Each manufacturer, wholesaler, distributor, or retailer first receiving untaxed bottled soft drinks, syrups, premixed soft drink, or powders and bases for sale or disposition in this State is subject to a tax at the rate of one dollar and twenty-two cents a gross for each one cent of face value in the case of bottled soft drinks and a tax at the rates prescribed in this article for syrups, premixed soft drink, or powders and bases. Each manufacturer, wholesaler, distributor, or retailer required to pay the tax shall make a report to the commission, in the form as the commission may prescribe, of all bottled soft drinks, syrups, premixed soft drink, powders and bases sold or disposed of in this State and pay the taxes due thereon not later than the twentieth day of the month next succeeding the month of the sale or disposition. However, a wholesaler or distributor making shipments of soft drinks to retail locations in and out of this State may apply to the commission for a license which enables them to purchase soft drinks tax free, and report and pay the tax as provided in this section on sales of soft drinks sold to locations in this State.