A TABC license doesn’t renew itself. Miss the deadline, and your business has to stop selling alcohol, even if you did everything right for two years. Here’s how to renew a TABC license, when to start, and how to avoid the mistakes that cost Texas bars and restaurants their license.
Short answer: To renew a TABC license, log in to TABC’s AIMS portal, select your license, choose “Renewal,” and submit the application and fees. You can renew up to 30 days before your expiration date. TABC also lets you renew up to 30 days after expiration with a late fee, but you can’t sell alcohol during that gap.
When Does a TABC License Expire?
A TABC license or permit lasts two years and expires on its second anniversary. Your expiration date appears on the license itself, which must stay posted at your business. If you can’t find it, look up your license in AIMS.
Mark the date on a shared calendar and give two people responsibility for it. Most missed renewals trace back to one person leaving the business.
Your Renewal Window
| Timing | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 days before expiration | You can file your renewal in AIMS |
| Before the expiration date | Your license stays active, and you keep selling |
| Up to 30 days after expiration | You can still renew, but you owe a late fee and must stop licensed activities unless your renewal and fees are already pending |
| More than 30 days after expiration | You can’t renew. You must file a new original application |
Don’t wait for the last day. File as soon as the window opens, because local checks and payment problems can slow you down.
How to Renew a TABC License in AIMS
TABC’s Alcohol Industry Management System is the standard way to renew. Follow these steps:
- Pay local fees and taxes first. Depending on your location, your city or county may charge a local fee. Contact your local tax assessor-collector before you renew, because TABC won’t process the renewal until you’ve paid those local fees and taxes.
- Log in to AIMS. If your account covers several business entities, click the entity that holds the license.
- Select the license or permit that needs renewal.
- Choose “Renewal” from the dropdown menu and click “Take Action.”
- Include your subordinate licenses. Add-ons like a Late Hours Certificate or Food and Beverage Certificate must be selected too, or they’ll lapse.
- Review your information. Confirm your trade name, ownership details, and contact information are current.
- Submit your bond if required. Mixed Beverage Permit holders often need to renew their surety bond.
- Pay the renewal fees and submit.
TABC’s license and permit renewals page walks through the same steps if you want to compare.
Gather These Details Before You Start
Having everything ready saves time:
- Your license or permit number and issue date
- Your trade name and ownership information
- The best contact person for TABC
- Your bond information, if your permit requires one
- Proof you’ve paid local fees and taxes
What Happens If Your License Expires
An expired license means you must stop licensed activities. That includes selling alcohol, even though your doors may stay open for food or other sales.
If you’re within the 30-day grace period, you can still file a renewal with a late fee. But if you miss that window, your license is gone. You have to apply again from scratch, which means a new application, new local certifications, and the same waiting period as a brand-new business.
For a bar or restaurant, that can mean months without alcohol revenue. Our TABC license renewal guide explains how to build a renewal system that prevents this. If you’ve already missed the window, our Alcohol License Acquisition service can file the new original application for you.
Report Changes Before You Renew
Renewal is a good moment to check that TABC has your current information. You must notify TABC within 30 days of changes such as a new trade name, a location change, or a change in ownership. TABC’s page on managing and reporting changes to an existing license shows how to do it in AIMS.
Unreported changes can complicate your renewal and raise compliance questions later.
Common Renewal Mistakes
- Waiting until the expiration date to start Forgetting to pay local city or county fees first
- Renewing the main license but not the add-on certificates
- Letting a surety bond lapse
- Relying on one employee who later leaves
- Ignoring ownership changes that TABC should know about
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I renew my TABC license?
Log in to AIMS, select your license, choose “Renewal,” and submit the application with payment.
How early can I renew my TABC license?
You can renew up to 30 days before your expiration date.
Can I renew after my TABC license expires?
Yes, for up to 30 days after expiration, with a late fee. After that, you must file a new application.
Can I sell alcohol during the grace period?
No. You must stop licensed activities after expiration unless your renewal and fees are already pending.
How long does a TABC license last?
Two years. It expires on its second anniversary.
Do I need to renew add-on certificates separately?
You select them during the same renewal, so make sure each subordinate license is checked.
Do I have to pay local fees before renewing?
Yes. TABC can’t process your renewal until you’ve paid local fees and taxes.
What if I lose my renewal reminder?
Look up your expiration date in AIMS. Don’t depend on a reminder alone.
The Bottom Line
Renewing a TABC license is simple when you plan for it: pay local fees, log in to AIMS, select every license and add-on, and file in the 30 days before expiration. The cost of missing the window is a brand-new application and months of lost alcohol sales.
Want someone else to track your renewals? Schedule a free consultation with Texas Alcohol Consulting and we’ll manage the deadlines, local steps, and filing through our TABC Licensing service.