1999 Wisconsin Act 9

9,1748y Section 1748y. 71.43 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.43 (1) Income tax. For the purpose of raising revenue for the state and the counties, cities, villages and towns, there shall be assessed, levied, collected and paid a tax as provided under this chapter on all Wisconsin net incomes of corporations which that are not subject to the franchise tax under sub. (2) and which that own property within this state; that derive income from sources within this state or from activities that are attributable to this state; or whose business within this state during the taxable year, except as provided under s. 71.23 (3), consists exclusively of foreign commerce, interstate commerce, or both, or that buy or sell lottery prizes if the winning tickets were originally bought in this state; except as exempted under ss. 71.26 (1) and 71.45 (1). This section shall not be construed to prevent or affect the correction of errors or omissions in the assessments of income for former years under s. 71.74 (1) and (2).

9,1748yb Section 1748yb. 71.43 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.43 (2) Franchise tax on corporations. For the privilege of exercising its franchise, buying or selling lottery prizes if the winning tickets were originally bought in this state or doing business in this state in a corporate capacity, except as provided under s. 71.23 (3), every domestic or foreign corporation, except corporations specified in ss. 71.26 (1) and 71.45 (1), shall annually pay a franchise tax according to or measured by its entire Wisconsin net income of the preceding taxable year at the rates set forth in s. 71.46 (2). In addition, except as provided in ss. 71.23 (3), 71.26 (1) and 71.45 (1), a corporation that ceases doing business in this state shall pay a special franchise tax according to or measured by its entire Wisconsin net income for the taxable year during which the corporation ceases doing business in this state at the rate under s. 71.46 (2). Every corporation organized under the laws of this state shall be deemed to be residing within this state for the purposes of this franchise tax. All provisions of this chapter and ch. 73 relating to income taxation of corporations shall apply to franchise taxes imposed under this subsection, unless the context requires otherwise. The tax imposed by this subsection on insurance companies subject to taxation under this chapter shall be based on Wisconsin net income computed under s. 71.45, and no other provision of this chapter relating to computation of taxable income for other corporations shall apply to such insurance companies. All other provisions of this chapter shall apply to insurance companies subject to taxation under this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

9,1748ym Section 1748ym. 71.45 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.45 (1) Exempt and excludable income. There shall be exempt from taxation under this subchapter income of insurers exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to section 501 (c) (15) of the internal revenue code, town mutuals organized under or subject to ch. 612, foreign insurers, and domestic insurers engaged exclusively in life insurance business, domestic insurers insuring against financial loss by reason of nonpayment of principal, interest and other sums agreed to be paid under the terms of any note or bond or other evidence of indebtedness secured by a mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument constituting a lien or charge on real estate and corporations organized under ch. 185, but not including income of cooperative sickness care associations organized under s. 185.981, or of a service insurance corporation organized under ch. 613, that is derived from a health maintenance organization as defined in s. 609.01 (2) or a limited service health organization as defined in s. 609.01 (3), or operating under subch. I of ch. 616 which are bona fide cooperatives operated without pecuniary profit to any shareholder or member, or operated on a cooperative plan pursuant to which they determine and distribute their proceeds in substantial compliance with s. 185.45. This subsection does not apply to income that is realized from the sale of or purchase and subsequent sale or redemption of lottery prizes if the winning tickets were originally bought in this state.

9,1749k Section 1749k. 71.45 (2) (a) 10. of the statutes is amended to read:

71.45 (2) (a) 10. By adding to federal taxable income the amount of credit computed under s. 71.47 (1dd) to (1dx) (1dy) and not passed through by a partnership, limited liability company or tax-option corporation that has added that amount to the partnership's, limited liability company's or tax-option corporation's income under s. 71.21 (4) or 71.34 (1) (g) and the amount of credit computed under s. 71.47 (1), (3), (4) and (5).

9,1749m Section 1749m. 71.45 (2) (a) 13. of the statutes is amended to read:

71.45 (2) (a) 13. By adding or subtracting, as appropriate, the difference between the depreciation deduction under the federal Internal Revenue Code as amended to December 31, 1997 1998 and the depreciation deduction under the federal Internal Revenue Code in effect for the taxable year for which the return is filed, so as to reflect the fact that the insurer may choose between these 2 deductions, except that property first placed in service by the taxpayer on or after January 1, 1983, but before January 1, 1987, that, under s. 71.04 (15) (b) and (br), 1985 stats., is required to be depreciated under the Internal Revenue Code as amended to December 31, 1980, and property first placed in service in taxable year 1981 or thereafter but before January 1, 1987, that, under s. 71.04 (15) (bm), 1985 stats., is required to be depreciated under the Internal Revenue Code as amended to December 31, 1980, shall continue to be depreciated under the Internal Revenue Code as amended to December 31, 1980.

