Flexibility Granted For Cook County, IL Vending Operators Regarding Sweetened Beverage Tax

In a recent letter to NAMA members, Eric Dell senior vice president of government affairs, explained the update in compliance following the passage of Cook County, IL's sweetened beverage tax.  

Excerpt from the letter: 

Following outreach and education by NAMA and Chicago convenience services industry leaders, we are happy to announce that the Cook County Department of Revenue has provided flexibility for certain vending operators to register as a distributor and remit the County's sweetened beverage tax payments directly. 

Following the passage of the Cook County sweetened beverage tax, NAMA began seeking compliance flexibility for vending operators and distributors. Following strong advocacy and education efforts with the Cook County Department of Revenue, which included an in-person visit to AH Management Group, Inc., flexibility to remit the tax was granted.  

The flexibility provides that retailers (vending operators) who meet the following criteria are permitted to register with the Department and remit monthly tax returns in the same manner as a distributor: 

(1) The retailer is not also a distributor by definition (further clarification provided   

      below); 

(2) The retailer has multiple (more than 2) retail locations, both inside and outside of 

      Cook County; 

(3) The retailer stores product it purchases from other businesses in a retail 

      distribution center; and 

(4) The retailer transports product from its retail distribution center to its retail 

      locations, both inside and outside of Cook County. 

"This common-sense flexibility will provide savings to vending operators and distributors while also streamlining the process for the Cook County Department of Revenue." We appreciate the Cook County Department of Revenue taking time to visit our location and educate themselves on the industry." said Linda Furlano, V.P. of Administration at AH Management Group, Inc. and Vice President of the Illinois Automatic Merchandising Council (IAMC). 

"This is yet another example of how results are achieved when industry leaders and NAMA partner to protect the industry. This is a big win." said Donnie Anderson, Chairman of Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors who assisted in this effort.  

The Cook County notice on this flexibility can be found by clicking here. We would like to thank the IAMC and the nearly 40 companies that signed the letter seeking this flexibility.