(a) Transfer of bulk distilled spirits from customs custody to bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant. Distilled spirits brought into the United States from the Virgin Islands in bulk containers may, under the provisions of this subpart, be withdrawn by the proprietor of a distilled spirits plant from customs custody and transferred in such bulk containers or by pipeline to the bonded premises of his plant, without payment of the internal revenue tax imposed on such spirits by 26 U.S.C. 7652. Such spirits so withdrawn and transferred to a distilled spirits plant may be redistilled or denatured only if 185 degrees or more of proof, and may be withdrawn from a distilled spirits plant for any purpose authorized by 26 U.S.C. chapter 51, in the same manner as domestic distilled spirits. Spirits transferred from customs custody to the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant under the provisions of this subpart shall be received and stored thereat, and withdrawn or transferred therefrom, subject to the provisions of part 19 of this chapter. The person operating the bonded premises of the distilled spirits plant to which spirits are transferred under the provisions of this subpart shall become liable for the tax on distilled spirits withdrawn from customs custody under 26 U.S.C. 5232, upon release of the spirits from customs custody, and the person bringing the spirits into the United States shall thereupon be relieved of his liability for such tax.

(b) Transfer of bulk natural wine from customs custody to a bonded wine cellar. Bulk natural wine, as defined in § 26.11, brought into the United States from the Virgin Islands may, under the provisions of this subpart, be withdrawn by the proprietor of a bonded wine cellar from customs custody and transferred in bond in bulk containers to the bonded wine cellar, without payment of the internal revenue tax imposed on such wine by 26 U.S.C. 7652. Wine so withdrawn and transferred to a bonded wine cellar may be withdrawn from a bonded wine cellar for any purpose authorized by 26 U.S.C. chapter 51, in the same manner as domestic wine. The proprietor of the bonded wine cellar to which the wine is transferred becomes liable for the tax on wine withdrawn from customs custody under 26 U.S.C. 5364. Upon release of the wine from customs custody, the person bringing in the wine is relieved of the liability for the tax.

(c) Transfer of beer from customs custody to brewery premises. Bulk beer brought into the United States from the Virgin Islands may, under the provisions of this subpart, be withdrawn by the proprietor of a brewery from customs custody and transferred in bulk containers to the brewery premises, without payment of the internal revenue tax imposed on such beer by 26 U.S.C. 7652. Beer so withdrawn and transferred to brewery premises may be withdrawn from a brewery for any purpose authorized by 26 U.S.C. chapter 51, in the same manner as domestic beer. The proprietor of the brewery to which the beer is transferred becomes liable for the tax on beer withdrawn from customs custody under 26 U.S.C. 5418. Upon release of the beer from customs custody, the person bringing in the beer from the Virgin Islands is relieved of the liability for the tax.

(a) Preparation of records. (1) The importer bringing distilled spirits, natural wines, or beer into the United States from the Virgin Islands under this subpart must prepare a transfer record according to § 26.273a. A separate transfer record must be prepared for each conveyance. The importer bringing in the distilled spirits, natural wines, or beer must maintain these records and any additional records necessary to substantiate the information provided under paragraph (b) of this section, in accordance with the record retention requirements of § 26.276, and must make them available upon request of the appropriate TTB officer or a customs officer. The importer must also provide a copy of the record to the recipient, if the recipient is not the importer.

(2) For distilled spirits, if the spirits are in packages, the person bringing the spirits into the United States must be in possession of a package gauge record for each bulk container, as provided in § 26.273b, at the time the distilled spirits are withdrawn from customs custody. The package gauge record may be prepared by the insular gauger at the time of their withdrawal from an insular bonded warehouse, as provided in § 26.204, or, if not prepared by the insular gauger, the package gauge record must be prepared by the insular consignor.

(b) Reporting information for release from customs custody. A person bringing distilled spirits, natural wines, or beer into the United States from the Virgin Islands under this subpart, if filing electronically, must file with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) the information specified in this section at the time of filing the entry or entry summary, as appropriate, along with any other information that is required by CBP to be filed with the entry or entry summary for purposes of administering the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act). Any information required by this section that is also required by, and filed with, CBP as part of the entry or entry summary for purposes of meeting CBP requirements will satisfy the requirements of this section. Regardless of the method of filing, the importer must retain all of the information required by this section and any supporting documentation and make it available for inspection by the appropriate TTB officer or a customs officer. The following information is required:

(1) The number of the importer's basic permit issued under the FAA Act and the regulations issued pursuant to the FAA Act (27 CFR part 1), if applicable, as required by 27 CFR 1.20, and the importer's employer identification number (EIN) associated with that permit;

(2) The name and address of the ultimate consignee;

(3) The TTB-issued IRC registry number of the ultimate consignee;

(4) The quantity of each distilled spirit, natural wine, or beer in the shipment (in proof liters or proof gallons, for distilled spirits); and

(5) Information identifying each product for Internal Revenue Code and/or FAA Act purposes.

(c) Maintenance of substantiating records. The importer bringing the distilled spirits, wines, or beer into the United States must maintain records to substantiate the information required under paragraph (b) of this section in accordance with the record retention requirements of § 26.276 and must provide them upon request of the appropriate TTB officer or a customs officer.

When a shipment of distilled spirits from customs custody to the distilled spirits plant is made in a tank, tank barge, cargo container, tank car, tank truck, or similar bulk conveyance, all openings affording access to the spirits shall be sealed by the customs officer with customs seals in such manner as will prevent unauthorized removal of spirits through such openings without detection.

Proprietors of distilled spirits plants who receive Virgin Islands spirits under this subpart shall follow the requirements in 27 CFR part 19 for spirits received by transfer in bond. However, proprietors are not required to file application on TTB Form 5100.16 to receive Virgin Islands spirits from customs custody.