Alcohol Permit Holders May Owe a Bexar County Fee

Clear your TABC permit and you may still have a Bexar County step waiting. The Tax Assessor-Collector here acts as an authorized agent of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which means the local layer of alcohol licensing comes through the same office that handles your vehicle registration.

Once your state permit is in hand, the Tax Assessor's Office mails a notice to pay the county liquor permit fee — generally half of what you paid the state. Hold a mixed beverage permit and there's a second notice coming: in your third year of operation, you owe another fee equal to one-half of the state amount, so the cost doesn't all land in year one.

Opening or renewing a restaurant, bar, store, or one-off event alcohol permit means working two doors, not one. The TABC license gets you legal with the state; the Bexar County Tax Office handles the local fee that finishes the picture.