Georgia Liquor Bond: Requirements, Cost & Renewal Guide

Georgia Liquor Bond guide updated October 15, 2026

Prefer a quick summary before you apply? View the Georgia Liquor Bond application page.

Many Georgia alcohol licensees, from liquor stores and bars to distilleries, breweries, wineries, brokers, importers and wholesalers, must maintain a Georgia Liquor Bond of $2,500 to $10,000 as part of the state’s licensing process. The Georgia Department of Revenue requires these bonds for distilled spirits, malt beverage and wine licenses under the Georgia Alcoholic Beverage Code (Title 3 of the Official Code of Georgia). Each bond covers a license year that runs from January 1 through December 31. As a result, licensees who must file a bond for the next license year should obtain it before the December 31 deadline.

Understanding your bonding requirements can help you avoid licensing delays and remain compliant with Georgia law.

At American Surety Bonds Agency, qualified applicants can obtain seven of these bonds online through our Instant Issue platform, and the other three through our standard bond application. This makes it fast and easy to meet the state’s bonding requirements.

Jump to your license type:
Distilled spirits: Retail Liquor | Liquor Broker | Liquor Importer | Distillery | Distilled Spirits Wholesaler
Malt beverages: Brewpub | Brewery, Broker or Importer | Malt Beverage Wholesaler
Wine: Wine Wholesaler | Winery, Broker or Importer

The Georgia Liquor Bond goes by several names depending on where you look.

You may also see it called:

• Georgia Alcohol Bond
• Liquor License Bond
• Georgia Alcohol Tax Bond
• Performance and Tax Liability Bond

These all refer to the same Department of Revenue alcohol bonds described on this page. Georgia Liquor Bond is simply the common name used across the industry, and the official form itself is the Department of Revenue’s Standard Tax Bond Form (Rev. 10/04/24), completed for your specific bond type.

The Georgia Liquor Bond is a $2,500 to $10,000 license and permit bond required by the Georgia Department of Revenue for many alcohol licensees. In Georgia, the name covers ten Department of Revenue bonds, each tied to a specific license type. To see how alcohol bonds work in other states, visit our liquor bonds page.

For distilled spirits licenses, Section 3-4-22 of the Official Code of Georgia requires a bond that guarantees payment of taxes, license fees and other amounts owed to the state, along with any penalties for breaking Georgia’s distilled spirits laws. The surety must be licensed in Georgia. Beer and wine bonds carry the same promises on the Department’s bond form: the licensee will pay the taxes, fees, penalties, interest and collection costs it owes, and will follow Georgia law and the Revenue Commissioner’s rules.

When a licensee doesn’t pay what it owes or breaks those rules, the State may recover the unpaid amounts from the bond. This gives Georgia a dependable way to collect alcohol taxes and fees from a business that has fallen behind. The licensee, the surety or the state can cancel a bond by giving the other parties 60 days’ written notice.

You must obtain this bond if you are:

• Applying for a Georgia retail package or consumption on premises license to sell distilled spirits
• Licensed as a distilled spirits broker, importer, wholesaler or distillery
• Operating a brewpub or brewery, or brokering, importing or wholesaling malt beverages
• Licensed as a wine wholesaler, winery, farm winery, wine broker or wine importer
• An out-of-state winery shipping wine to Georgia consumers under a special order shipping license

Some state alcohol licenses don’t need a bond. The Department of Revenue lists no state bond for beer and wine retail dealer licenses, hotel in-room service licenses or special event permits. Separately, distilleries, breweries and wineries may also need a federal TTB bond from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

Alcohol businesses owe the state excise taxes, license fees and other amounts, so Georgia requires a guarantee that those amounts will be paid.

As a result, by requiring alcohol licensees to maintain a surety bond, Georgia helps:

• Protect state revenue when a licensee fails to pay taxes, fees, penalties or interest
• Encourage licensees to follow the Georgia Alcoholic Beverage Code and Department of Revenue rules
• Promote accountability across the state’s alcohol industry

Ultimately, by maintaining an active surety bond, alcohol licensees demonstrate their commitment to complying with Georgia law and meeting their obligations to the state.

Each license type has its own bond, amount and application. Find yours below.

The premium for most Georgia alcohol bonds starts as low as $100 for one year. Your premium may vary depending on the information provided during the application process.

Instant Issue bonds: for liquor brokers, liquor importers, distilleries, distilled spirits wholesalers, malt beverage wholesalers, wine wholesalers, and wineries, wine brokers and wine importers. The premium starts as low as $100 for one year, or as low as $120 for the $10,000 distillery bond. Except for the Liquor Broker Tax Bond, the online application for these bonds includes a credit check. The portal displays your final bond information and premium due before you complete payment.

Standard bond application bonds: for retail liquor licensees, brewpubs, breweries, and malt beverage brokers and importers. The premium starts as low as $100 for one year, and our team contacts you with your final premium after reviewing your application.