9,1749p Section 1749p. 71.45 (2) (a) 15. of the statutes is created to read:

71.45 (2) (a) 15. By subtracting from federal taxable income all income that is realized from the purchase and subsequent sale or redemption of lottery prizes that is treated as nonapportionable income under sub. (3r).

9,1753d Section 1753d. 71.45 (3r) of the statutes is created to read:

71.45 (3r) Allocation of certain proceeds. All income that is realized from the purchase and subsequent sale or redemption of lottery prizes if the winning tickets were originally bought in this state shall be allocated to this state.

9,1753g Section 1753g. 71.45 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

71.45 (6) Partnerships and limited liability companies. (a) A general or limited partner's share of the numerator and denominator of a partnership's apportionment fractions under this section are included in the numerator and denominator of the general or limited partner's apportionment fractions under this section.

(b) If a limited liability company is considered by the department of revenue to be a partnership, for tax purposes, a member's share of the numerator and denominator of a limited liability company's apportionment fractions under this section are included in the numerator and denominator of the member's apportionment fractions under this section.

9,1753m Section 1753m. 71.46 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.46 (3) The tax imposed under this subchapter on each domestic insurer on or measured by its entire net income attributable to lines of insurance in this state may not exceed 2% of the gross premiums, as defined in s. 76.62, received during the taxable year by the insurer on all policies on those lines of insurance if the subject of that insurance was resident, located or to be performed in this state plus 7.9% of the income that is realized from the sale of or purchase and subsequent sale or redemption of lottery prizes if the winning tickets were originally bought in this state.

9,1754g Section 1754g. 71.47 (1di) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.47 (1di) (a) (intro.) Except as provided in pars. (dm) and (f) and s. 73.03 (35), for any taxable year for which the person is certified under s. 560.765 (3) for entitled under s. 560.795 (3) to claim tax benefits, any person may claim as a credit against taxes otherwise due under this chapter 2.5% of the purchase price of depreciable, tangible personal property, or 1.75% of the purchase price of depreciable, tangible personal property that is expensed under section 179 of the internal revenue code for purposes of the taxes under this chapter, except that:

9,1754h Section 1754h. 71.47 (1di) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

71.47 (1di) (a) 1. The investment must be in property that is purchased after the person is certified under s. 560.765 (3) for entitled under s. 560.795 (3) to claim tax benefits and that is used for at least 50% of its use in the conduct of the person's business operations for which the claimant is certified under s. 560.765 (3) at a location in a development zone under subch. VI of ch. 560 or, if the property is mobile, the base of operations of the property for at least 50% of its use must be a location in a development zone.

9,1754j Section 1754j. 71.47 (1di) (d) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

71.47 (1di) (d) 1. A copy of the claimant's certification for a verification from the department of commerce that the claimant may claim tax benefits under s. 560.765 (3) 560.795 (3).

9,1754k Section 1754k. 71.47 (1di) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.47 (1di) (f) If the certification of a person for who is entitled under s. 560.795 (3) to claim tax benefits under s. 560.765 (3) is revoked becomes ineligible for such tax benefits, that person may claim no credits under this subsection for the taxable year that includes the day on which the certification is revoked person becomes ineligible for tax benefits or succeeding taxable years and that person may carry over no unused credits from previous years to offset tax under this chapter for the taxable year that includes the day on which certification is revoked the person becomes ineligible for tax benefits or succeeding taxable years.

9,1754L Section 1754L. 71.47 (1di) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.47 (1di) (g) If a person who is certified under s. 560.765 (3) for entitled under s. 560.795 (3) to claim tax benefits ceases business operations in the development zone during any of the taxable years that that zone exists, that person may not carry over to any taxable year following the year during which operations cease any unused credits from the taxable year during which operations cease or from previous taxable years.

9,1754m Section 1754m. 71.47 (1di) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.47 (1di) (i) No credit may be claimed under this subsection for taxable years that begin on January 1, 1998, or thereafter after December 31, 1997, and end before January 1, 2000. Credits under this subsection for taxable years that begin before January 1, 1998, may be carried forward to taxable years that begin on January 1, 1998, or thereafter.

9,1754t Section 1754t. 71.47 (1dj) (am) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

71.47 (1dj) (am) 1. Modify "member of a targeted group", as defined in section 51 (d) of the internal revenue code as amended to December 31, 1995, to include persons unemployed as a result of a business action subject to s. 109.07 (1m) and persons specified under 29 USC 1651 (a) dislocated workers, as defined in 29 USC 2801 (9), and to require a member of a targeted group to be a resident of this state.

9,1754v Section 1754v. 71.47 (1dj) (am) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

71.47 (1dj) (am) 2. Modify "designated local agency", as defined in section 51 (d) (15) of the internal revenue code, to include the job training partnership act organization local workforce development board established under 29 USC 2832 for the area that includes the development zone in which the employe in respect to whom the credit under this subsection is claimed works, if the department of commerce approves the criteria used for certification, and the department of commerce.

9,1755 Section 1755. 71.47 (1dj) (am) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

71.47 (1dj) (am) 3. Modify the rule for certification under section 51 (d) (16) (A) of the internal revenue code to allow certification within the 90-day period beginning with the first day of employment of the employe by the claimant.

9,1755g Section 1755g. 71.47 (1dx) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.47 (1dx) (b) Credit. (intro.) Except or provided in s. 73.03 (35) and subject to s. 560.785, for any taxable year for which the person is entitled under s. 560.795 (3) to claim tax benefits or certified under s. 560.765 (3) or 560.797 (4), any person may claim as a credit against taxes imposed on the person's income from the person's business activities in a development zone under this subchapter the following amounts:

9,1756 Section 1756. 71.47 (1dx) (b) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

71.47 (1dx) (b) 4. The amount determined by multiplying the amount determined under s. 560.785 (1) (b) (bm) by the number of full-time jobs retained, as provided in the rules under s. 560.785, excluding jobs for which a credit has been claimed under sub. (1dj), in a an enterprise development zone under s. 560.797 and filled by a member of a targeted group for which significant capital investment was made and by then subtracting the subsidies paid under s. 49.147 (3) (a) for those jobs.

9,1756d Section 1756d. 71.47 (1dx) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.47 (1dx) (c) Credit precluded. If the certification of a person for tax benefits under s. 560.765 (3) or 560.797 (4) is revoked, or if the person becomes ineligible for tax benefits under s. 560.795 (3), that person may not claim credits under this subsection for the taxable year that includes the day on which the certification is revoked; the taxable year that includes the day on which the person becomes ineligible for tax benefits; or succeeding taxable years and that person may not carry over unused credits from previous years to offset tax under this chapter for the taxable year that includes the day on which certification is revoked; the taxable year that includes the day on which the person becomes ineligible for tax benefits; or succeeding taxable years.

9,1756e Section 1756e. 71.47 (1dx) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.47 (1dx) (d) Carry-over precluded. If a person who is entitled under s. 560.795 (3) to claim tax benefits or certified under s. 560.765 (3) or 560.797 (4) for tax benefits ceases business operations in the development zone during any of the taxable years that that zone exists, that person may not carry over to any taxable year following the year during which operations cease any unused credits from the taxable year during which operations cease or from previous taxable years.

9,1756h Section 1756h. 71.47 (1dy) of the statutes is created to read:

71.47 (1dy) Sustainable urban development zone credit. (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

1. "Brownfield" has the meaning given in sub. (1dx) (a) 1.

2. "Environmental remediation" means removal or containment of environmental pollution, as defined in s. 299.01 (4), and restoration of soil or groundwater that is affected by environmental pollution, as defined in s. 299.01 (4), in a brownfield and investigation unless the investigation determines that remediation is required but remediation is not undertaken.

(b) Credit. For any taxable year for which the person is certified under s. 292.77 (5), a person may claim as a credit against taxes imposed under this subchapter 50% of the amount expended for environmental remediation under the program under s. 292.77.

(c) Administration. Subsection (1dx) (c), (d) and (e), as it applies to the credit under sub. (1dx), applies to the credit under this subsection.

9,1757bd Section 1757bd. 71.47 (2m) (b) 1. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

71.47 (2m) (b) 1. a. Subject to the limitations provided in this subsection and s. 71.80 (3) and (3m), a claimant may claim as a credit against Wisconsin income or franchise taxes otherwise due, the amount derived under par. (c). If the allowable amount of claim exceeds the income or franchise taxes otherwise due on or measured by the claimant's income or if there are no Wisconsin income or franchise taxes due on or measured by the claimant's income, the amount of the claim not used as an offset against income or franchise taxes shall be certified to the department of administration for payment to the claimant by check, share draft or other draft paid from the appropriation appropriations under s. 20.835 (2) (q) (dn) and (ka).

