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Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS) FAQs

We update this page with new FAQs to help you use the Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS). Find videos and step-by-step user guides on our How To Use AIMS page

General

Contact our AIMS Industry Support team:

  • Call: (512) 206-3333 and ask to speak to someone with the TABC Industry Support Team.
  • Email: stakeholder@tabc.texas.gov and type "AIMS Question" into the subject line.

When on the AIMS login page, go to the bottom of the page and click Forgot Password. You will need to enter your username and answer your security questions.

AIMS is your new hub for conducting your TABC business. You should use AIMS for submitting applications and completing other TABC tasks. The processing time will be quicker, and AIMS will automate some of your work to save you time. For example, certifications and other forms in AIMS will be pre-filled based on information you provide in your AIMS account.

While we have published new paper application forms, we highly recommend you apply through AIMS because they take longer to process, whether emailed or mailed.

Once you complete the onboarding process, all licenses and permits held by a single entity will be available within your AIMS account.

View the onboarding schedule.

License holders can choose to not use AIMS at this time. But if you follow this manual process, TABC staff must manually enter all applications and information you submitted. This manual process will result in longer wait times to conduct transactions with TABC and process an application.

A principal party, or their designated representative, will create their Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS) account and submit a Claim Business request for each business entity they own or represent.

A third party should create an AIMS account and advise the principal party to invite them as an authorized additional user to each of the business entities they should access.

Learn more on the How To Use AIMS page.

Access requests go into our work queue. We don’t anticipate it being a long process once you're up in the queue, but overall timing will depend on how many businesses have set up their account for access before you. We’re working to make sure it flows as smoothly and quickly as possible for your convenience.   

Yes. After logging into your AIMS account, click the profile button in the top right and click Change Email. If you have issues, contact TABC.

Yes, unless the principal party chooses to make you their designee to set up their account on their behalf. See this guide.

Yes. You can have more than one prime and delegated user.

Yes. We do not recommend sharing accounts. Each user should set up their own AIMS account. They will see all business entities on which they've been made a user.

A delegated user can access all the same information and has the same abilities as a prime user. The only exception is a delegated user can’t add/invite more users to access AIMS for that business.

Yes. You can remove a user from your account if you’re a prime user.

Yes. Log in to your AIMS account and click the menu button (icon with three white lines) at the top left of the screen. Then click Additional Users. 

AIMS can be used on any device with internet, including mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. You can use Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge internet browsers to access the system. AIMS is not compatible with Internet Explorer.

About 70 data fields were migrated from the existing licensing system into AIMS. These data fields fall into groupings that include business name, trade name, location information, contact information (e.g., phone numbers and email addresses), ownership, officers’ names, and your new license type under the license structure effective Sept. 1, 2021.

The following types of file formats are allowed for upload:  

  • PDF
  • XLS
  • DOC
  • DOCX
  • JPG
  • PNG
  • JPEG
  • CSV

Each file you upload can be up to 5 MB. Some areas in AIMS will accept one and/or multiple files.

Yes. All current license holders will be issued a new license number. You can find your new license number on the AIMS homepage by clicking the Search button under Public Actions. The Claim Business tool in AIMS will accept most old license numbers.

No. Now that license holders can download and print their licenses in AIMS through the Self-service tool, TABC no longer prints and mails them.

Yes. A principal party, or their designated representative, will create their AIMS account and submit a Claim Business request for each business entity they own or represent. Then the principal party can invite their license service as an authorized additional user to each of the business entities they should access.

No. AIMS will only support the license and permit types that took effect Sept. 1, 2021. You can find your new license number on the AIMS homepage by clicking the Search button under Public Actions.

There are two type of account users in AIMS:

  • Prime users linked to the business entity will receive notifications for all business entity actions. License location point of contacts will receive specific license email notifications.
  • Delegated users will not receive notification for business entity actions.

While there is currently no limit, we recommend having no more than 50 users.

This means that TABC staff made a change to your application based on the information you provided during the application process. If any additional information is required, a separate email will be sent to you directly from TABC.

This account was added by TABC for internal purposes only. You can delete it by clicking the red trash-can icon next to the account. Only authorized users and certain members of TABC staff have access to your account. It is the account holder's responsibility to maintain their list of authorized users. For questions about account management, please send an email to stakeholder@TABC.texas.gov with“AIMS Question” in the subject line.

