Tax 2.90(1)(1) The term “wages” means all remuneration for services performed by an employee for an employer unless specifically excepted under s. 71.63, Stats. Tax 2.90(2)(2) The name by which remuneration for services is designated is immaterial. Thus, salaries, fees, bonuses, commissions on sales, commissions on insurance premiums, pensions and retirement pay, and supplemental unemployment benefits are wages within the meaning of the statute if paid as compensation for services performed by the employee for the employee’s employer. Tax 2.90(3)(3) The basis upon which the remuneration is paid is immaterial in determining whether the remuneration constitutes wages. Thus it may be paid on the basis of piecework, or a percentage of the profits, and may be paid hourly, daily, weekly, monthly or annually. Tax 2.90(4)(4) Generally the medium in which the remuneration is paid is also immaterial. It may be paid in cash or in something other than cash, as, for example, stocks, bonds or other forms of property. However, s. 71.63 (6) (i), Stats., excludes from wages remuneration paid in any medium other than cash for services not in the course of the employer’s trade or business. If services are paid for in a medium other than cash, the fair market value of the thing taken in payment is the amount to be included as wages. If the services were rendered at a stipulated price, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, such price will be presumed to be the fair value of the remuneration received. If a corporation transfers to its employees its own stock as remuneration for services rendered by the employee, the amount of such remuneration is the fair market value of the stock at the time of the transfer. Tax 2.90(5)(5) Remuneration for services, unless the remuneration is specifically excepted by the statute, constitutes wages even though at the time paid the relationship of employer and employee no longer exists between the person in whose employ the services were performed and the individual who performed them. Tax 2.90(7)(7) Amounts paid specifically — either as advances or reimbursements — for traveling or other bona fide ordinary and necessary expenses incurred or reasonably expected to be incurred in the business of the employer are not wages and are not subject to withholding. Traveling and other reimbursed expenses must be identified either by making a separate payment or by specifically indicating the separate amounts where both wages and expense allowances are combined in a single payment. Tax 2.90(8)(8) Amounts of so-called “vacation allowances” paid to an employee constitutes wages. Thus the salary of an employee on vacation, paid notwithstanding the absence from work, constitutes wages. Tax 2.90(9)(9) Any payments made by an employer to an employee on account of dismissal, that is, involuntary separation from the service of the employer, constitutes wages regardless of whether the employer is legally bound by contract, statute or otherwise to make such payments. Tax 2.90(10)(10) Any amount deducted by an employer from the remuneration of an employee is considered to be a part of the employee’s remuneration and is considered to be paid to the employee as remuneration at the time the deduction is made. It is immaterial that any act or law requires or permits such deductions. Tax 2.90(11)(11) The term “wages” includes the amount paid by an employer on behalf of an employee, without deduction from the remuneration of or other reimbursement from the employee, on account of any tax imposed upon the employee by any taxing authority. Tax 2.90(12)(12) The value of any meals or lodging furnished to an employee by an employer is not subject to withholding if the value of the meals or lodging is excludable from the gross income of the employee under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, as defined in s. 71.01 (6), Stats. Tax 2.90(13)(13) Ordinarily, facilities or privileges, such as entertainment, medical services, or so-called “courtesy” discounts on purchases furnished or offered by an employer to employees generally, are not considered as wages subject to withholding, if the facilities or privileges are of relatively small value and are offered or furnished by the employer merely as a means of promoting the health, good will, contentment or efficiency of employees. Tax 2.90(14)(14) Tips or gratuities paid directly to an employee by a customer of an employer, are excepted from withholding only if the tips are non-cash tips or if the cash tips received during the course of a month are less than $20. Tax 2.90(15)(a)(a) Upon amounts paid to an employee by the employee’s employer under a wage continuation plan for a period during which the employee is absent from work on account of personal injuries or sickness if such amounts are exempt from withholding taxation under the Internal Revenue Code, as defined in s. 71.01 (6), Stats. Tax 2.90(15)(b)(b) When, as provided by s. 71.66 (3), Stats., an employee certifies to an employer that the employee incurred no liability for income tax for the preceding taxable year and anticipates not incurring a liability for the current taxable year. Tax 2.90 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, January 1963, No. 85, eff. 2-1-63; r. and recr. (12), cr. (15), Register, March, 1966, No. 123 eff. 4-1-66; am. (2), (14) and (15), Register, July, 1978, No. 271, eff. 8-1-78; am. (1), (4), (5), (8), (12), (13) and (15), Register, July, 1989, No. 403, eff. 8-1-89; CR 13-012: r. (6) Register August 2013 No. 692, eff. 9-1-13. Tax 2.91Tax 2.91 Withholding; fiscal year taxpayers. Tax 2.91(1)(1) Except as provided in sub. (2), amounts withheld pursuant to ss. 71.64 and 71.67, Stats., in any calendar year shall be allowed as a credit for the taxable year beginning in the calendar year. If more than one taxable year begins in a calendar year, the amount shall be allowed as a credit for the last taxable year beginning in that calendar year. Tax 2.91(2)(2) Any employee who reports income for taxation to the state of Wisconsin on a taxable year other than the calendar year shall be allowed as a credit for the fiscal year amounts withheld by his or her employer in the fiscal year, provided the employer, on or before the end of the first month following the close of the fiscal year, shall voluntarily furnish the employee with 2 legible copies and the department of revenue with one legible copy of a written statement, adapted to the fiscal year, but otherwise consistent with the written statement referred to in ss. 71.65 (1) and 71.71 (1), Stats., and the employee files a copy of the statement along with the fiscal year return. Tax 2.91 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, March, 1963, No. 87, eff. 4-1-66; am. Register, February, 1975, No. 230, eff. 3-1-75; am. Register, July, 1989, No. 403, eff. 8-1-89. Tax 2.92Tax 2.92 Withholding tax exemptions. Tax 2.92(1)(1) An employee is required to provide a completed Form WT-4, “Employee’s Withholding Exemption Certificate/New Hire Reporting,” to their employer. Tax 2.92(2)(2) An employee who had incurred no Wisconsin income tax liability for the preceding taxable year and anticipates no liability for a current taxable year shall be exempt from withholding if the employee provides his or her employer with a completed Form WT-4, “Employee’s Withholding Exemption Certificate/New Hire Reporting” which shows a claim for total exemption. For this purpose, a tax liability is “incurred” if the employee had for the preceding year, or anticipates for the current year, a net Wisconsin income tax due, i.e., gross tax less personal exemptions on a Wisconsin return. If an employee is married, the Wisconsin marital property laws for tax computation shall be considered in determining if the employee may claim this exemption. Tax 2.92(3)(a)(a) Effective April 1, 1979, an employee may enter into a written agreement with his or her employer to withhold a lesser amount of tax than indicated in the withholding tax tables, if the employee determines the lesser amount approximates the employee’s anticipated income tax liability for the year. Form WT-4A, “Wisconsin Employee Withholding Agreement”, shall be used for this purpose and a completed copy of the form shall be sent by the employee to the department within 10 days after it is filed with the employer. If the employee fails to notify the department within the required 10 days, he or she shall be subject to a penalty of $10, as provided by s. 71.83 (1) (a) 5., Stats. Tax 2.92(3)(b)(b) The agreement between the employee and employer shall be renewed each year. For calendar year taxpayers, the agreement expires on April 30 of the year immediately following the year in which it was entered into. For fiscal year taxpayers, the agreement expires 4 months following the close of the fiscal year in which entered into. To renew the agreement, an employee shall provide a new form WT-4A to his or her employer and submit a copy of the completed form to the department as provided in par. (a). If a new form WT-4A is executed before the expiration dates described in this paragraph, it shall supersede the previous agreement. Tax 2.92(3)(c)(c) If the department determines that an agreement is incomplete, incorrect, or would result in an insufficient amount of tax being withheld, the department may void the agreement by notification to the employer and employee. Tax 2.92(3)(d)(d) Section 71.83 (1) (b) 4., Stats., provides that any employee who enters into an agreement with the intent to defeat or evade the proper withholding of tax, shall be subject to a penalty equal to the difference between the amount required to be withheld and the amount actually withheld for the period that the incorrect agreement was in effect. Tax 2.92(3)(e)(e) Under s. 71.83 (2) (a) 5., Stats., any employee who willfully supplies an employer with false or fraudulent information regarding an agreement with the intent to defeat or evade the proper withholding of tax may be imprisoned not more than 6 months or fined not more than $500, plus the costs of prosecution, or both. Tax 2.92 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, November, 1977, No. 263, eff. 12-1-77; am. (1) and (2), cr. (3), Register, September, 1983, No. 333, eff. 10-1-83; am. (1), (2) and (3) (c), Register, July, 1989, No. 403, eff. 8-1-89; correction in (3) (a), (d), (e) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2011 No. 671; CR 22-044: r. and recr. (1), am. (2) Register June 2023 No. 810, eff. 7-1-23. Tax 2.93Tax 2.93 Withholding from wages of a deceased employee and from death benefit payments. Tax 2.93(1)(1) General. Section 71.64 (1) (a), Stats., requires employers to withhold Wisconsin income tax from payments of wages “to an employee”. Various types of payments are made to the estate or to beneficiaries of a deceased employee which resulted from the deceased person’s employment. The department shall follow the federal internal revenue service’s policy in determining whether withholding of income tax is required from these payments. Tax 2.93(2)(2) Payments subject to withholding. An uncashed check originally received by a decedent prior to the date of death and reissued subsequently to the decedent’s personal representative shall be subject to withholding of Wisconsin income tax. Tax 2.93(3)(3) Payments not subject to withholding. The following types of payments to a decedent’s personal representative or heir shall not be subject to withholding of Wisconsin income tax: Tax 2.93(3)(a)(a) Payments representing wages accrued to the date of death but not paid until after death. Tax 2.93(3)(d)(d) Death benefits such as pensions, annuities and distributions from a decedent’s interest in an employer’s qualified stock bonus plan or profit sharing plan, as provided in s. 71.63 (6) (j), Stats. Tax 2.93 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, February, 1978, No. 266, eff. 3-1-78; am. (1) and (3) (d), Register, July, 1989, No. 403, eff. 8-1-89. Tax 2.935Tax 2.935 Reduction of delinquent interest rate under s. 71.82 (2) (d), Stats. Tax 2.935(1)(1) Procedures. The secretary may reduce the delinquent interest rate from 18% to 12% per year when the secretary determines the reduction fair and equitable, if the person from whom delinquent taxes are owing: Tax 2.935(1)(a)(a) Requests the reduction in writing, addressed to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Compliance Bureau, P.O. Box 8901, Madison, WI 53708. Tax 2.935(1)(b)(b) Clearly indicates why it is fair and equitable for the rate of interest to be reduced. Information regarding one or more of the factors under sub. (2) may be indicated. Tax 2.935(1)(c)(c) Is current in all return and report filings and tax payments for all matters other than the delinquencies for which interest reduction is being sought. Tax 2.935(1)(d)(d) Pays the withholding taxes, reduced amount of interest and any penalties associated with them within 30 days of receiving notice from the department of the reduction. Tax 2.935(2)(2) Factors for secretary’s consideration. In determining whether an interest rate reduction is fair and equitable, the secretary may consider the following factors: Tax 2.935(2)(a)(a) The taxpayer’s prior record of reporting and payment to the department. Tax 2.935(2)(c)(c) If the taxpayer is a natural person, any circumstances which may have prevented payment such as death, imprisonment, hospitalization or other institutionalization. Tax 2.935(2)(d)(d) Any unusual circumstances which may have caused the taxpayer to incur the delinquency or prevent its payment. Tax 2.935(2)(e)(e) Any other factor which the secretary believes pertinent. Tax 2.935(3)(3) Determination not appealable. The secretary’s determination under this rule is not appealable. Tax 2.935 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, February, 1979, No. 278, eff. 3-1-79; am. (1) (intro.), Register, September, 1983, No. 333, eff. 10-1-83; CR 19-141: am. (1) (a) Register September 2020 No. 777, eff. 10-1-20. Tax 2.94Tax 2.94 Tax-sheltered annuities. Tax 2.94(1)(a)(a) Payments for a tax-sheltered annuity purchased for an employee by a public school system or by an exempt educational, charitable or religious organization, which are excludable from the employee’s gross income in the year of payment under section 403 (b) of the Internal Revenue Code, are also excludable in the year of payment for Wisconsin income tax purposes. Tax 2.94 NoteNote: The exclusion from gross income as provided in sub. (1) (a) is effective January 1, 1965, when Wisconsin adopted the Internal Revenue Code as the basis for computing Wisconsin taxable income. Payments prior to January 1, 1965, were taxable for Wisconsin income tax purposes.
Tax 2.94(1)(b)(b) All benefits paid under tax sheltered annuity contracts, including withdrawals, death benefits or annuities, are included in federal taxable income when received. The Wisconsin treatment is described in subs. (2) and (3). Tax 2.94(2)(2) Milwaukee city and county employee and state teachers retirement systems. Normal retirement benefits received from systems enumerated in s. 71.05 (1) (a), Stats., are exempt as provided by that section. The exemption is limited to payments from the accounts of those persons who were members of any of the systems on December 31, 1963, or who were retired from any of the systems on or before December 31, 1963. However, benefits received from tax-sheltered annuity deposits described in sub. (1) administered by these systems do not qualify for the exclusion from Wisconsin taxable income provided by s. 71.05 (1) (a), Stats. Tax-sheltered annuity benefits shall be included in gross income for Wisconsin income tax purposes as they are for federal income tax purposes, except as provided in sub. (3). Tax 2.94(3)(a)(a) Tax-sheltered annuity benefits received by retired teachers on and after January 1, 1974, shall be included in taxable income. No subtraction modification from federal adjusted gross income may be allowed, except as provided in par. (b). Tax 2.94(3)(b)(b) If a school system purchased a tax-sheltered annuity for an employee prior to January 1, 1965, and the employee paid a Wisconsin income tax on the tax-sheltered annuity deposit which was used to pay the 1964 annuity premium, a subtraction modification under s. 71.05 (6) (b) 3., Stats., shall be allowed for the tax-sheltered annuity benefits received on or after January 1, 1974, which are included in federal adjusted gross income and upon which the employee previously paid a Wisconsin income tax. The allowable subtraction modification is the amount of deposit on which the Wisconsin tax was previously paid less that portion, if any, of the tax-sheltered annuity benefits excludable from Wisconsin taxable income because of receipt prior to January 1, 1974. Tax 2.94 NoteExamples: In each example below, assume the employee is a taxpayer who files tax returns on a calendar year basis.
Tax 2.94 Note1) An employee made a deposit of $200 for the purchase of a tax-sheltered annuity in 1964, and this amount was included in Wisconsin taxable income. When the employee retires after December 31, 1973, a subtraction modification under s. 71.05 (6) (b) 3., Stats., is permitted for the first $200 of tax-sheltered annuity benefits received. All subsequent benefits are taxable with no subtraction modification allowed. Tax 2.94 Note2) An employee made a deposit of $300 for the purchase of a tax-sheltered annuity in 1964, and this amount was included in Wisconsin taxable income. The employee retired prior to January 1, 1974, and $120 of the benefits received were not included in Wisconsin taxable income. A subtraction modification under s. 71.05 (6) (b) 3., Stats., is permitted for the next $180 ($300 - $120) received after December 31, 1973. All subsequent benefits are taxable with no subtraction modification allowed. Tax 2.94 Note3) An employee made a deposit of $160 for the purchase of a tax-sheltered annuity in 1964, and this amount was included in Wisconsin taxable income. The employee retired prior to January 1, 1974, and treated $200 of the benefits as nontaxable for Wisconsin income tax purposes. All the benefits received after December 31, 1973, are taxable with no subtraction modification allowed.
Tax 2.94 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1978, No. 268, eff. 5-1-78; r. (1) (a) and (3) (b), renum. (1) (b), (c) and (3) (c) to be (1) (a), (b) and (3) (b) and am. (a) and (3) (b), am. (2) and (3) (a), Register, June, 1991, No. 426, eff. 7-1-91. Tax 2.95Tax 2.95 Reporting of installment sales by natural persons and fiduciaries. Tax 2.95(1)(1) General. The Wisconsin tax treatment of installment sales by natural persons and fiduciaries is determined under the Internal Revenue Code in effect under s. 71.01 (6), Stats. Installment sales may be made of either real or personal property. Because for Wisconsin purposes, at the time of the sale, the seller may be either a resident or nonresident, and the property may be realty or personalty, tangible or intangible, and may be located within or without Wisconsin, special situations that are not addressed in the Internal Revenue Code may arise which affect the reporting of the sale. Tax 2.95(2)(2) Situs of income. Under s. 71.04 (1) (a), Stats., all income or loss of resident individuals shall follow the residence of the individual. A nonresident’s income or loss derived from the sale of real property or tangible personal property follows the situs of the property. Interest income of a nonresident and income from the sale of intangible personal property follows the individual’s residence. Tax 2.95(3)(3) Taxation of proceeds from installment sale of intangible personal property. Tax 2.95(3)(a)(a) Resident seller. If the seller is a Wisconsin resident, the portions of each installment payment that represent gain and interest income from the sale which are received while the seller is a resident of this state are taxable by Wisconsin. If the resident seller abandons Wisconsin domicile and establishes residence in another state, neither the gain nor interest payments received while a nonresident is taxable by Wisconsin. Tax 2.95(3)(b)(b) Nonresident seller. If the seller is not a Wisconsin resident, the portions of each installment payment that represent gain and interest income from the sale are not taxable by Wisconsin. If the seller subsequently becomes a Wisconsin resident after the sale, the portion of each installment payment received after becoming a Wisconsin resident representing gain is not taxable by Wisconsin, but the portion representing interest on the installment note is taxable by Wisconsin. Tax 2.95(4)(4) Taxation of proceeds from installment sale of real property or tangible personal property. Upon the sale of real property or tangible personal property reported under the installment method: Tax 2.95(4)(a)1.1. If the property is located in Wisconsin and the seller is a Wisconsin resident, the portion of each installment payment that represents gain and interest income from the sale is taxable by Wisconsin. Tax 2.95(4)(a)2.2. If the property is located in Wisconsin and the seller is not a Wisconsin resident, the portion of each installment payment that represents gain is taxable by Wisconsin. Interest income of a nonresident is not taxable by Wisconsin. Tax 2.95(4)(b)(b) Out-of-state property. For property located outside Wisconsin which is sold in taxable year 1975 or thereafter: Tax 2.95(4)(b)1.1. If the sale occurs while the seller is a Wisconsin resident and the seller is a Wisconsin resident at the time installment payments are received, the portions of each of these installment payments that represent gain and interest income from the sale are taxable by Wisconsin. However, if the seller no longer is a Wisconsin resident when installment payments are received, the portions of each of these installment payments that represent gain and interest income from the sale are not taxable by Wisconsin. Tax 2.95(4)(b)2.2. If the sale occurs while the seller is not a Wisconsin resident and the seller is a Wisconsin resident at the time installment payments are received, the portion of each of the installment payments that represents gain is not taxable by Wisconsin, but interest income from the sale is taxable. However, if the seller is not a Wisconsin resident at the time installment payments are received, the portions of each of these installment payments that represent gain and interest income from the sale are not taxable by Wisconsin. Tax 2.95 NoteNote: For taxable years prior to 1975, s. 71.07 (1), Stats., provided that for Wisconsin income taxation purposes, income or loss derived from the sale of real property or tangible personal property followed the situs of the property. Interest income and income or loss from the sale of intangible personal property followed the individual’s residence. Therefore, if real property or tangible personal property which was located outside Wisconsin was sold on the installment method prior to taxable year 1975:
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