Metro Nashville Fixing Liquor Privilege Tax?

Many restauranteurs and bar owners have been badgered by Nashville for payment of two or three years of past due fees for a "liquor by the ounce permit." We have been following the issue and advising owners to hold invoices until a couple of legal questions are resolved.

As expected, Metro has changed the way the liquor tax is collected. Several folks have received letters like the following:

We have been in contact with the Metro Collections Office about the legality of collecting back taxes and the tax rate assessed. We continue to advise licensees to hold invoices pending discussions. Although some tax is definitely due, the amount may be significantly less than originally invoiced by Metro.

Stay tuned.