27 CFR § 20.203 - Losses on premises.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t27/s20.203"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "27 CFR § 20.203 - Losses on premises."
title_number: 27
title_name: "Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms"
section_number: "20.203"
section_name: "Losses on premises."
chapter_name: "ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY"
subchapter_number: "A"
subchapter_name: "ALCOHOL"
part_number: "20"
part_name: "DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF DENATURED ALCOHOL AND RUM"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "26 U.S.C. 5001, 5206, 5214, 5271-5275, 5311, 5552, 5555, 5607, 6065, 6109, 7805."
regulatory_source: "T.D. ATF-199, 50 FR 9162, Mar. 6, 1985, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "20"
---


# 20.203 Losses on premises.

(a) *Recording of losses.* A permittee shall determine and record, in the records prescribed by subpart P of this part, the quantity of specially denatured spirits or recovered alcohol lost on premises:

(1) When an inventory is taken,

(2) At the time a container is emptied, or

(3) Immediately upon the discovery of any loss due to casualty, theft or other unusual causes.

(b) *Claims.* A claim for allowance of specially denatured spirits will be filed as prescribed in § 20.205, in the following circumstances:

(1) If the quantity lost during the annual accounting period (§ 20.263(c)) exceeds one percent of the quantity to be accounted for during that period, and is more than 50 gallons; or,

(2) If the loss was due to theft or unlawful use or removal, the permittee shall file a claim for allowance of losses regardless of the quantity involved.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1513-0062)

[T.D. ATF-199, 50 FR 9162, Mar. 6, 1985, as amended by T.D. TTB-140, 81 FR 59456, Aug. 30, 2016]