Liquor Returns lodgement guide

The purpose of this lodgement guide is to provide guidance for licensees completing annual liquor returns.

In accordance with section 146 (1) and (2) of the Liquor Control Act 1988 (the Act), the Director of Liquor Licensing requires that an annual liquor sales return be completed by certain licensees and submitted to the department on or before 31 July.

Content and lodgement

The liquor return requires you to submit the total sales (litres and $) for the financial year for each sale that you have made to a WA liquor merchant (holders of their own liquor licences).

The liquor return is required to be lodged electronically via the department’s portal.

Please sign in to the online account held in the name of the licensee or create a new account if the licensee doesn’t already have one. Note: this account is not the one used to renew an approved managers card, unless the liquor licence is held as an individual.

If you have created a new account please record your username and password for subsequent log in.

On the online portal data can be uploaded manually or via a spreadsheet saved in the CSV (comma separated value) format.  Manual entered returns are only recommended when entering returns consisting of a few lines of date.  Returns over 20 lines of data should be completed via uploading a CSV file.

Definitions

Low volume liquor (low alcohol content) - As defined under the Act, the concentration of ethanol shall not exceed 3.5%

High volume liquor - All liquor not classed as low volume

Liquor merchant - Means a person who holds a permanent liquor licence under the Act to sell liquor 

Volume - Litres (must be reported as a whole number)

Value - Is the total amount you received for the sale of that liquor - format as a number not as currency.

 

Offence

It is an offence to fail to lodge this return by 31 July (penalty $10,000) or to include in the return information that is false or misleading (penalty $10,000).

Liquor return templates

Return lodgement through an account

The licensee's account will be used to submit your return this year and in subsequent years.  It can be used during the course of the reporting period to intermittently enter sales and save your progress or alternatively you can lodge the return in one transaction. 

If you already have an account with the department sign in with your existing username and password and skip step 1.

1.  Creating an account

First you must create an account. This account will be used to submit your applications, returns and change your address details.

• Visit the online portal (opens a new window)
  
• Select Create Account.
  
• Add all required fields and click Register.
  • The username must be in lowercase letters and cannot contain spaces or symbols such as @, !, &.
  • The password must be at least 8 characters long and contain at least 1 number, 1 uppercase and 1 lowercase letters.
• An email will be sent to the email entered when completing the required fields.
  • Go to your email account and locate the registration email and click on the registration link to complete your account creation.
  • If copying the registration link please ensure you copy and paste the entire link into your internet browser.
• To complete the account verification, log into your account when prompted by entering your username and password.
• Click Register to finalise and activate your account.

Once your details have been entered and registered, you will not be required to register your details again. You can amend your details at anytime by logging into your account.

If you experience any issues with the account creation process please contact our department on 61 8 6551 4999.

Completing an annual liquor return

1. Login to Your Licence/Business’s Online Account on our website portal: https://portal.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/
2. Click New Lodgement.
3. Select Liquor and Annual Liquor Return then click Submit.
4. Once you hit submit, it will ask if you wish to review your contact details. If you do not want to, please ensure you select NO to progress.
5. Complete all mandatory boxes and the details entered will be lodged after submitting.
6. Make sure you click on submit after uploading otherwise the return will not be submitted.
7. If you need to leave this page before completion, save and take note of the reference number that will be displayed.
   

Disclaimer

This information is designed to provide authoritative information regarding the subject matter covered, and with the understanding that the Director is not passing legal opinion or interpretation or other professional advice. The information is provided on the understanding that all persons undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its contents.