Except as otherwise provided in this part, an excise tax is imposed upon all beer and wine sold in this State or pursuant to Section 23384 of the Business and Professions Code by a manufacturer, wine grower, or importer, or sellers of beer or wine selling beer or wine with respect to which no tax has been paid within areas over which the United States Government exercises jurisdiction, at the following rates:
(a) On all beer, sixty-two cents ($0.62) for every barrel containing 31 gallons and at a proportionate rate for any other quantity until July 1, 1959, and on and after July 1, 1959, one dollar and twenty-four cents ($1.24) for every barrel containing 31 gallons and at a proportionate rate for any other quantity.
(b) On all still wines containing not more than 14 percent of absolute alcohol by volume, one cent ($0.01) per wine gallon and at a proportionate rate for any other quantity.
(c) On all still wines containing more than 14 percent of absolute alcohol by volume, two cents ($0.02) per wine gallon and at a proportionate rate for any other quantity.
(d) On champagne, sparkling wine, excepting sparkling hard cider, whether naturally or artificially carbonated, thirty cents ($0.30) per wine gallon and at a proportionate rate for any other quantity.
(e) On sparkling hard cider, two cents ($0.02) per wine gallon and at a proportionate rate for any other quantity.
(f) Except with respect to beer in the internal revenue bonded premises of a beer manufacturer, for the privilege of possessing or selling beer on which a tax not greater than at the rate of sixty-two cents ($0.62) per barrel has been paid under this part, a floor stock tax of sixty-two cents ($0.62) per barrel, and at a proportionate rate for any other quantity, is hereby imposed on all beer possessed at 12.01 a.m. on July 1, 1959, by every person licensed under Division 9 of the Business and Professions Code. On or before July 31, 1959, each person subject to the tax imposed by this subdivision shall prepare and file with the board, on a form prescribed by the board, a return showing the amount of beer possessed by him at 12.01 a.m. on July 1, 1959, that is subject to the tax imposed by this subdivision, and such other information as the board deems necessary for the proper administration of this part. The taxpayer shall deliver the return, together with a remittance of the amount of tax due, to the office of the board on or before July 31, 1959.
All the provisions of this part relating to excise taxes are applicable also to the tax imposed by this subdivision, to the extent that they are not inconsistent with this subdivision.
(Amended by Stats. 1959, Ch. 1125.)