9,1757be Section 1757be. 71.47 (2m) (b) 1. a. of the statutes, as affected by 1999 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

71.47 (2m) (b) 1. a. Subject to the limitations provided in this subsection and s. 71.80 (3) and (3m), a claimant may claim as a credit against Wisconsin income taxes otherwise due, the amount derived under par. (c). If the allowable amount of claim exceeds the income taxes otherwise due on the claimant's income or if there are no Wisconsin income taxes due on the claimant's income, the amount of the claim not used as an offset against income taxes shall be certified to the department of administration for payment to the claimant by check, share draft or other draft paid from the appropriations under s. 20.835 (2) (ka) and (q).

9,1744bf Section 1744bf. 71.47 (2m) (c) 3. of the statutes, as created by Wisconsin Act 5, is amended to read:

71.47 (2m) (c) 3. The department shall annually adjust the percentage that is used to determine the amount of a claim under subd. 1. based on the estimated number of claims and the amount estimated to be expended from the appropriation under s. 20.835 (2) (q) (dn), as determined under s. 79.13. The department shall incorporate the annually adjusted percentage into the income tax forms and instructions.

9,1744bg Section 1744bg. 71.47 (2m) (c) 3. of the statutes, as affected by 1999 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

71.47 (2m) (c) 3. The department shall annually adjust the percentage that is used to determine the amount of a claim under subd. 1. based on the estimated number of claims and the amount estimated to be expended from the appropriation under s. 20.835 (2) (q), as determined under s. 79.13. The department shall incorporate the annually adjusted percentage into the income tax forms and instructions.

9,1760q Section 1760q. 71.49 (1) (eon) of the statutes is created to read:

71.49 (1) (eon) Sustainable urban development zone credit under s. 71.47 (1dy).

9,1762 Section 1762. 71.54 (1) (d) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.54 (1) (d) 1991 and thereafter to 1999. (intro.) The amount of any claim filed in 1991 and thereafter to 1999 and based on property taxes accrued or rent constituting property taxes accrued during the previous year is limited as follows:

9,1763 Section 1763. 71.54 (1) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

71.54 (1) (e) 2000. The amount of any claim filed in 2000 and based on property taxes accrued or rent constituting property taxes accrued during the previous year is limited as follows:

1. If the household income was $8,000 or less in the year to which the claim relates, the claim is limited to 80% of the property taxes accrued or rent constituting property taxes accrued or both in that year on the claimant's homestead.

2. If the household income was more than $8,000 in the year to which the claim relates, the claim is limited to 80% of the amount by which the property taxes accrued or rent constituting property taxes accrued or both in that year on the claimant's homestead exceeds 11.8% of the household income exceeding $8,000.

3. No credit may be allowed if the household income of a claimant exceeds $20,290.

9,1763c Section 1763c. 71.54 (1) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

71.54 (1) (f) 2001 and thereafter. The amount of any claim filed in 2001 and thereafter and based on property taxes accrued or rent constituting property taxes accrued during the previous year is limited as follows:

1. If the household income was $8,000 or less in the year to which the claim relates, the claim is limited to 80% of the property taxes accrued or rent constituting property taxes accrued or both in that year on the claimant's homestead.

2. If the household income was more than $8,000 in the year to which the claim relates, the claim is limited to 80% of the amount by which the property taxes accrued or rent constituting property taxes accrued or both in that year on the claimant's homestead exceeds 8.788% of the household income exceeding $8,000.

3. No credit may be allowed if the household income of a claimant exceeds $24,500.

9,1764 Section 1764. 71.54 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.54 (2) (a) (intro.) Property taxes accrued or rent constituting property taxes accrued shall be reduced by one-twelfth for each month or portion of a month for which the claimant received relief from any county under s. 59.53 (21) equal to or in excess of $400, participated in Wisconsin works under s. 49.147 (4) or (5) or 49.148 (1m) or received assistance under s. 49.19, except assistance received:

9,1784 Section 1784. 71.64 (9) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 71.64 (9) (b) (intro.) and amended to read:

71.64 (9) (b) (intro.) The department shall from time to time adjust the withholding tables to reflect any changes in income tax rates, any applicable surtax or any changes in dollar amounts in s. 71.06 (1), (1m), (1n), (1p) and (2) resulting from statutory changes, except that the as follows:

1. The department may not adjust the withholding tables to reflect the changes in rates in s. 71.06 (1m) and (2) (c) and (d) and any changes in dollar amounts with respect to bracket indexing under s. 71.06 (2e), with respect to changes in rates under s. 71.06 (1m) and (2) (c) and (d), and with respect to standard deduction indexing under s. 71.05 (22) (ds) for any taxable year that begins before January 1, 2000.