Each license type needs its own bond, so a business that holds more than one Georgia alcohol license pays a separate premium for each bond. If credit is a concern, see how we help applicants with bad credit get bonded.

One of the most important dates for Georgia alcohol licensees is December 31.

Georgia alcohol licenses expire on December 31, and the Department of Revenue’s renewal season runs from the first business day of September through December 31. The Department recommends renewing before November 1 so your new license arrives before January 1.

Each bond covers one license year, from January 1 through December 31, so it must be renewed each year to stay in force. When a non-retail licensee renews its license, the Department of Revenue requires a current bond on file for the new license year before the renewal can be filed.

To submit a renewal bond, log in to the Georgia Tax Center, open your alcohol license account, choose Submit Bond, and upload PDF copies of your bond and the surety’s power of attorney.

Instant Issue bonds are issued within minutes, while standard bond applications need time for underwriting review. For that reason, American Surety Bonds Agency recommends obtaining your bond early enough to submit it through the Georgia Tax Center before the December 31 deadline.

The Georgia Liquor Bond is available through two applications, depending on your license type.

Instant Issue Bonds

Bonds for liquor brokers, liquor importers, distilleries, distilled spirits wholesalers, malt beverage wholesalers, wine wholesalers, and wineries, wine brokers and wine importers are available through our secure Instant Issue platform:

1. Obtain your bond online using the link for your license type: Liquor Broker, Liquor Importer, Distillery, Distilled Spirits Wholesaler, Malt Beverage Wholesaler, Wine Wholesaler or Winery.
2. Enter Your Information. Complete the secure online application with your bond details.
3. Pay Securely. Pay for your bond by credit card.
4. Download Your Bond. Instantly download your bond, sign it on the licensee signature line, and upload it with the surety’s power of attorney through the Georgia Tax Center.

Standard Bond Application

Bonds for retail liquor licensees, brewpubs, breweries, and malt beverage brokers and importers use our standard bond application:

1. Start your application for your license type: Retail Liquor, Brewpub or Malt Beverage.
2. Underwriting Review. Our team reviews your application and contacts you with your premium.
3. Approve & Pay. Approve your bond terms and pay your premium.
4. Receive Your Bond. Receive your bond, sign it on the licensee signature line, and upload it with the surety’s power of attorney through the Georgia Tax Center.

Once your bond is filed with the Georgia Department of Revenue, you’re ready to obtain or renew your state alcohol license.

American Surety Bonds Agency has been helping businesses meet their surety bond requirements for decades. Whether you’re applying for your first Georgia alcohol license or renewing an existing license, our experienced team is here to help make the bonding process simple and efficient.

When you choose American Surety Bonds Agency, you’ll receive:

• Instant Issue available for qualified applicants
• Experienced surety bond professionals
• Competitive bond pricing
• Fast turnaround
• A secure online application process
• Convenient renewal reminders

Above all, we’re committed to helping businesses obtain the bonds they need with responsive service and experienced guidance every step of the way.

Don’t wait until your December 31 deadline.

American Surety Bonds Agency makes obtaining your Georgia Liquor Bond fast, affordable, and hassle-free.

Apply today and keep your license in good standing.

Choose Your Georgia Liquor Bond Application

Explore Georgia Surety Bonds

We offer a wide variety of Georgia commercial surety bonds for auto dealers, mortgage brokers, public adjusters, contractors, and many other licensed businesses.

Whether you need one bond or several, our experienced team is here to help.

Explore All Georgia Surety Bonds

Need a Georgia Certificate of Title Bond?

If you can’t provide standard proof of ownership for a vehicle, such as a lost title or one you never received, the Georgia Department of Revenue may require a Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title Bond before it issues a title.

Qualified applicants can obtain this bond online through our Instant Issue platform.

Obtain Your Georgia Certificate of Title Bond Online

Need an ERISA Bond?

Retirement plan fiduciaries and administrators are required under federal law to maintain an ERISA fidelity bond to help protect plan funds from fraud or dishonesty.

Our Instant Issue ERISA Bond Application covers single-employer retirement plans with bond amounts up to $500,000, and a team member will help you determine the right coverage amount.

Obtain Your ERISA Bond Online

Need a Bid Bond or Payment & Performance Bond?

American Surety Bonds Agency helps contractors obtain Bid Bonds and Payment & Performance Bonds for public and private construction projects.

Complete our Fast Track Contract Bond Application to get started, and a member of our contract bond team will contact you to discuss your project and bonding requirements.

Start the Fast Track Contract Bond Application

Complete our simple online application, or speak with one of our surety specialists today.

American Surety Bonds Agency proudly serves businesses nationwide with fast approvals, competitive rates, and responsive service.

American Surety can also assist you with any of your other bonding needs, as we are licensed in all 50 states. Call us today at (404) 486-2355 or our toll-free number (877) 201-8976 or find us on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn!