AB968: Bill Text

AB968,6,22 71.82 (2) (d) Withholding tax. Of the amounts required to be withheld any amount not deposited or paid over to the department within the time required shall be deemed delinquent and deposit reports or withholding reports filed after the due date shall be deemed late. Delinquent deposits or payments shall bear interest at one-twelfth of the rate of 1.5% determined under s. 73.14 (7) (b) per month from the date deposits or payments are required under this section until deposited or paid over to the department. The department shall provide by rule for reduction of interest on delinquent deposits to 12% the rate determined under s. 73.14 (7) (a) per year in stated instances wherein the secretary of revenue determines reduction fair and equitable. In the case of a timely filed deposit or withholding report, withheld taxes shall become delinquent if not deposited or paid over on or before the due date of the report. In the case of no report filed or a report filed late, withheld taxes shall become delinquent if not deposited or paid over by the due date of the report. In the case of an assessment under s. 71.83 (1) (b) 2., the amount assessed shall become delinquent if not paid on or before the first day of the calendar month following the calendar month in which the assessment becomes final, but if the assessment is contested before the tax appeals commission or in the courts, it shall become delinquent on the 30th day following the date on which the order or judgment representing final determination becomes final.

AB968, s. 8 Section 8. 71.83 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,7,10 71.83 (1) (a) 2. `Incomplete or incorrect return.' If Subject to s. 73.14 (6), if any person required under this chapter to file an income or franchise tax return files an incomplete or incorrect return, unless it is shown that such filing was due to good cause and not due to neglect, there shall be added to such person's tax for the taxable year 25% of the amount otherwise payable on any income subsequently discovered or reported. The amount so added shall be assessed, levied and collected in the same manner as additional normal income or franchise taxes, and shall be in addition to any other penalties imposed by this chapter. In this subdivision, "return" includes a separate return filed by a spouse with respect to a taxable year for which a joint return is filed under s. 71.03 (2) (g) to (L) after the filing of that separate return, and a joint return filed by the spouses with respect to a taxable year for which a separate return is filed under s. 71.03 (2) (m) after the filing of that joint return.

AB968, s. 9 Section 9. 71.83 (1) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,7,24 71.83 (1) (a) 3. `Incomplete or incorrect deposit or withholding report.' If Subject to s. 73.14 (6), if any person required under subch. X to file a deposit report or withholding report files an incomplete or incorrect report, or fails to properly withhold or fails to properly deposit or pay over withheld funds, unless it can be shown that the filing or failure was due to good cause and not due to neglect, there shall be added to the tax 25% of the amount not reported or not withheld, deposited or paid over. The amount so added shall be assessed, levied and collected in the same manner as additional income or franchise taxes, and shall be in addition to any other penalties imposed in this subchapter. "Person", in this subdivision, includes an officer or employee of a corporation or other responsible person or a member or employee of a partnership or limited liability company or other responsible person who, as such officer, employee, member or other responsible person, is under a duty to perform the act in respect to which the violation occurs.

AB968, s. 10 Section 10. 71.84 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,8,8 71.84 (1) Individuals and fiduciaries. Except as provided in s. 71.09 (11), in the case of any underpayment of estimated tax by an individual, estate or trust, except as provided under s. 71.09, there shall be added to the aggregate tax for the taxable year interest at the rate of 12% determined under s. 73.14 (7) (a) per year on the amount of the underpayment for the period of the underpayment. In this subsection, "the period of the underpayment" means the time period from the due date of the installment until either the 15th day of the 4th month beginning after the end of the taxable year or the date of payment, whichever is earlier.

AB968, s. 11 Section 11. 71.84 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,8,20 71.84 (2) (a) Except as provided in s. 71.29 (7), in the case of any underpayment of estimated tax under s. 71.29 or 71.48 there shall be added to the aggregate tax for the taxable year interest at the rate of 12% determined under s. 73.14 (7) (a) per year on the amount of the underpayment for the period of the underpayment. For corporations, except as provided in par. (b), "period of the underpayment" means the time period from the due date of the installment until either the 15th day of the 3rd month beginning after the end of the taxable year or the date of payment, whichever is earlier. If 90% of the tax shown on the return is not paid by the 15th day of the 3rd month following the close of the taxable year, the difference between that amount and the estimated taxes paid, along with any interest due, shall accrue delinquent interest under s. 71.91 (1) (a).

AB968, s. 12 Section 12. 71.84 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,9,3 71.84 (2) (c) If a refund under s. 71.29 (3m) results in an income or franchise tax liability that is greater than the amount of estimated taxes paid in reduced by the amount of the refund, the taxpayer shall add to the aggregate tax for the taxable year interest at an annual rate of 12% determined under s. 73.14 (7) (a) on the amount of the unpaid tax liability for the period beginning on the date the refund is issued and ending on the 15th day of the 3rd month beginning after the end of the taxable year, or the date the tax liability is paid, whichever is earlier.

AB968, s. 13 Section 13. 71.90 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,9,20 71.90 (1) Deposit. The department shall notify any person who files a petition for redetermination that the person may deposit the amount of an additional assessment, including any interest or penalty, with the department, or with a person that the department prescribes, at any time before the department makes its redetermination. The department shall notify spouses jointly except that, if the spouses have different addresses and if either spouse notifies the department in writing of those addresses, the department shall serve a duplicate of the original notice on the spouse who has the address other than the address to which the original notice was sent. Amounts deposited under this subsection shall be subject to the interest provided by s. 71.82 only to the extent of the interest accrued prior to the first day of the month succeeding the date of deposit. Any deposited amount which is refunded shall bear interest at the rate of 9% determined under s. 73.14 (7) (a) per year during the time the funds were on deposit. A person may also pay any portion of an assessment which is admitted to be correct and the payment shall be considered an admission of the validity of that portion of the assessment and may not be recovered in an appeal or in any other action or proceeding.

AB968, s. 14 Section 14. 71.90 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,9,25 71.90 (2) Deposit with the secretary of administration. 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, 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% determined under s. 73.14 (7) (a) per year during the time that the funds are on deposit.

AB968, s. 15 Section 15. 71.91 (6) (d) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,11,4 71.91 (6) (d) 1. Any person, including an officer or employee, who fails to surrender property that is subject to levy upon demand of the department is liable to the department for a sum equal to the value of the property not surrendered, but not exceeding the amount of taxes for the collection of which that levy was made, together with costs and interest at the rate of 18% determined under s. 73.14 (7) (b) per year from the date of that levy. Any amount, other than costs, recovered under this paragraph shall be credited against the tax liability for the collection of which that levy was made. The liability under this paragraph may be assessed, levied and collected as are additional income or franchise taxes or may be recovered by the department in a civil action.

AB968, s. 16 Section 16. 71.91 (6) (e) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,11,11 71.91 (6) (e) 3. For purposes of an adjudication under this paragraph, the assessment of the tax upon which the interest or lien of the department is based is conclusively presumed to be valid. Interest shall be allowed for judgments under this paragraph at the rate of 12% determined under s. 73.14 (7) (a) per year from the date the department receives the money wrongfully levied upon to the date of payment of the judgment or from the date of sale to the date of payment.

AB968, s. 17 Section 17. 71.91 (6) (f) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,12,3 71.91 (6) (f) 5. Before the sale, the department shall determine a minimum price for which the property shall be sold. If no person offers for that property at the sale at least the amount of the minimum price, the state shall purchase the property for the minimum price; otherwise, the property shall be sold to the highest bidder. In determining the minimum price, the department shall take into account the expense of making the levy and sale in addition to the value of the property. If payment in full is required at the time of acceptance of a bid and is not paid then, the department shall sell the property in the manner provided under this paragraph. If the conditions of the sale permit part of the payment to be deferred and if that part is not paid within the prescribed period, the department may sue the purchaser in the circuit court for Dane County for the unpaid part of the purchase price and interest at the rate of 12% determined under s. 73.14 (7) (a) per year from the date of the sale or the department may declare the sale void and may sell the property again under this paragraph. If the property is sold again, the 2nd purchaser shall receive it free of any claim of the defaulting purchaser and the amount paid upon the bid price by the defaulting purchaser is forfeited.

AB968, s. 18 Section 18. 71.91 (6) (g) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,12,12 71.91 (6) (g) 2. The owners of any real property sold under par. (f), their heirs or personal representatives, or any person having an interest in or a lien on that property, or any person on behalf of a person specified in this subdivision may redeem the property sold, or any part of that property, within 120 days after the sale by payment to the purchaser or, if the purchaser cannot be found in the county in which the property to be redeemed is situated, then to the department, for the use of the purchaser or the purchaser's heirs or assigns, the amount paid by the purchaser and interest at the rate of 18% determined under s. 73.14 (7) (b) per year.

AB968, s. 19 Section 19. 73.01 (4) (e) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,12,23 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 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 and the decision or order may be cited by the commission and the courts, 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.

AB968, s. 20 Section 20. 73.015 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

AB968,13,5 73.015 (3) Except for decisions and orders in small claims matters, as defined in s. 73.01 (1) (b), a conclusion of law or other holding in any decision or order of the commission may be cited by the commission or the courts as authority unless that conclusion of law or holding has been reversed, modified, overruled, or vacated on the merits on appeal or by a subsequent decision or order of the commission.

AB968, s. 21 Section 21. 73.03 (25) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,13,12 73.03 (25) To settle and dispose of tax cases or issues pending before the tax appeals commission when, in the judgment of the department of revenue, such action is warranted in the best interests of the state; and, with the approval of the attorney general, to settle and dispose of tax cases or issues pending in the courts. Settlements under this subsection may be made on the basis of a taxpayer's ability to pay the liability asserted by the department.

AB968, s. 22 Section 22. 73.14 of the statutes is created to read:

AB968,13,15 73.14 General provision. (1) Definition. In this section, "department" means the department of revenue.

AB968,13,23 (2) Relying on published guidance. (a) In the course of any audit, assessment, or claim for refund, or in the course of any proceeding appealing any audit determination, assessment, or the denial of any claim for refund, the department shall not take a position adverse to any taxpayer that is contrary to any rule promulgated by the department that was in effect during the period related to the audit, assessment, or claim or that is contrary to any guidance published by the department prior to that period and not subsequently retracted, altered, or amended in any material manner.

AB968,14,3 (b) With regards to any position taken by the department in any matter described under par. (a), if the department amends a rule or amends, retracts, or alters previously published guidance in a manner that is adverse to any taxpayer, the department shall apply the amendment, retraction, or alteration prospectively only.

AB968,14,7 (3) Relying on past audits. (a) A person who is subject to an assessment or audit determination by the department, including any subsidiary, heir, assignee, or related party of the person, shall not be liable for any amount that the department asserts that the person owes if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

AB968,14,10 1. The liability asserted by the department is the result of a condition, activity, attribute, or transaction that was present in a prior audit or assessment of the person.

AB968,14,13 2. A department employee who was involved in the prior audit or assessment knew or should reasonably have known of the condition, activity, attribute, or transaction prior to completing the prior audit or assessment.

AB968,14,15 3. The liability asserted by the department as described under subd. 1. was not asserted in the prior audit or assessment.

AB968,14,20 (b) This subsection does not apply to any assessment or audit that is subsequent to the promulgation of a rule, dissemination of guidance to the general public, or effective date of a statute, if the rule, guidance, or statute clearly and unequivocally imposes the liability as result of the condition, activity, attribute, or transaction described in par. (a) 1.

AB968,14,24 (4) Waiver of taxpayer rights. (a) The time within which the department may act on the issuance of any assessment or audit determination may not be extended, except that this paragraph does not apply to any action by the department on a petition for redetermination.

AB968,15,5 (b) No agreement or waiver of a person's right to appeal a determination or to file a claim for a refund with respect to a particular audit or assessment period shall be valid if the agreement or waiver was executed prior to the department's issuance of an appealable assessment or audit determination with respect to that audit or assessment period.

AB968,15,12 (5) Equitable recoupment. A person against whom the department asserts a liability may offset against the liability a refund of any tax or fee administered by the department that the person may claim regardless of whether the time for claiming the refund has expired and regardless of whether the year and transaction related to the liability is the same as that related to the refund. This subsection does not apply to any refund that is associated with any period that is prior to the initial date of the audit or assessment period that results in the liability.

AB968,15,18 (6) Negligence determinations. The department shall not impose a penalty on a taxpayer for negligence or for otherwise filing an improper return unless the department proves by the preponderance of the evidence that the taxpayer's action was clearly contradicted by statute, rule, or department guidance and the statute, rule, or guidance was enacted, promulgated, or published prior to the period for which the penalty is imposed.

AB968,15,23 (7) Calculation of interest rates. (a) Annually, except as provided in par. (b), the department shall determine and publish an interest rate that is applicable to amounts owed to the department and to taxpayers during that calendar year and equal to the 2-year U.S. department of the treasury rate as of December 1 of the prior year, plus 4 percent.

AB968,16,2 (b) Annually, the department shall determine and publish an interest rate that is applicable to delinquent amounts owed to the department during that calendar year and equal to the 2-year U.S. department of the treasury rate as of December 1 of the prior year, plus 10 percent.

AB968,16,4 (8) Applicability. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this section applies to all taxes and fees administered by the department.

AB968, s. 23 Section 23. 77.59 (3m) of the statutes is repealed.

AB968, s. 24 Section 24. 77.59 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,17,5 77.59 (4) (a) Except as provided in sub. (3m), at At any time within 4 years after the due date, or in the case of buyers the unextended due date, of a person's corresponding Wisconsin income or franchise tax return or, if exempt, within 4 years of the 15th day of the 4th month of the year following the close of the calendar or fiscal year for which that person files a claim, that person may, unless a determination by the department by office or field audit of a seller has been made and unless a determination by office audit of a buyer other than an audit in which the tax that is the subject of the refund claim was not adjusted has been made and unless a determination by field audit of the buyer has been made, file with the department a claim for refund of taxes paid to the department by that person. If the amount of the claim is at least $50 or if either the seller has ceased doing business, the buyer is being field audited or the seller may no longer file a claim, the The buyer may, within the time period under this subsection, file a claim with the department for a refund of the taxes paid to the seller. A claim is timely if it fulfills the requirements under s. 77.61 (14). A buyer may claim a refund under this paragraph only on a form prescribed by the department, only by signing that form and only if the seller signs the form unless the department waives that requirement. If both a buyer and a seller file a valid claim for the same refund, the department may pay either claim. The claim for refund shall be regarded as a request for determination. The determination thus requested shall be made by the department within one year after the claim for refund is received by it unless the taxpayer has consented in writing to an extension of the one-year time period prior to its expiration. All claims for refund shall be filed with the department. The seller shall not be liable to any buyer for amounts that the seller collected and paid to the department.

AB968, s. 25 Section 25. 77.59 (8m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,17,11 77.59 (8m) Within the time period under sub. (4), the department of revenue may refund excess taxes paid to it under this chapter, even if the person applying for the refund has been field audited in respect to those taxes, if the applicant's customers have filed valid claims for refunds with the applicant department, and if the refund is passed along to those customers.

AB968, s. 26 Section 26. 77.60 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,17,22 77.60 (1) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), unpaid taxes shall bear interest at the rate of 12% determined under s. 73.14 (7) (a) per year from the due date of the return until paid or deposited with the department. Taxes refunded to the seller shall bear interest at 9% the rate determined under s. 73.14 (7) (a) per year from the due date of the return to the date on which the refund is certified on the refund rolls. An extension of time within which to file a return shall not extend the due date of the return for purposes of interest computation. Taxes refunded to the buyer shall bear interest at 9% the rate determined under s. 73.14 (7) (a) per year from the last day of the month following the month during which the buyer paid the tax to the date on which the refund is certified on the refund rolls.

AB968, s. 27 Section 27. 77.60 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,18,5 77.60 (1) (b) Any unpaid taxes for a calendar year or a fiscal year resulting from a field audit shall bear interest at the rate of 12% determined under s. 73.14 (7) (a) per year from the due date of the taxpayer's Wisconsin income or franchise tax return for that calendar or fiscal year or, if exempt, from the 15th day of the 4th month of the year after the close of the calendar or fiscal year for which the taxes are due to the date on which the taxes are paid or, if unpaid, become delinquent, whichever is earlier.

