers cannot ship direct to consumers. Illinois offers no direct shipping license for out-of-state breweries. Illinois does not allow interstate direct-to-consumer beer shipping. (Source: Sovos ShipCompliant)
What makes Illinois different?
Illinois prices its wine shipper license by production size, so a small winery pays far less than a large one. Wineries must also list any third-party service, other than a common carrier, that helps them ship to Illinois, and those providers report to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission each year. Spirits and beer go through Illinois distributors and retailers.
Can retailers deliver alcohol in Illinois?
- An Illinois retailer can deliver alcohol through its own owners or employees, or through a third-party contractor it hires, and it is responsible for any violation by that contractor. (235 ILCS 5/5-1)
- Delivery must be completed within 12 hours after the alcohol leaves the retailer's licensed premises. (235 ILCS 5/5-1)
What are Illinois's alcohol excise taxes?
- Wine: $1.39 per gallon for wine up to 20% alcohol (Tax Foundation)
- Beer: $0.23 per gallon (Tax Foundation)
- Spirits: $8.55 per gallon (Federation of Tax Administrators)
Who regulates alcohol in Illinois?
Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) issues licenses and enforces the state's alcohol rules. Check its site for current forms and fees before you apply.
How do brands reach Illinois customers with AccelPay?
AccelPay, now part of Vesper Commerce, routes each order from your website to a licensed retailer that can sell and ship it to the buyer, so those sales stay three-tier compliant without your own shipping license. The network covers 3,500+ licensed retail locations in 40+ states. Whether a retailer can fill orders for your products in Illinois depends on your products and distribution, so check coverage for your products on a call.
If you ship wine to Illinois consumers yourself, under the rules above, AccelPay can route those orders back to you to fulfill and send every other order to licensed retailers. See Do I need ShipCompliant? for what shipping under your own permits involves.
Plans start at $1,000 setup + $500/month, 12-month term, no per-order charge to the brand, with discount pricing for craft brands. See pricing for what is included.
Frequently asked questions
Can wineries ship wine to Illinois consumers?
Yes. Wineries need a Winery Shipper's License, which costs $350 to start for wineries making under 250,000 gallons a year. Each person can receive up to 12 cases a year, and you can ship only wine you make.
Can distilleries ship spirits to Illinois consumers?
No. Illinois does not allow out-of-state distilleries to ship spirits direct to consumers.
Can breweries ship beer to Illinois consumers?
No. Illinois does not allow out-of-state breweries to ship beer direct to consumers.
Do I have to register my wine labels to ship to Illinois?
Yes. Every label shipped to Illinois consumers must be registered, unless it is already registered for sale to an Illinois distributor.
What are Illinois alcohol excise taxes?
Wine up to 20% alcohol is taxed at $1.39 per gallon, beer at about $0.23 per gallon, and spirits at $8.55 per gallon, one of the higher spirits rates in the country.
How can my brand reach Illinois customers without its own Illinois shipping license?
Sell through a licensed retailer that can serve the buyer. AccelPay routes each order from your website to a licensed retailer in its network; whether one can fill orders for your products in Illinois depends on your products and distribution, so check coverage on a call.
Related guides
- Do I need ShipCompliant to ship alcohol?
- How the three-tier system works
- AccelPay pricing and how it works
- Sell alcohol on Shopify
Sources
- Illinois Liquor Control Act, 235 ILCS 5/5-1
- Sovos ShipCompliant, wine rules by state (reviewed Jan 1, 2026)
- Sovos ShipCompliant, spirits rules by state (reviewed Jan 1, 2026)
- Sovos ShipCompliant, beer rules by state (reviewed Jan 1, 2026)
- Tax Foundation, wine taxes by state, Jan 2026
- Tax Foundation, beer taxes by state, Jan 2026
- Federation of Tax Administrators, distilled spirits tax rates, 2025
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm current requirements with the state agency or your compliance counsel. Last reviewed October 22, 2026.