There are three ways to request a permanent change of diagram for your premises:

1. At the time of renewal in the Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS)

2. At the time of renewal by mail

  • Fill out Diagram Form (L-D). 
  • Submit by mail along with a completed renewal application along with payment to: 

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission

P.O. Box 13127

Austin, TX 78711-3127

Or overnight to:

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission

5806 Mesa Drive Austin, TX

78731-3765

3. Between renewal periods

To request a temporary change to your location or diagram, contact your local office for requirements.

You received this email because your unsubmitted application is close to reaching 90 days of inactivity. Please log in to your account as soon as possible and review any applications in Unsubmitted Transactions. If no action is taken to submit the application, it may be removed from the system and you will need to start a new one.

AIMS will send an email notifying you to log in to your account to complete the transaction before it reaches 90 days of inactivity. If you do not complete the transaction before it expires, it may be removed from the system. You will need to start and submit a new application from your AIMS dashboard.

Onboarding

Yes. You can use Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. AIMS is not compatible with Safari and Internet Explorer. 

Getting locked out occurs if you enter information that does not match the records in the system. Here are a few best practices that can help you avoid any issues.

  • If you see an error, don’t keep resubmitting the same information – If you attempt to claim a business three times with information that does not match the records in AIMS, your account will be locked. Try gathering the information in the steps below or reaching out to stakeholder@tabc.texas.gov for assistance.
  • Use your new AIMS license number – Although the system accepts old (legacy) license numbers, using your new number can help ensure a smooth transition. Lookup your new AIMS number using your trade name and the License Search feature or the TABC Licenses lookup table (read more about using this table below).
  • Use principal officer information – ensure that you are using principal officers of the primary business entity that holds the license or will be applying for the license.

How To Use the TABC Licenses Lookup Table

Important Notes

  • Do not use this list to verify whether a license is active. The list includes businesses with various statuses.
  • The list does not include all old license and permit numbers. Due to consolidation, one old license number is listed for each new license number. This chart helps explain how licenses were consolidated.

You can take one of the following actions:

  • Wait 24 hours for your account to automatically unlock.
  • Email stakeholder@tabc.texas.gov and include:
    • Your account username.
    • The email address used to create your account.

Although licensing staff will attempt to unlock your account as quickly as possible before it automatically unlocks, it could take up to 24 hours for your account to unlock because of the large number of businesses onboarding into AIMS.

This could happen if your system is marking the email as spam, junk or other designations. Check your email options and see if there is a way to move this email to your regular inbox or report it as not a phishing email. Then check the email to see if the hyperlink appears.

If you still aren’t seeing the hyperlink, contact our Industry Support Team by calling 512-206-3333 and asking to speak to someone with the TABC Industry Support Team or emailing stakeholder@tabc.texas.gov with “AIMS Question” in the subject line.

During account creation, you can enter your country code and number in the phone number field. Do not use dashes or parentheses.

If the Welcome to AIMS page does not display when you first log in and you need to claim your business or create a business within AIMS:

  • Go to the top-right corner of your screen.
  • Click the circle with the silhouette of a person on it.
  • Click Add Another Business.
  • The Welcome to AIMS page should appear on your screen, and you can begin claiming your business or creating a new business in AIMS.

If the above step does not work or you don’t see the proper menu options to take that step, try logging out of AIMS and logging back in until you can see the circle with the silhouette of a person on it in the very top right corner of your screen, and then click this button and select “Add Another Business.” Sometimes, depending on how your browser caches pages you've visited, this might take multiple tries or you clearing your cache. Click here for instructions for clearing your browser cache.

If you’ve tried both of these things and  the issue is still not resolved, email stakeholder@tabc.texas.gov to alert TABC of the problem.

Although you can, some users have experienced trouble with the old licenses numbers due to license consolidation and other factors. Using your new AIMS license number is the best option. All licensed businesses have been issued new license numbers for AIMS as of Sept. 1, 2021.

There are three ways to find your AIMS license number:

Search by trade name to find your new AIMS license number. When entering your AIMS license number, use digits only. Do not use any of the letters that come before your license number.

If AIMS isn’t recognizing your license number after following the steps above, check that you’re entering the:

  • AIMS license number for the primary license associated with your business entity.
  • Correct AIMS license number that corresponds with the business entity for which you are onboarding.
  • AIMS license number in the correct field (“AIMS License Number”).

If this does not fix the issue, email stakeholder@tabc.texas.gov to alert TABC of the problem.

  • Enter the number into the field instead of copying and pasting it.
  • Check that there are no spaces in the field after you enter the number.  
  • Check that the SSN you’re entering matches the one on file with TABC for the principal party of the business entity that’s onboarding. If entering a FEIN, check that it matches the FEIN provided to TABC for the business entity that’s onboarding.

