The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has announced that they have officially closed due to a lapse in government funding. The TTB has advised industry members that only websites supporting excepted functions will be updated unless otherwise funded. The TTB website, www.ttb.gov, will be available during this shutdown period, and users will continue to be able to file electronic payments and returns for federal excise taxes and operational reports through https://www.pay.gov/paygov/.
Users will also be able to access TTB’s eGovernment applications, including Permits Online, Formulas Online, and COLAs Online, during the shutdown period, but submissions will not be reviewed or approved until appropriations are enacted. In addition, other information on the website may not be up to date, and TTB will not be able to respond to questions or comments submitted via the website until appropriations are enacted.TTB has directed employees NOT to report to work and that they are prohibited by federal law from volunteering their services during a lapse in appropriations. Once funding has been restored and the government shutdown is over, the TTB will work to restore regular service as soon as possible.
It is unclear how many TTB employees will continue working during the current government shutdown, or how long the shutdown will last.