2007 Wisconsin Act 20

20,2129 Section 2129. 71.74 (14) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.74 (14) Additional remedy to collect tax. The department may also proceed under s. 71.91 (5) for the collection of any additional assessment of income or franchise taxes or surtaxes, after notice thereof has been given under sub. (11) and before the same shall have become delinquent, when it has reasonable grounds to believe that the collection of such additional assessment will be jeopardized by delay. In such cases notice of the intention to so proceed shall be given by registered mail to the taxpayer, and the warrant of the department shall not issue if the taxpayer within 10 days after such notice furnishes a bond in such amount, not exceeding double the amount of the tax, and with such sureties as the department shall approve, conditioned upon the payment of so much of the additional taxes as shall finally be determined to be due, together with interest thereon as provided by s. 71.82 (1) (a). Nothing in this subsection shall affect the review of additional assessments provided by ss. 71.88 (1) (a) and (2) (a), 71.89 (2), 73.01, and 73.015, and any amounts collected under this subsection shall be deposited with the secretary of administration department and disbursed after final determination of the taxes as are amounts deposited under s. 71.90 (2).

20,2130 Section 2130. 71.765 of the statutes is repealed.

20,2131 Section 2131. 71.775 (3) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

71.775 (3) (a) 2. The partner, member, shareholder, or beneficiary has no Wisconsin income other than his or her partner's, member's, shareholder's, or beneficiary's share of income from the pass-through entity that is attributable to this state and his or her share of such income is less than $1,000.

20,2132 Section 2132. 71.775 (3) (a) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

71.775 (3) (a) 3. The nonresident partner, member, shareholder, or beneficiary files an affidavit with the department, in the form and manner prescribed by the department, whereby the nonresident partner, member, shareholder, or beneficiary agrees to file a Wisconsin income or franchise tax return and be subject to the personal jurisdiction of the department, the tax appeals commission, and the courts of this state for the purpose of determining and collecting Wisconsin income and franchise taxes, including estimated tax payments, together with any related interest and penalties.

20,2133 Section 2133. 71.775 (4) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

71.775 (4) (b) 2. A pass-through entity that pays the tax withheld under sub. (2) as provided under subd. 1. is not subject to an underpayment of estimated tax under s. 71.09 or 71.29, if 90 percent of the tax that is due for the current taxable year is paid by the unextended due date or if 100 percent of the tax that is due for the taxable year immediately preceding the current taxable year is paid by the unextended due date and the taxable year immediately preceding the current taxable year was a 12-month period. Interest Except as provided in par. (f), interest at the rate of 12 percent shall be imposed on the unpaid amount of the tax withheld due under sub. (2) during any extension period and interest at the rate of 18 percent shall be imposed on the unpaid amount of the tax withheld due under sub. (2) for the period beginning with the extended due date and ending with the date that the unpaid amount is paid in full.

20,2134 Section 2134. 71.775 (4) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.775 (4) (d) A nonresident partner, member, shareholder, or beneficiary of a pass-through entity may claim a credit, as prescribed by the department, on his or her Wisconsin income or franchise tax return for the amount withheld under sub. (2) on his or her behalf for the tax period for which the income of the pass-through entity is reported. For purposes of this paragraph determining whether interest under s. 71.84 applies to a nonresident partner, member, shareholder, or beneficiary, the amount withheld under sub. (2) is considered to be paid on the last day of the pass-through entity's taxable year for which the tax is paid in 4 equal quarterly installments.

20,2135 Section 2135. 71.775 (4) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.775 (4) (f) If a pass-through entity subject to withholding under this section fails to withhold pay the tax as required by this section, the pass-through entity shall be liable for any unpaid tax, interest, and penalties otherwise assessable to the nonresident partner, member, shareholder, or beneficiary with respect to income from the pass-through entity. If a nonresident partner, member, shareholder, or beneficiary of the pass-through entity files a return and pays the tax due, the pass-through entity shall not be liable for the tax, but shall be liable for any interest and penalties otherwise applicable for failure to withhold, as the penalty provided under ss. 71.82 (2) (d) and s. 71.83 (1) (a) 1. and for any interest otherwise assessable to the nonresident partner, member, shareholder, or beneficiary with respect to income from the pass-through entity.

20,2135e Section 2135e. 71.78 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.78 (2) Disclosure of net tax. The department shall make available upon suitable forms prepared by the department information setting forth the net Wisconsin income tax, Wisconsin franchise tax, or Wisconsin gift tax reported as paid or payable in the returns filed by any individual or corporation, and any amount of delinquent taxes owed, as described in s. 73.03 (62), by any such individual or corporation, for any individual year upon request. When making available information setting forth the delinquent taxes owed by an individual or corporation, the information shall include interest, penalties, fees, and costs, which are unpaid for more than 90 days after all appeal rights have expired, except that such information may not be provided for any person who has reached an agreement or compromise with the department, or the department of justice, under s. 71.92 and is in compliance with that agreement, regarding the payment of delinquent taxes, or the name of any person who is protected by a stay that is in effect under the Federal Bankruptcy Code. Before the request is granted, the person desiring to obtain the information shall prove his or her identity and shall be required to sign a statement setting forth the person's address and reason for making the request and indicating that the person understands the provisions of this section with respect to the divulgement, publication or dissemination of information obtained from returns as provided in sub. (1). The use of a fictitious name is a violation of this section. Within 24 hours after any information from any such tax return has been so obtained, the department shall mail to the person from whose return the information has been obtained a notification which shall give the name and address of the person obtaining the information and the reason assigned for requesting the information. The department shall collect from the person requesting the information a fee of $4 for each return.

20,2136 Section 2136. 71.80 (20) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.80 (20) Magnetic media Electronic filing. If the internal revenue service requires a person to file information returns or wage statements on magnetic media or in other machine-readable form electronically for federal income tax purposes, the person shall also file the comparable state information returns or wage statements on magnetic media or in other machine-readable form electronically with the department of revenue for income or franchise tax purposes.

20,2137 Section 2137. 71.805 of the statutes is created to read:

71.805 Tax avoidance transactions voluntary compliance program. (1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) "Tax avoidance transaction" means a transaction, plan, or arrangement devised for the principal purpose of avoiding federal or Wisconsin income or franchise tax. "Tax avoidance transaction" includes a listed transaction as provided under U.S. department of the treasury regulations as of the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], and may include a transaction, as determined by the department, that provides a tax benefit for Wisconsin income or franchise tax purposes without providing a similar benefit for federal income tax purposes.

(b) "Taxpayer" means a person who is subject to the taxes imposed under this chapter and who has a tax liability attributable to using a tax avoidance transaction for any taxable year beginning before January 1, 2007.

(2) Penalty waiver or abatement. All of the following apply with regard to a taxpayer who satisfies the conditions under sub. (3):

(a) Except as provided under sub. (4) (b), the department shall waive or abate all penalties that are applicable to the underreporting or underpayment of Wisconsin income or franchise taxes attributable to using a tax avoidance transaction for any taxable year for which the taxpayer satisfies the conditions under sub. (3).

(b) The department shall not seek a criminal prosecution against the taxpayer with respect to using a tax avoidance transaction for any taxable year for which the taxpayer satisfies the conditions under sub. (3).

(3) Taxpayer eligibility. A taxpayer is eligible for the benefits described under sub. (2) (a) and (b), if, during the period beginning on the first day of the 3rd month beginning after the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date], and ending on the last day of the 7th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date], the taxpayer does the following:

(a) Files an amended Wisconsin tax return for each taxable year for which the taxpayer has previously filed a Wisconsin tax return that uses a tax avoidance transaction to underreport the taxpayer's Wisconsin income or franchise tax liability and the amended return reports the total Wisconsin net income and tax for the taxable year, computed without regard to any tax avoidance transaction and without regard to any other adjustment that is unrelated to any tax avoidance transaction.

(b) Pays, in full, for each taxable year for which an amended return is filed under par. (a), the entire amount of Wisconsin income or franchise tax and interest due that is attributable to using a tax avoidance transaction, except that the secretary of revenue may enter into an agreement with the taxpayer to make payments in installments. A taxpayer who does not comply with an installment agreement provided under this paragraph is ineligible to receive the benefits described under sub. (2) (a) and (b) and the total amount of tax, interest, and penalties shall be immediately due and payable.

(4) Limitations and administration. (a) A taxpayer who receives the benefits described under sub. (2) may not file an appeal or a claim for credit or refund with respect to the tax avoidance transactions for the taxable years for which the taxpayer satisfied the conditions under sub. (3), except to the extent that a timely filed appeal or claim for a refund results from an adjustment to the taxpayer's federal income tax liability regarding such transactions.

(b) The department may not waive or abate a penalty as provided under sub. (2) (a) if the penalty relates to an amount of Wisconsin income and franchise tax that is attributable to a tax avoidance transaction and assessed and paid prior to the first day of the 3rd month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], or after the last day of the 7th month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date].

20,2138 Section 2138. 71.81 of the statutes is created to read:

71.81 Disclosing reportable transactions. (1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) "Listed transaction" means any reportable transaction that is the same as, or substantially similar to, a transaction, plan, or arrangement specifically identified by the U.S. secretary of the treasury as a listed transaction, for purposes of section 6011 of the Internal Revenue Code and that is specifically identified by the U.S. secretary of the treasury as a listed transaction on or after the date the transaction occurred.

(b) "Material advisor" means any person who provides any material aid, assistance, or advice with respect to organizing, managing, promoting, selling, implementing, insuring, or carrying out any reportable transaction and who, directly or indirectly, derives gross income from providing such aid, assistance, or advice in an amount that exceeds the threshold amount.

(c) "Reportable transaction" means any transaction, plan, or arrangement, including a listed transaction, for which a taxpayer is required to submit information to the department because the taxpayer is required to disclose the transaction, plan, or arrangement for federal income tax purposes for the taxable year in which the transaction occurred, as provided under U.S. department of treasury regulations.

(d) "Tax shelter" means any entity, plan, or arrangement, if avoiding or evading federal income tax or Wisconsin income or franchise tax is a significant purpose of the entity, plan, or arrangement.

(e) "Threshold amount" means the following:

1. In the case of a reportable transaction, not including a listed transaction, from which the tax benefits are provided primarily to an individual, $50,000.

2. In the case of a listed transaction from which the tax benefits are provided primarily to an individual, $10,000.

3. In the case of a reportable transaction, not including a listed transaction, from which the tax benefits are provided primarily to an entity and not an individual, $250,000.

4. In the case of a listed transaction, from which the tax benefits are provided primarily to an entity and not an individual, $25,000.

(2) Disclosure. For each taxable year in which a taxpayer has participated in a reportable transaction, the taxpayer shall file with the department a copy of any form required by the internal revenue service for disclosing the reportable transaction for federal income tax purposes no later than 60 days after the date for which the taxpayer is required to file the form for federal income tax purposes, except that, if the taxpayer has filed a form with the internal revenue service on or before the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date], the taxpayer shall file a copy of the form with the department no later than the last day of the 7th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date]. The department may require that forms filed with the department under this subsection be filed separately from this state's income or franchise tax return. This subsection applies to any reportable transaction entered into on or after January 1, 2001, or any reportable transaction entered into prior to January 1, 2001, that reduced the taxpayer's tax liability for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2001, for any taxable year for which the transaction remains undisclosed and for which the statute of limitations on assessment, including any extension provided under sub. (6), has not expired as of the date that is 60 days after the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date].

(3) Penalty for failing to disclose. (a) Any taxpayer who does not file the form under sub. (2) and who is required to file the form is subject to the following penalty:

1. If the taxpayer participated in a reportable transaction that is not a listed transaction, the lesser of $15,000 or 10 percent of the tax benefit obtained from the reportable transaction.

2. If the taxpayer participated in a listed transaction, $30,000.

(b) The secretary of revenue may waive or abate any penalty imposed under this subsection, or any portion of such penalty, related to a reportable transaction that is not a listed transaction, if the waiver or abatement promotes compliance with this section and effective tax administration. Notwithstanding any other law or rule, a determination by the secretary of revenue under this paragraph may not be reviewed in any judicial proceeding.

(c) The penalties imposed under this subsection apply to any failure to disclose a listed transaction entered into on or after January 1, 2001, or entered into prior to January 1, 2001, that reduced the taxpayer's tax liability for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2001, including transactions that were not listed transactions when entered into, but became listed transactions before the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], or any other reportable transaction entered into after the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], for any taxable year for which the statute of limitations on assessment, including any extension under sub. (6), has not expired as of the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date].

(4) Understatement penalty. (a) If a taxpayer has a reportable transaction understatement, as determined in par. (b), the taxpayer shall pay, in addition to any tax owed with regard to the reportable transaction, an amount equal to either 20 percent of the reportable transaction understatement or, in the case of a reportable transaction that is not disclosed as provided in sub. (2), 30 percent of the reportable transaction understatement.

(b) A taxpayer has a reportable transaction understatement if the following calculation results in a positive number:

1. Multiply the taxpayer's highest applicable tax rate under s. 71.06, 71.27, or 71.46, by the amount of any increase in Wisconsin taxable income that results from the difference between the proper tax treatment of a reportable transaction and the taxpayer's treatment of the transaction as shown on the taxpayer's tax return, including any amended return the taxpayer files before the date on which the department first contacts the taxpayer regarding an examination of the taxable year for which the amended return is filed. For purposes of this subdivision, the amount of any increase in Wisconsin taxable income for a taxable year includes any reduction in the amount of loss available for carry-forward to the subsequent year.

2. Add the amount determined under subd. 1. to the amount of any decrease in the aggregate amount of Wisconsin income or franchise tax credits that results from the difference between the proper tax treatment of a reportable transaction and the taxpayer's treatment of the transaction as shown on the taxpayer's tax return.

(c) The secretary of revenue may waive or abate any penalty imposed under this subsection, or any portion of such penalty, if the taxpayer demonstrates to the department that the taxpayer had reasonable cause to act the way the taxpayer did, and in good faith, with regard to the tax treatment for which the taxpayer is subject to a penalty under this subsection and all facts relevant to the tax treatment are adequately disclosed in the filing under sub. (2), except that, if the taxpayer does not fully disclose such facts under sub. (2), the taxpayer's penalty may be waived or abated under this paragraph if the taxpayer demonstrates to the department that the taxpayer reasonably believed that the tax treatment for which the taxpayer is subject to a penalty under this subsection was more likely than not the proper treatment and substantial authority exists or existed for the tax treatment for which the taxpayer is subject to a penalty under this subsection. Notwithstanding any other law or rule, a determination by the secretary of revenue under this paragraph may not be reviewed in any judicial proceeding.

(d) The penalties under par. (a) apply to any reportable transaction understatement from a reportable transaction, including a listed transaction, entered into on or after January 1, 2001, or entered into prior to January 1, 2001, that reduced the taxpayer's tax liability for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2001, for any taxable year for which the statute of limitations on assessment, including any extension provided under sub. (6), has not expired as of the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date].

(5) Additional understatement penalty. (a) 1. In addition to the penalty under sub. (4) (a), a taxpayer who files an amended return after the last day of the 7th month beginning after the effective date of this subdivision .... [revisor inserts date], and before the taxpayer is contacted by the internal revenue service or the department regarding a reportable transaction is subject to a penalty in an amount equal to 50 percent of the interest assessed under s. 71.82 on any reportable transaction understatement, as determined under sub. (4) (b), for the tax period for which the taxpayer files an amended return.

2. If the internal revenue service or the department contacts a taxpayer after the last day of the 7th month beginning after the effective date of this subdivision .... [revisor inserts date], regarding a reportable transaction and the taxpayer is contacted before the taxpayer files an amended return with respect to that transaction, the taxpayer is subject to a penalty in an amount equal to the interest assessed under s. 71.82 on any reportable transaction understatement, as determined under sub. (4) (b), for the tax period for which the internal revenue service or the department contacts the taxpayer.

(b) The penalties under par. (a) apply to any reportable transaction understatement resulting from a reportable transaction, including a listed transaction, entered into on or after January 1, 2001, or entered into prior to January 1, 2001, that reduced the taxpayer's tax liability for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2001, for any taxable year for which the statute of limitations on assessment, including any extension provided under sub. (6), has not expired as of the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date].

(c) The secretary of revenue may waive or abate any penalty imposed under this subsection, or any portion of such penalty, if the taxpayer demonstrates to the department that the taxpayer had reasonable cause to act the way the taxpayer did, and in good faith, with regard to the tax treatment for which the taxpayer is subject to a penalty under this subsection and all facts relevant to the tax treatment are adequately disclosed in the filing under sub. (2), except that, if the taxpayer does not fully disclose such facts under sub. (2), the taxpayer's penalty may be waived or abated under this paragraph if the taxpayer demonstrates to the department that the taxpayer reasonably believed that the tax treatment for which the taxpayer is subject to a penalty under this subsection was more likely than not the proper treatment and substantial authority exists or existed for the tax treatment for which the taxpayer is subject to a penalty under this subsection. Notwithstanding any other law or rule, a determination by the secretary of revenue under this paragraph may not be reviewed in any judicial proceeding.

(6) Statute of limitations extension. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), if a taxpayer fails to provide any information regarding a reportable transaction, other than a listed transaction, under sub. (2), the time for assessing any tax imposed under this chapter with respect to that transaction shall expire no later than the date that is 6 years after the date on which the return for the taxable year in which the reportable transaction occurred was filed. If a taxpayer fails to provide any information regarding a listed transaction, under sub. (2), the time for assessing any tax imposed under this chapter with respect to that transaction shall expire on the latest of the following dates:

1. The date that is 6 years after the date on which the return for the taxable year in which the listed transaction occurred was filed.

2. The date that is 12 months after the date on which the taxpayer provides information regarding the listed transaction under sub. (2).

3. The date that is 12 months after the date on which the taxpayer's material advisor provides, at the department's request, the list described in sub. (7) (b).

4. The date that is 4 years after the date on which the department discovers a listed transaction that was a listed transaction on the date the transaction occurred for which the taxpayer did not provide the information described under sub. (2) or for which the taxpayer's material advisor did not provide the information described under sub (7) (b).

(b) Any limitation determined under par. (a) may be extended by a written agreement between the taxpayer and the department as provided under s. 71.77 (5).

(c) This subsection applies to any reportable transaction, including a listed transaction entered into on or after January 1, 2001, or entered into prior to January 1, 2001, that reduced the taxpayer's tax liability for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2001.

(7) Material advisor. (a) Each material advisor who is required to disclose a reportable transaction under section 6111 of the Internal Revenue Code shall file a copy of the disclosure with the department no later than 60 days after the date for which the material advisor is required to file the disclosure with the internal revenue service, except that, if a material advisor files the disclosure with the internal revenue service on or before the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], the material advisor shall file a copy of the disclosure with the department no later than the last day of the 7th month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date].

(b) Each material advisor shall maintain a list that identifies each Wisconsin taxpayer for whom the person provided services as a material advisor with respect to a reportable transaction, regardless of whether the taxpayer is required to file the form under sub. (2). Any material advisor who is required to maintain a list under this paragraph shall provide the list to the department after receiving the department's written request to provide the list and shall retain the information contained in the list for 7 years or for the period determined by the department by rule. If 2 or more material advisors are required under this paragraph to maintain identical lists, the department may provide that only one of the material advisors maintain the list.

(c) This subsection applies to reportable transactions, not including listed transactions, for which a material advisor provides services after the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], and listed transactions for which a material advisor provides services, and were entered into, on or after January 1, 2001, or were entered into prior to January 1, 2001, and that reduced the taxpayer's tax liability for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2001, regardless of when the transactions became listed transactions.

(8) Material advisor penalties. (a) If a person who is required to file a disclosure with the department as provided under sub. (7) (a) fails to file the disclosure or files a disclosure containing false or incomplete information, the person is subject to a penalty equal to the following amounts:

1. If the disclosure relates to a reportable transaction that is not a listed transaction, $15,000.

2. If the disclosure relates to a listed transaction, $100,000.

(b) Any person who is required to maintain a list under sub. (7) (b) and who fails to provide the list to the department no later than 20 business days after the date on which the person receives the department's request to provide the list, as provided under sub. (7) (b), shall pay a penalty to the department in an amount that is equal to $10,000 for each day that the person does not provide the list, beginning with the day that is 21 business days after the date on which the person receives the department's request.

(c) The secretary of revenue may waive or abate any penalty imposed under this subsection, or any portion of such penalty, related to a reportable transaction that is not a listed transaction, if the waiver or abatement promotes compliance with this section and effective tax administration or, with regard to the penalty imposed under par. (b), if, on each day after the time for providing the list without incurring a penalty has expired, the person demonstrates to the department that the person's failure to provide the list on that day is because of reasonable cause. Notwithstanding any other law or rule, a determination by the secretary of revenue under this paragraph may not be reviewed in any judicial proceeding.

(9) Tax shelter promotion. (a) Beginning on the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], any person who organizes or assists in organizing a tax shelter, or directly or indirectly participates in the sale of any interest in a tax shelter, and who makes or provides or causes another person to make or provide, in connection with such organization or sale, a statement that the person knows or has reason to know is false or fraudulent as to any material matter regarding the allowability of any tax deduction or credit, the excludability of any income, the manipulation of any allocation or apportionment rule, or the securing of any other tax benefit resulting from holding an interest in the entity or participating in the plan or arrangement, shall pay a penalty to the department, with respect to each sale or act of organization described under this paragraph, in an amount equal to 50 percent of the person's gross income derived from the sale or act.

(b) For purposes of administering this chapter, beginning on the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], a written communication to any person, director, officer, employee, agent, or representative of the person, or any other person holding a capital or profits interest in the person, regarding the promotion of, or advice with respect to, the person's direct or indirect participation in any tax shelter is not considered a confidential or privileged communication.

(11) Injunction. The department may commence an action in the circuit court of Dane County to enjoin a person from taking any action, or failing to take any action, that is subject to a penalty under this section or in violation of this section or any rules that the department promulgates pursuant to this section.

20,2139 Section 2139. 71.83 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

71.83 (1) (a) 1. `Failure to file.' In case of failure to file any return required under s. 71.03, 71.24 or, 71.44, or 71.775 on the due date prescribed therefor, including any applicable extension of time for filing, unless it is shown that the failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, there shall be added to the amount required to be shown as tax on the return 5% of the amount of the tax if the failure is for not more than one month, with an additional 5% for each additional month or fraction thereof during which the failure continues, not exceeding 25% in the aggregate. For purposes of this subdivision, the amount of tax required to be shown on the return shall be reduced by the amount of any part of the tax which is paid on or before the due date prescribed for payment and by the amount of any credit against the tax which may be claimed upon the return.

20,2139e Section 2139e. 71.83 (1) (a) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:

71.83 (1) (a) 6. `Retirement plans.' Any natural person who is liable for a penalty for federal income tax purposes under section 72 (m) (5), (q), (t), and (v), 4973, 4974, 4975, or 4980A of the internal revenue code Internal Revenue Code is liable for 33% of the federal penalty unless the income received is exempt from taxation under s. 71.05 (1) (a) or (ae). The penalties provided under this subdivision shall be assessed, levied, and collected in the same manner as income or franchise taxes.

20,2140 Section 2140. 71.90 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

71.90 (2) Deposit with the secretary of administration department. At any time while the petition is pending before the tax appeals commission or an appeal in regard to that petition is pending in a court, the taxpayer may offer to deposit the entire amount of the additional taxes, penalties, and fines, together with interest, with the secretary of administration. If an offer to deposit is made, the department of revenue shall issue a certificate to the secretary of administration authorizing the secretary to accept payment of such taxes together with interest to the first day of the succeeding month and to give a receipt. A copy of the certificate shall be mailed to the taxpayer who shall pay the taxes and interest to the secretary of administration within 30 days. A copy of the receipt of the secretary of administration shall be filed with the department. The department shall, upon final determination of the appeal, certify to the secretary of administration the amount of the taxes as finally determined and direct the secretary of administration to refund to the appellant any portion of such payment which has been found to have been improperly assessed, including interest. The secretary of administration shall make the refunds directed by the certificate within 30 days after receipt. Taxes paid to the secretary of administration under this subsection shall be subject to the interest provided by ss. 71.82 and 71.91 (1) (c) only to the extent of the interest accrued on the taxes prior to the first day of the month succeeding the application for hearing. Any portion of the amount deposited with the secretary of administration which is refunded to the taxpayer shall bear interest at the rate of 9% per year during the time that the funds are on deposit.

20,2141 Section 2141. 71.93 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

71.93 (1) (a) 2. A delinquent child support or spousal support obligation that has been reduced to a judgment and has been submitted by an agency of another state to the department of workforce development children and families for certification under this section.

20,2142 Section 2142. 71.93 (1) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

71.93 (1) (a) 4. An amount that the department of workforce development children and families may recover under s. 49.161 or 49.195 (3) or collect under s. 49.147 (6) (cm), if the department of workforce development children and families has certified the amount under s. 49.85.

20,2143m Section 2143m. 73.01 (4) (e) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

73.01 (4) (e) 2. Except for hearings on ss. 341.405 and 341.45, the department of revenue may choose not to appeal and to nonacquiesce in the decision or order by sending a notice of nonacquiescence to the clerk of the commission, to the revisor of statutes legislative reference bureau for publication in the Wisconsin administrative register and to the taxpayer or the taxpayer's representative before the time expires for seeking a review of the decision or order under s. 73.015. The effect of this action is that, although the decision or order is binding on the parties for the instant case, the commission's conclusions of law, the rationale and construction of statutes in the instant case are not binding upon or required to be followed by the department of revenue in other cases.

20,2146 Section 2146. 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 and publish, in electronic form and on the Internet, 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 shall include guidelines for classifying land as agricultural land, as defined in s. 70.32 (2) (c) 1g., and guidelines for distinguishing between land and improvements to land. The cost of the development, preparation, and Internet 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 paid from 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 (b).

20,2148 Section 2148. 73.03 (50) (c) of the statutes is amended to read: