How TABC License Renewal Works, and What Triggers a Renewal Problem

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A Texas alcohol license or permit expires two years after it is issued and is renewed in TABC’s online system, AIMS. TABC accepts renewals from 30 days before the expiration date until 30 days after it, with a late fee after expiration, but the business must stop licensed activity once the license expires unless a renewal with fees is already pending. After those 30 days, only a new original application is possible. The blocks that TABC and the Code name directly are unpaid local fees or taxes, delinquent property taxes on the premises, and the grounds for denying any application; information on file that no longer matches the business can also surface at renewal.

The cycle

  • Term. Under Section 11.09 of the Alcoholic Beverage Code, a permit expires on the second anniversary of its issue date, and secondary authorizations such as a Food and Beverage Certificate or Late Hours Certificate expire with the primary permit.
  • Notice. TABC notifies license holders before expiration.
  • Where. Renewal is filed in AIMS, selecting the license and any subordinate authorizations to renew with it. Paper renewal is still possible but slower.
  • Fee. The renewal fee is TABC’s two-year fee for the license type; for a Mixed Beverage Permit, TABC’s fee chart lists a lower renewal fee than the original fee.

The renewal window

TABC’s renewal page sets the timing:

Timing What happens
Up to 30 days before expiration renewal may be filed
Expiration date licensed activity must stop unless a renewal application with fees is pending
Up to 30 days after expiration renewal still possible, with a late fee
More than 30 days after expiration renewal no longer available; a new original application and fees are required

A license that lapses past the 30-day grace period means starting over, including any notices, certifications, and signs an original application requires.

What blocks a renewal

  • Local fees and taxes. TABC’s renewal page says a business cannot renew until it has paid all local fees and taxes, and tells license holders to confirm with the local tax assessor-collector before renewing.
  • Delinquent property taxes. Under Section 11.38(e), TABC may cancel or deny a retail permit, including one with a Food and Beverage Certificate, if the holder has not paid delinquent ad valorem taxes due on the premises or from a business operated there.
  • The same grounds that apply to an original application. Section 11.46(a) applies to renewal applications as well as original ones, including a false or missing answer on the application, debts to the state under the Alcoholic Beverage Code, and certain convictions.
  • Information that has changed. New owners or officers, a changed entity, or a changed premises that was never reported to TABC can surface when the renewal is reviewed.
  • Open compliance items. A missed annual compliance report or an unresolved violation can complicate the file.

A renewal calendar

  1. 60 days out. Confirm local fees and property taxes are paid, check that ownership, officer, and premises information in AIMS is current, and resolve any open compliance items.
  2. 30 days out. File the renewal in AIMS with the subordinate authorizations selected, and pay the fee.
  3. Expiration date. Confirm the renewal is pending or approved; if not, stop alcohol sales until it is.

This article is general information about Texas alcoholic beverage law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes and TABC rules change; confirm current requirements with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the relevant city or county, or a licensed Texas attorney before acting.

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