If this does not resolve the issue, email stakeholder@tabc.texas.gov to alert TABC of the problem.

AIMS uses a calendar tool to make sure dates are entered correctly.

Option 1

  • Click your mouse on the date of birth field and type the two numbers representing your birth month (the words day and year should appear after you type in your birth month number)
  • Click the word “day” and type the day of the month you were born.
  • Click the word “year” and type your birth year.

Option 2 (see video clip)

  • Click the image of the calendar on the far-right side of the field (it should show the current date).
  • Click the month and year at the top of the calendar and the calendar will zoom out to show all months of the current year.
  • Click the year at the top of the calendar and the calendar will zoom out to show multiple years.
  • Now use the arrows at the top of the calendar and click through until you see your birth year in the calendar.
  • Click on your birth year and the calendar will display all months of that year.
  • Click on your birth month and the calendar will display all days of that month.
  • Click on your birth date.

If you’re a business entity adding additional users:

Make sure you’re entering the exact email address that the additional user has used or will use to create their own AIMS account.

If you’re being added as an additional user:

  • Create your AIMS account by using the same email address as the one used to add you as an additional user.
  • Before accepting your Additional User status through the Confirm Access Request email, make sure you’ve created your AIMS account first and are currently logged in to that account using the same email address as the one used to add you as an additional user.

Once you have confirmed these two things, then you can click on the link in the email to accept access.

TABC is aware of this instruction in AIMS and working to make updates. Read about current requirements on our Sign Requirements webpage.

New laws took effect Sept. 1, 2021, that consolidated many licenses into a single license.

See the Sept. 1 License Consolidation Explained Chart.

Notice the new description for the Package Store Permit (P) and the Wine-Only Package Store Permit (Q) authorizes the sale of malt beverages to consumers for off-premise consumption, in addition to the other beverages they authorize.

Your P and Q permits now includes the ability to sell malt beverages, which is the new beverage category that combines what was formerly known as beer and ale. The BF permit allowed you to sell beer, but since that is now covered in the P and Q permit, you no longer need the separate BF — it  has essentially been consolidated into your P and Q permits. So, that's why the BF doesn't show up in your account.

License and permit holders who had August 2021 expiration dates, renewed in August 2021 or had new licenses issued in August 2021 are still being migrated to the new Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS). 

What This Means for Your Business

  • If you were issued a new license in August 2021, or renewed your license in August 2021 using TABC’s old online system, and you have no other primary licenses:
    • You do not need to access AIMS at this point. Your AIMS onboarding month is July 2022.
    • If you need to complete TABC tasks for the license you renewed or were issued in August: See the last bullet “If you need to complete TABC tasks now.”
  • If you renewed your license in August using TABC’s old online system, and you have additional primary licenses that are scheduled to onboard in AIMS in September or October:
    • You can onboard using the information for your licenses with September or October expiration dates. However, you will not see the licenses you renewed in August in your AIMS account. TABC is aware of this and will finish moving this data over within the next several weeks.
    • If you need to complete TABC tasks for the license you renewed or were issued in August: See the last bullet “If you need to complete TABC tasks now.”
  • If you have an August 2021 expiration date and need to renew within your 30-day grace period: You must submit your renewal through TABC’s old system. Visit the TABC License and Permit Renewals page. Navigate to the section Businesses with August 2021 License Expiration Dates Only and click the Online Services Portal link. If you need help with this step, call TABC Licensing at 512-206-3360.
  • If you need to complete TABC tasks now for the license you renewed or were issued in August 2021: Your license data is not yet in AIMS so you cannot onboard into AIMS to complete licensing tasks for the license with an August 2021 expiration date. TABC will be completing this data migration within the next several weeks. In the meantime, you must use the forms available on TABC’s website and submit those to complete any needed licensing tasks. Common tasks:
    • Temporary Event Authorization: Use the forms listed on the Temporary Event Authorization page.
    • Breach of Peace: File this report using the PDF form on the Breach of Peace page.
    • For all other tasks and applications, we encourage you to wait and file in AIMS. However, you may also contact TABCs Licensing division for help finding the forms you need now. Please contact TABC’s Licensing division at 512-206-3360 or licensing@tabc.texas.gov.

We are aware and working to update data in the system. Wholesalers and distributors have also been notified, and a notice has been posted to the TABC website.