(c) The tables shall account for the working families tax credit under s. 71.07 (5m). The tables shall be extended to cover from zero to 10 withholding exemptions, shall assume that the payment of wages in each pay period will, when multiplied by the number of pay periods in a year, reasonably reflect the annual wage of the employe from the employer and shall be based on the further assumption that the annual wage will be reduced for allowable deductions from gross income. The department may determine the length of the tables and a reasonable span for each bracket. In preparing the tables the department shall adjust all withholding amounts not an exact multiple of 10 cents to the next highest figure that is a multiple of 10 cents. The department shall also provide instructions with the tables for withholding with respect to quarterly, semiannual and annual pay periods.

9,1785 Section 1785. 71.64 (9) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

71.64 (9) (b) 2. The department shall adjust the withholding tables to reflect the changes in rates in s. 71.06 (1n), (1p) and (2) (e), (f), (g) and (h) and any changes in dollar amounts with respect to bracket indexing, with respect to changes in rates under s. 71.06 (1p) and (2) (g) and (h) on July 1, 2000.

9,1786 Section 1786. 71.67 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.67 (4) (a) The administrator of the lottery division in the department under ch. 565 shall withhold from any lottery prize of $2,000 or more an amount determined by multiplying the amount of the prize by the highest rate applicable to individuals under s. 71.06 (1) or (1m) the person who claims the prize. The administrator shall deposit the amounts withheld, on a monthly basis, as would an employer depositing under s. 71.65 (3) (a).

9,1787 Section 1787. 71.67 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.67 (5) (a) Wager winnings. A person holding a license to sponsor and manage races under s. 562.05 (1) (b) or (c) shall withhold from the amount of any payment of pari-mutuel winnings under s. 562.065 (3) (a) or (3m) (a) an amount determined by multiplying the amount of the payment by the highest rate applicable to individuals under s. 71.06 (1) (a) to (c) or, (1m) , (1n) or (1p) if the amount of the payment is more than $1,000.

9,1788 Section 1788. 71.75 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.75 (8) A refund payable on the basis of a separate return shall be issued to the person who filed the return. A refund payable on the basis of a joint return shall be issued jointly to the persons who filed the return, except that, if a judgment of divorce under ch. 767 apportions any refund that may be due the formerly married persons to one of the former spouses, or between the spouses, and if they include with their income tax return a copy of that portion of the judgment of divorce that relates to the apportionment of their tax refund, the department shall issue the refund to the person to whom the refund is awarded under the terms of the judgment of divorce or the department shall issue one check to each of the former spouses according to the apportionment terms of the judgment.

9,1797k Section 1797k. 73.03 (2a) of the statutes is amended to read:

73.03 (2a) To prepare, have published and distribute to each property tax assessor and to others who so request assessment manuals. The manual shall discuss and illustrate accepted assessment methods, techniques and practices with a view to more nearly uniform and more consistent assessments of property at the local level. The manual shall be amended by the department from time to time to reflect advances in the science of assessment, court decisions concerning assessment practices, costs, and statistical and other information considered valuable to local assessors by the department. The manual shall incorporate standards for the assessment of all types of renewable energy resource systems used in this state as soon as such systems are used in sufficient numbers and sufficient data exists to allow the formulation of valid guidelines. The manual shall incorporate standards, which the department of revenue and the state historical society of Wisconsin shall develop, for the assessment of nonhistoric property in historic districts and for the assessment of historic property, including but not limited to property that is being preserved or restored; property that is subject to a protective easement, covenant or other restriction for historic preservation purposes; property that is listed in the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or in this state's register of historic places and property that is designated as a historic landmark and is subject to restrictions imposed by a municipality or by a landmarks commission. The manual shall incorporate general guidelines about ways to determine whether property is taxable in part under s. 70.1105 and examples of the ways that s. 70.1105 applies in specific situations. The manual shall state that assessors are required to comply with s. 70.32 (1g) and shall suggest procedures for doing so. The manual or a supplement to it shall specify per acre value guidelines for each municipality for various categories of agricultural land based on the income that could be generated from its estimated rental for agricultural use, as defined by rule, and capitalization rates established by rule. The manual or a supplement to it shall not specify per acre value guidelines for each municipality unless such guidelines are based on procedures that are established by rule. The manual shall include guidelines for classifying land as agricultural land, as defined in s. 70.32 (2) (c) 1. and guidelines for distinguishing between land and improvements to land. The cost of the development, preparation, publication and distribution of the manual and of revisions and amendments to it shall be borne by the assessors and requesters at an individual volume cost or a subscription cost as determined by the department. All receipts shall be credited to the appropriation under s. 20.566 (2) (hi). The department may provide free assessment manuals to other state agencies or exchange them at no cost with agencies of other states or of the federal government for similar information or publications.