CHAPTER 11. Violations [32551. - 32557.]

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC 11.
in effect

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 32551. Section 32551.

Any person who knowingly or wilfully files a false tax return with the board, and any person who refuses to permit the board or any of its representatives to make any inspection or examination for which provision is made in this part, or who fails to keep books of account as prescribed by the board, or who fails to preserve such books for the inspection of the board for such time as the board deems necessary, or who alters, cancels, or obliterates entries in such books of account for the purpose of falsifying the records of sales of alcoholic beverages made under this part, is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than one month nor more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 32553. Section 32553.

Any person who diverts or conspires with others to divert for beverage use any alcohol or other distilled spirits or wine sold tax free for use in the trades, professions, or industries is guilty of a felony.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 32554. Section 32554.

Every person convicted for a violation of any of the provisions of this part for which another penalty or punishment is not specifically provided for in this part is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 32555. Section 32555.

Every person convicted of a felony for a violation of any of the provisions of this part for which another punishment is not specifically provided for in this part shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 32556. Section 32556.

Any prosecution for violation of any of the penal provisions of this part shall be instituted within three years after the commission of the offense, or within two years after the violation is discovered, whichever is later.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 32557. Section 32557.

Any person who knowingly possesses, keeps, stores, or retains for the purpose of sale, or sells or offers to sell, any container or containers of alcoholic beverage with a tax value greater than five hundred dollars ($500) where the taxes imposed under this part have not been paid is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

Starting a business in California? California LLC guide: costs and requirements