AB968, s. 28 Section 28. 77.60 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,18,17 77.60 (2) (intro.) Delinquent sales and use tax returns shall be subject to a $20 late filing fee unless the return was not timely filed because of the death of the person required to file or unless the return was not timely filed due to good cause and not due to neglect. The fee shall not apply if the department has failed to issue a seller's permit or a use tax registration within 30 days of the receipt of an application for a seller's permit or use tax registration accompanied by the fee established under s. 73.03 (50), if the person does not hold a valid certificate under s. 73.03 (50), and the security required under s. 77.61 (2) has not been placed with the department. Delinquent sales and use taxes shall bear interest at the rate of 1.5% a rate that is equal to one-twelfth of the rate determined under s. 73.14 (7) (b) per month until paid. The taxes imposed by this subchapter shall become delinquent if not paid:

AB968, s. 29 Section 29. 77.60 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,18,23 77.60 (3) If Subject to s. 73.14 (6), if due to neglect an incorrect return is filed, the entire tax finally determined shall be subject to a penalty of 25%, or 50% in the case of returns under s. 77.61 (1) (c), of the tax exclusive of interest or other penalty. A person filing an incorrect return shall have the burden of proving that the error or errors were due to good cause and not due to neglect.

AB968, s. 30 Section 30. 77.60 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,19,11 77.60 (4) In Subject to s. 73.14 (6), in case of failure to file any return required under authority of s. 77.58 by the due date, determined with regard to any extension of time for filing, unless it is shown that such failure was due to reasonable cause and not due to neglect, there shall be added to the amount required to be shown as tax on such return 5% of the amount of such tax if the failure is not for more than one month, with an additional 5% for each additional month or fraction thereof during which such failure continues, not exceeding 25% in the aggregate. For purposes of this subsection, 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 of the tax and by the amount of any credit against the tax which may be claimed upon the return.

AB968, s. 31 Section 31. 77.60 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,19,16 77.60 (5) If Subject to s. 73.14 (6), if a person fails to file a return when due or files a false or fraudulent return with intent in either case to defeat or evade the tax imposed by this subchapter, a penalty of 50% shall be added to the tax required to be paid, exclusive of interest and other penalties.

AB968, s. 32 Section 32. 77.96 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,19,23 77.96 (5) Each person subject to a surcharge under s. 77.93 shall, on or before the due date, including extensions, for filing under ch. 71, file an accurate statement of its gross tax liability or net business income. Payments made after the due date under sub. (2) and on or before the due date under this subsection are not delinquent but are subject to interest at the rate of 12% determined under s. 73.14 (7) (a) per year.

AB968, s. 33 Section 33. 78.68 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,20,5 78.68 (1) Unpaid taxes shall bear interest at the rate of 12% per year from the due date of the tax until paid or deposited with the department, and all refunded taxes bear interest at the rate of 9% determined under s. 73.14 (7) (a) per year from the due date of the return to the date on which the refund is certified on the refund rolls.

AB968, s. 34 Section 34. 78.68 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,20,11 78.68 (2) (intro.) Delinquent tax returns are subject to a $10 late filing fee. Delinquent motor vehicle fuel, alternate fuels and general aviation fuel taxes bear interest at the rate of 1.5% a rate that is equal to one-twelfth of the rate determined under s. 73.14 (7) (b) per month until paid. The taxes imposed by this chapter are delinquent if not paid as follows:

AB968, s. 35 Section 35. 78.68 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,20,16 78.68 (3) If Subject to s. 73.14 (6), if due to neglect an incorrect return is filed, the entire tax finally determined is subject to a penalty of 25% of the tax exclusive of interest or other penalty. A person filing an incorrect return has the burden of proving that the error or errors were due to good cause and not due to neglect.

AB968, s. 36 Section 36. 227.12 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,20,23 227.12 (3) Within Except as provided in sub. (4), within a reasonable period of time after the receipt of a petition under this section, an agency shall either deny the petition in writing or proceed with the requested rule making. If the agency denies the petition, it shall promptly notify the petitioner of the denial, including a brief statement of the reason for the denial. If the agency proceeds with the requested rule making, it shall follow the procedures prescribed in this subchapter.

AB968, s. 37 Section 37. 227.12 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB968,21,14 227.12 (4) If a petition to the department of revenue alleges that the department has established a standard by which it is construing a state tax statute, but has not promulgated a rule to adopt the standard or published the standard in a manner that is available to the public, the department shall initiate rule making within 90 days from the date that the petition is received and submit a rule to the legislature pursuant to s. 227.19 (2) no later than 180 days from the date that the petition is received. The rule need not adhere to the standard established by the department, but shall address the same circumstances as the standard addresses. If the department fails to comply with this subsection, any of the petitioners may commence an action in circuit court to compel the department's compliance. If an action is commenced under this subsection, the court may compel the department to provide information to the court related to the degree to which the department is enforcing the standard, except that the information provided by the department shall not disclose the identity of any person who is not a party to the action.

AB968, s. 38 Section 38. 227.41 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,21,22 227.41 (1) Any Except as provided in sub. (5), any agency may, on petition by any interested person, issue a declaratory ruling with respect to the applicability to any person, property or state of facts of any rule or statute enforced by it. Full opportunity for hearing shall be afforded to interested parties. A declaratory ruling shall bind the agency and all parties to the proceedings on the statement of facts alleged, unless it is altered or set aside by a court. A ruling shall be subject to review in the circuit court in the manner provided for the review of administrative decisions.

AB968, s. 39 Section 39. 227.41 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,21,25 227.41 (3) The Except as provided in sub. (5) (b), the petition shall be filed with the administrative head of the agency or with a member of the agency's policy board.

AB968, s. 40 Section 40. 227.41 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,22,6 227.41 (4) Within Except as provided in sub. (5) (c), within a reasonable time after receipt of a petition pursuant to this section, an agency shall either deny the petition in writing or schedule the matter for hearing. If the agency denies the petition, it shall promptly notify the person who filed the petition of its decision, including a brief statement of the reasons therefor.

AB968, s. 41 Section 41. 227.41 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

AB968,22,15 227.41 (5) (a) The department of revenue shall, on petition by any interested person, or any group or association of interested persons, issue a declaratory ruling with respect to the applicability to any person, property, or state of facts of any rule or statute enforced by it. Full opportunity for hearing shall be afforded to interested parties. A declaratory ruling shall bind the department and all parties to the proceedings on the statement of facts alleged, unless it is altered or set aside by the tax appeals commission or a court. A ruling, including the denial of the petition, shall be subject to review by the tax appeals commission as provided in ch. 73.

AB968,22,17 (b) A petition under par. (a) shall conform to the requirements under sub. (2) and be filed with the secretary of revenue.

AB968,22,24 (c) No later than 30 days after the day that the secretary of revenue receives a petition under this subsection, the department of revenue shall either deny the petition in writing or schedule the matter for hearing. The department may deny the petition only if the petition fails to comply with the requirements under sub. (2). If the department denies the petition, it shall promptly notify the person who filed the petition of its decision and include with the notice a brief statement of the reasons for denying the petition.

AB968,23,5 (d) If the department of revenue does not deny the petition, the department shall hold a hearing and issue a ruling on the petition no later than 90 days after the day that the secretary of revenue receives the petition, unless the deadline is extended by written agreement of all parties. Upon agreement of the parties, the department may rule on the petition based on facts stipulated by the parties.

AB968, s. 42 Section 42. 227.485 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,23,8 227.485 (2) (a) "Hearing examiner" means the agency , tax appeals commission, or hearing examiner conducting the hearing.

AB968, s. 43 Section 43. 227.485 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB968,23,16 227.485 (3) In Except as provided under sub. (3m), in any contested case in which an individual, a small nonprofit corporation or a small business is the prevailing party and submits a motion for costs under this section, the hearing examiner shall award the prevailing party the costs incurred in connection with the contested case, unless the hearing examiner finds that the state agency which is the losing party was substantially justified in taking its position or that special circumstances exist that would make the award unjust.