If you have an August 2021 renewal date and have renewed your license, please retain either of these options:

  • A copy of proof of payment and a copy of your online renewal submission screen.
  • Your renewed license, if you have applied and received the license by mail (August 2021 renewals are the last license holders who will receive licenses by mail).

We'll work with you to resolve the issue.

If you know the business FEIN and AIMS is not accepting it

If you don’t know the business FEIN

  • If the business is based in the United States: Locate your FEIN or apply for one through the IRS. Email stakeholder@tabc.texas.gov to update the FEIN on file. TABC will follow up to confirm you can start using AIMS.
  • If the business is outside the US: Email stakeholder@tabc.texas.gov

While we work with you to update this information, you can:

  • Temporary Event Authorization: Use the forms listed on the Temporary Event Authorization page.
  • Breach of Peace: File this report using the PDF form on the Breach of Peace page.
  • For all other tasks and applications, we encourage you to wait and file in AIMS. However, you may also contact TABCs licensing division for help finding the forms you need now. Please contact TABC’s licensing division at 512-206-3360 or licensing@tabc.texas.gov.

Email stakeholder@tabc.texas.gov and describe the issue. Our Industry Support Team can help.

Email stakeholder@tabc.texas.gov and describe the issue. Our Industry Support Team can help.

Licensing

You only need to upload a Secretary of State Certificate of Formation or Certificate of Fact in the Certificates of Good Standing screen when applying for a license in AIMS. 

You do not need to upload anything from the Comptroller of Public Accounts on the screen linked below. Ignore the reference to the Comptroller’s office. You will be provided a document later in your application process in order to complete and submit a Comptroller certification.

Example: View Certificates of Good Standing screen.

If you do not have the Secretary of State Certificate of Formation or Certificate of Fact on file, use the links below to get them.

Where to order: From the Secretary of State’s SOSDirect system.
How to order: View instructions.

If you are not required to register the business with the Texas Secretary of State: Download the Certificate of Good Standing — No Certification Required document and upload it on the Certificates of Good Standing page in AIMS, as described in the document.

You'll be prompted to upload a digital copy of this document under the Certificates of Good Standing section of your application in AIMS.

Sample: View Certificate of Fact.

Sample: View Certificate of Formation.

You need to upload the Comptroller of Public Accounts Certificates paperwork included in the AIMS Application Summary to the Affidavits and Certifications section of your application.

You do not need to upload anything from the Comptroller of Public Accounts on the Certificates of Good Standing section of your application. You only need to upload your Secretary of State Certificate of Formation or Certificate of Fact to that screen.

1. Complete the information for each portion of your application by clicking through each tile or button on your AIMS application screen. When you click the final button, Finalize Application, you will see several screens, including an Application Summary you can download and print. This summary includes a Comptroller of Public Accounts Certificates page.

Example: View Comptroller of Public Accounts Certificates paperwork from AIMS.

2. Bring this form to your local Comptroller of Public Accounts Office to complete it. View a list of Comptroller Offices.

3. Once the Comptroller’s Office has completed the certificates, upload a digital copy to the Affidavits and Certificates section of your application. To get to that page, go to your AIMS Dashboard and resume your application by clicking the Unsubmitted Transactions button. When you click the Finalize Application button, you will be directed through several screens. One of these is titled Affidavits and Certifications. Upload the document by clicking the Select Files button under the heading Comptroller of public accounts certificate.

Example: View Affidavits and Certificates page from AIMS.

You can find your new license number on the AIMS homepage by clicking the Search button under Public Actions. When you complete the onboarding process, you can view the new license and permit numbers by clicking the View my Licenses button on your AIMS dashboard.

TABC has also released a TABC Licenses lookup table. If you use this table, keep in mind:

How to use the TABC Licenses Lookup table

Important Notes

  • Do not use this list to verify whether a license is active. The list includes businesses with various statuses.
  • The list does not include all old license and permit numbers. Due to consolidation, one old license number is listed for each new license number. This chart helps explain how licenses were consolidated.  

 

Yes. Once TABC has processed and approved your Claim Business request, you can start accessing the information linked to your entity.

Yes. All license holders and applicants will follow the same steps for creating an AIMS account, and claiming or creating their business in AIMS.

There is a fee for credit card payments, but not for ACH payments.

An authorized user or a principal party can enter and submit an application.

If you currently hold an active TABC license or permit, you’ll be able to add a licensing service to your account to act on your behalf.  Existing license holders will submit original applications through their new AIMS account.

If you do not currently hold a TABC license or permit, you’ll need to create a new AIMS account before applying.

Once the account administrator for your account is set up in AIMS and you’ve claimed your business (i.e., confirm licenses, permits, etc.), the account administrator can assign access to a licensing agent from your AIMS dashboard in the User Management tool. Licensing agents can have access to multiple accounts when properly assigned by each license or permit holder.

Yes. You will have to set up your AIMS account when your business is scheduled to onboard. Then, you’ll be able to add the licensing service to your account. You and your licensing service can access the account from that point on, and you can both complete tasks like submitting renewals.

View the onboarding schedule here.

No. AIMS is an entirely different system, so the logins you currently use will not apply.

Your account information, including each license or permit currently held, will be available to you in AIMS. But your past paperwork will not be transferred into AIMS.

Officer or ownership changes can be reported to TABC at any time using AIMS, including at the time of renewal.

You will upload signed applications and documents.

Yes. AIMS still requires the license holder’s officers, their corresponding dates of birth, and the Owner of Property information.

Yes. Access the Public Inquiry System here

Yes. You can submit a request through by clicking the main menu (the icon with three white lines) and selecting Self-service to surrender your license.

Yes, but we highly recommended you submit your applications through AIMS because they will be processed quicker than paper applications.

Yes. The file size limit is 5 MB.

Product Registration

No. Approvals submitted and approved in the old (legacy) system stay valid but not be migrated into AIMS. 

You can search for registered products (previously known as “approved labels”) through the Approved Product Label Search on the Texas Open Data Portal. Learn more on our Approved Labels Search page.

One registration will cover all licenses. You do not need to register each product under every permit.

Yes. You’ll attach the product label that will be used on your container and Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) from the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).

You’ll receive an email any time an action is taken on your application. Click the View my labels button under the Available Actions section of your AIMS dashboard to see all approved products. 

We’ll send a request for information (RFI) to you by email. You can view and respond to this request by logging into your AIMS account and clicking the Items Awaiting Your Action button under the Applications and Status section of your dashboard.  

Yes. AIMS users can pay for up to 10 product registration applications in the Payment Cart. To learn how to use the Payment Cart, view the How to Pay for Transactions in Payment Cart guide (PDF).

Find the work item in the Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS) and select the Request to Edit button. Then provide details to TABC about the error. Once a processor reviews the request, they will reach out to you if they have any questions.

You can view them by logging in to your AIMS account and clicking the View my labels button under the Available Actions section of your dashboard.

There are two ways to look for approved labels and products.

Excise Tax

If you’re an existing permittee and are part of the first onboarding group, you may began filing excise tax reports in AIMS beginning Oct. 4, 2021. If you are a new permittee (permit issued after September 2021), you may submit your first excise tax report after the month in which your permit was approved.

For example, if your permit was approved on Oct. 14, 2021, you’ll be able to file starting Nov. 1, 2021, for the reporting month of October 2021.

You will not be required to use AIMS to submit your excise tax report, but we highly recommend that you submit through AIMS. AIMS gives you the ability to submit and pay at once and will avoid any possible delays faced with submitting by mail. You’ll be able to submit excise tax reports in AIMS starting Oct. 4, 2021.

Yes. As a nonresident seller permittee, you’ll be able to log in your AIMS account to submit your excise tax report.

Nonresident seller permittees will be able to submit their excise tax report through AIMS.

The report structure is not the same as the paper form, but the information we request is the same.

Yes. TABC staff can help you with your request. If you need to make changes to a submitted report, email excise.tax@tabc.texas.gov.

You’ll click the File excise tax button under the Available Actions section of your AIMS dashboard. This feature will be available in AIMS starting Oct. 4, 2021.

Yes. We’ll provide templates in AIMS.

Yes. You will be able to review and download previous filings by clicking the File excise tax button on your AIMS dashboard and then clicking the Excise Tax Report button. AIMS will keep excise tax reporting information for up to 13 months.

TABC’s Excise Tax staff will be able to enter the outstanding credit amount in AIMS within your account. If you have a credit balance and do not see this amount in your AIMS account, contact us.

Yes.

You’ll be able to file online through AIMS. You can still submit by paper, but it will take longer to process.

There’s no fee if you pay with ACH or TexNet. You would pay a fee if you use a credit card through Texas.gov.

Learn more on our Beer and Ale Changes page.

No. You won’t have to upload any invoices with your excise tax submissions. All invoice information needs to be included in your report. Keep these invoices in case we request the documents.

You will be able to use the online filing option instead of uploading your reporting information.

AIMS will not include RITS reporting. The RITS report is done through the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

You will fill all excise tax reports separately.