77.51(14)(i)
(i) Sales of building materials, supplies and equipment to owners, contractors, subcontractors or builders for the erection of buildings or structures or the alteration, repair or improvement of real property. Such transactions are deemed retail sales in whatsoever quantity sold.
77.51(14)(j)
(j) The granting of possession of tangible personal property by a lessor to a lessee, or to another person at the direction of the lessee. Such a transaction is deemed a continuing sale in this state by the lessor for the duration of the lease as respects any period of time the leased property is situated in this state, irrespective of the time or place of delivery of the property to the lessee or such other person.
77.51(14)(k)
(k) Any sale of tangible personal property to a purchaser even though such property may be used or consumed by some other person to whom such purchaser transfers the tangible personal property without valuable consideration, such as gifts, and advertising specialties distributed gratis apart from the sale of other tangible personal property or service.
77.51(14)(L)
(L) Transfers by a service provider of tangible personal property in conjunction with but not incidental to the selling, performing or furnishing of any service, and transfers by a service provider selling, performing or furnishing services under
s. 77.52 (2) (a) 7.,
10.,
11. and
20. This subsection does not apply to
sub. (2).
77.51(14g)(a)
(a) The transfer of property to a corporation upon its organization solely in consideration for the issuance of its stock;
77.51(14g)(b)
(b) The contribution of property to a newly formed partnership solely in consideration for a partnership interest therein;
77.51(14g)(bm)
(bm) The contribution of property to a limited liability company upon its organization solely in consideration for a membership interest;
77.51(14g)(c)
(c) The transfer of property to a corporation, solely in consideration for the issuance of its stock, pursuant to a merger or consolidation;
77.51(14g)(cm)
(cm) The transfer of property to a limited liability company, solely in consideration for a membership interest, pursuant to a merger;
77.51(14g)(d)
(d) The distribution of property by a corporation to its stockholders as a dividend or in whole or partial liquidation;
77.51(14g)(e)
(e) The distribution of property by a partnership to its partners in whole or partial liquidation;
77.51(14g)(em)
(em) The distribution of property by a limited liability company to its members in whole or partial liquidation;
77.51(14g)(f)
(f) Repossession of property by the seller from the purchaser when the only consideration is cancellation of the purchaser's obligation to pay the remaining balance of the purchase price;
77.51(14g)(g)
(g) The transfer of property in a reorganization as defined in section
368 of the internal revenue code in which no gain or loss is recognized for franchise or income tax purposes; or
77.51(14g)(h)
(h) Any transfer of all or substantially all the property held or used by a person in the course of an activity requiring the holding of a seller's permit, if after the transfer the real or ultimate ownership of the property is substantially similar to that which existed before the transfer. For the purposes of this section, stockholders, bondholders, partners, members or other persons holding an interest in a corporation or other entity are regarded as having the real or ultimate ownership of the property of the corporation or other entity. In this paragraph, "substantially similar" means 80% or more of ownership.
77.51(14r)
(14r) A sale or purchase involving transfer of ownership of property shall be deemed to have been completed at the time and place when and where possession is transferred by the seller or the seller's agent to the purchaser or the purchaser's agent, except that for purposes of this subsection a common carrier or the U.S. postal service shall be deemed the agent of the seller, regardless of any f.o.b. point and regardless of the method by which freight or postage is paid.
77.51(15)(a)(a) "Sales price" means the total amount for which tangible personal property is sold, leased or rented, valued in money, whether paid in money or otherwise, without any deduction on account of any of the following:
77.51(15)(a)2.
2. The cost of the materials used, labor or service cost, losses or any other expenses;
77.51(15)(a)3.
3. The cost of transportation of the property prior to its purchase;
77.51(15)(a)4.
4. Any tax included in or added to the purchase price including the taxes imposed by
ss. 78.01,
78.40,
139.02,
139.03 and
139.31 and the federal motor fuel tax and including also any manufacturers' or importers' excise tax; but not including any tax imposed by the United States, any other tax imposed by this state, or any tax imposed by any municipality of this state upon or with respect to retail sales whether imposed on the retailer or consumer, if that federal, state or municipal tax is measured by a stated percentage of sales price or gross receipts, and not including the federal communications tax imposed upon the services set forth in
s. 77.52 (2) (a) 5. For the purpose of this subdivision, a tax shall be deemed "imposed upon or with respect to retail sales" only if the retailer is the person who is required to make the payment of the tax to the governmental unit levying the tax.
77.51(15)(b)
(b) "Sales price" shall not include any of the following:
77.51(15)(b)2.
2. The amount charged for property returned by customers when that entire amount is refunded either in cash or credit;
77.51(15)(b)3.
3. Transportation charges separately stated, if the transportation occurs after the purchase of the property is made.
77.51(15)(b)4.
4. In all transactions in which an article of tangible personal property is traded toward the purchase of an article of greater value, the sales price shall be only that portion of the purchase price represented by the difference between the full purchase price of the article of greater value and the amount allowed for the article traded.
77.51(15)(b)5.
5. Thirty-five percent of the total amount for which a new mobile home that is a primary housing unit under
s. 340.01 (29) is sold. No credit may be allowed for trade-ins under
subd. 4. or
sub. (4) (b) 3. This subdivision does not apply to lease or rental.
77.51(15)(c)
(c) "Sales price" includes all of the following:
77.51(15)(c)1.
1. Any services that are a part of the sale of tangible personal property, including any fee, service charge, labor charge or other addition to the price charged a customer by the retailer which represents or is in lieu of a tip or gratuity.
77.51(15)(c)2.
2. The amount charged for labor or services rendered in installing or applying tangible personal property sold, except the price received for installing or applying property which, when installed or applied, will constitute an addition or capital improvement of real property and provided such amount is separately set forth from the amount charged for the tangible personal property.
77.51(17)
(17) "Seller" includes every person selling, leasing or renting tangible personal property or selling, performing or furnishing services of a kind the gross receipts from the sale, lease, rental, performance or furnishing of which are required to be included in the measure of the sales tax.
77.51(17m)
(17m) "Service address" means the location of the telecommunications equipment from which telecommunications services are originated or at which telecommunications services are received by a buyer. If this is not a defined location; as in the case of mobile phones, paging systems, maritime systems, air-to-ground systems and the like; "service address" means the location where a buyer makes primary use of the telecommunications equipment as defined by telephone number, authorization code or location where bills are sent.
77.51(18)
(18) "Storage" includes any keeping or retention in this state of tangible personal property purchased from a retailer for any purpose except the following:
77.51(18)(b)
(b) Keeping, retaining or exercising any right or power over raw materials by a publisher or printer of printed materials for processing or fabricating or for manufacturing into, attachment to or incorporation into printed materials to be transported, and thereafter used solely, outside this state.
77.51(20)
(20) "Tangible personal property" means all tangible personal property of every kind and description and includes electricity, natural gas, steam and water and also leased property affixed to realty if the lessor has the right to remove the property upon breach or termination of the lease agreement, unless the lessor of the property is also the lessor of the realty to which the property is affixed. "Tangible personal property" also includes coins and stamps of the United States sold or traded as collectors' items above their face value and computer programs except custom computer programs.
77.51(21)
(21) "Taxpayer" means the person required to pay, collect, account for or who is otherwise directly interested in the taxes imposed by this subchapter.
77.51(21m)
(21m) "Telecommunications services" means sending messages and information transmitted through the use of local, toll and wide-area telephone service; channel services; telegraph services; teletypewriter; computer exchange services; cellular mobile telecommunications service; specialized mobile radio; stationary two-way radio; paging service; or any other form of mobile and portable one-way or two-way communications; or any other transmission of messages or information by electronic or similar means between or among points by wire, cable, fiber optics, laser, microwave, radio, satellite or similar facilities. "Telecommunications services" does not include sending collect telecommunications that are received outside of the state.
77.51(22)(a)(a) "Use" includes the exercise of any right or power over tangible personal property or taxable services incident to the ownership, possession or enjoyment of the property or services, or the results produced by the services, including installation or affixation to real property and including the possession of, or the exercise of any right or power over tangible personal property by a lessee under a lease, except that "use" does not include the activities under
sub. (18) (a) and
(b).
77.51(22)(b)
(b) In this subsection "enjoyment" includes a purchaser's right to direct the disposition of property, whether or not the purchaser has possession of the property. "Enjoyment" also includes, but is not limited to, having shipped into this state by an out-of-state supplier printed material which is designed to promote the sale of property or services, or which is otherwise related to the business activities, of the purchaser of the printed material or printing service.
77.51 History
History: 1973 c. 333;
1975 c. 39,
41,
99,
224;
1975 c. 413 s.
18;
1977 c. 29,
418;
1979 c. 1 ss.
57 to
59,
61,
62;
1979 c. 174;
1981 c. 20;
1981 c. 79 s.
17;
1983 a. 23,
27;
1983 a. 189 ss.
92 to
108,
329 (12);
1983 a. 510,
538;
1983 a. 544 ss.
13 to
46,
47 (1) (b);
1985 a. 29,
332;
1987 a. 27,
399;
1989 a. 31,
335,
336;
1991 a. 39,
269,
316;
1993 a. 16,
112,
184.
77.51 Annotation
Tax on personal property assets upheld since seller had permit under sub. (10) (a), 1983 stats. [now sub. (9) (a)]. Ramrod, Inc. v. Dept. of Revenue, 64 W (2d) 499, 219 NW (2d) 604.
77.51 Annotation
Under sub. (18), 1983 stats. [now sub. (2)], building materials includes sale of assembly kit to dealers for construction of Harvestore silo and such dealers are contractors. Where Harvestore was erected on owned land, it is real property for purposes of this section. Dept. of Revenue v. Smith Harvestore Products, 72 W (2d) 60, 240 NW (2d) 357.
77.51 Annotation
Retail sale within meaning of sub. (4), 1983 stats. [now sub. (14)] is the final and ultimate employment of the property which results in its withdrawal from the marketplace. See note to s. 77.52, citing Dept. of Revenue v. Milw. Refining Corp. 80 W (2d) 44, 257 NW (2d) 855.
77.51 Annotation
Provisions of UCC as to time title passes are inapplicable to sales tax law. Application of 77.51 subsections discussed. Harold W. Fuchs Agency, Inc. v. Dept. of Revenue, 91 W (2d) 283, 282 NW (2d) 625 (Ct. App. 1979).
77.51 Annotation
Sale of business assets of taxpayer which held seller's permit was not exempted as "occasional sale" under sub. (10) (a), 1983 stats. [now sub. (9) (a)]. Constitutionality discussed. Midcontinent Broadcasting Co. v. Dept. of Revenue, 98 W (2d) 379, 297 NW (2d) 191 (1980).
77.51 Annotation
Manhole fabricator was not engaged in real property construction activities under (2). Advance Pipe & Supply v. Revenue Dept. 128 W (2d) 431, 383 NW (2d) 502 (Ct. App. 1986).
77.51 Annotation
Photocopying expenses billed to law firm's clients are not subject to sales tax. Frisch, Dudek & Slattery v. Rev. Dept., 133 W (2d) 444, 396 NW (2d) 355 (Ct. App. 1986).
77.52
77.52
Imposition of retail sales tax. 77.52(1)
(1) For the privilege of selling, leasing or renting tangible personal property, including accessories, components, attachments, parts, supplies and materials, at retail a tax is imposed upon all retailers at the rate of 5% of the gross receipts from the sale, lease or rental of tangible personal property, including accessories, components, attachments, parts, supplies and materials, sold, leased or rented at retail in this state.
77.52(1m)
(1m) The sales tax applies to the receipts of operators of vending machines located on army, navy or air force installations in this state and dispensing tangible personal property. This subsection shall not be deemed to require payment of sales tax measured by receipts of such operators who lease the machines to exchanges of the army, air force, navy or marine corps which acquire title to and sell the merchandise through the machines to authorized purchasers from such exchanges. The term "operator" as used in this subsection, means any person who owns or possesses vending machines and who controls the operations of the machines as by placing the merchandise therein or removing the coins therefrom, and who has access thereto for any purpose connected with the sale of merchandise through the machines, and whose compensation is based, in whole or in part, upon receipts from sales made through such machines.
77.52(2)
(2) For the privilege of selling, performing or furnishing the services described under
par. (a) at retail in this state to consumers or users, a tax is imposed upon all persons selling, performing or furnishing the services at the rate of 5% of the gross receipts from the sale, performance or furnishing of the services.
77.52(2)(a)
(a) The tax imposed herein applies to the following types of services:
77.52(2)(a)1.
1. The furnishing of rooms or lodging to transients by hotelkeepers, motel operators and other persons furnishing accommodations that are available to the public, irrespective of whether membership is required for use of the accommodations, including the furnishing of rooms or lodging through the sale of a time-share property, as defined in
s. 707.02 (32), if the use of the rooms or lodging is not fixed at the time of sale as to the starting day or the lodging unit. In this subdivision, "transient" means any person residing for a continuous period of less than one month in a hotel, motel or other furnished accommodations available to the public. In this subdivision, "hotel" or "motel" means a building or group of buildings in which the public may obtain accommodations for a consideration, including, without limitation, such establishments as inns, motels, tourist homes, tourist houses or courts, lodging houses, rooming houses, summer camps, apartment hotels, resort lodges and cabins and any other building or group of buildings in which accommodations are available to the public, except accommodations, including mobile homes as defined in
s. 66.058 (1) (d), rented for a continuous period of more than one month and accommodations furnished by any hospitals, sanatoriums, or nursing homes, or by corporations or associations organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable or educational purposes provided that no part of the net earnings of such corporations and associations inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.
77.52(2)(a)2.
2. The sale of admissions to amusement, athletic, entertainment or recreational events or places, the sale, rental or use of regular bingo cards, extra regular cards, special bingo cards and the sale of bingo supplies to players and the furnishing, for dues, fees or other considerations, the privilege of access to clubs or the privilege of having access to or the use of amusement, entertainment, athletic or recreational devices or facilities, including, in connection with the sale or use of time-share property, as defined in
s. 707.02 (32), the sale or furnishing of use of recreational facilities on a periodic basis or other recreational rights, including but not limited to membership rights, vacation services and club memberships.
77.52(2)(a)5.
5. The sale of telecommunications services that originate in this state and are charged to a service address in this state, regardless of the location where that charge is billed or paid.
77.52(2)(a)6.
6. Laundry, dry cleaning, pressing and dyeing services, except when performed on raw materials or goods in process destined for sale, except when performed on cloth diapers by a diaper service and except when the service is performed by the customer through the use of coin-operated, self-service machines.
77.52(2)(a)7.
7. Photographic services including the processing, printing and enlarging of film as well as the service of photographers for the taking, reproducing and sale of photographs.
77.52(2)(a)9.
9. Parking or providing parking space for motor vehicles and aircraft for a consideration and docking or providing storage space for boats for a consideration.
77.52(2)(a)10.
10. Except for installing or applying tangible personal property which, when installed or applied, will constitute an addition or capital improvement of real property, the repair, service, alteration, fitting, cleaning, painting, coating, towing, inspection and maintenance of all items of tangible personal property unless, at the time of such repair, service, alteration, fitting, cleaning, painting, coating, towing, inspection or maintenance, a sale in this state of the type of property repaired, serviced, altered, fitted, cleaned, painted, coated, towed, inspected or maintained would have been exempt to the customer from sales taxation under this subchapter, other than the exempt sale of a motor vehicle or truck body to a nonresident under
s. 77.54 (5) (a) and other than nontaxable sales under
s. 77.51 (14r). For purposes of this paragraph, the following items shall be deemed to have retained their character as tangible personal property, regardless of the extent to which any such item is fastened to, connected with or built into real property: furnaces, boilers, stoves, ovens, including associated hoods and exhaust systems, heaters, air conditioners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, coolers, freezers, water pumps, water heaters, water conditioners and softeners, clothes washers, clothes dryers, dishwashers, garbage disposal units, radios and radio antennas, incinerators, television receivers and antennas, record players, tape players, jukeboxes, vacuum cleaners, furniture and furnishings, carpeting and rugs, bathroom fixtures, sinks, awnings, blinds, gas and electric logs, heat lamps, electronic dust collectors, grills and rotisseries, bar equipment, intercoms, recreational, sporting, gymnasium and athletic goods and equipment including by way of illustration but not of limitation bowling alleys, golf practice equipment, pool tables, punching bags, ski tows and swimming pools; office, restaurant and tavern type equipment including by way of illustration but not of limitation lamps, chandeliers, and fans, venetian blinds, canvas awnings, office and business machines, ice and milk dispensers, beverage-making equipment, vending machines, soda fountains, steam warmers and tables, compressors, condensing units and evaporative condensers, pneumatic conveying systems; laundry, dry cleaning, and pressing machines, power tools, burglar alarm and fire alarm fixtures, electric clocks and electric signs. "Service" does not include services performed by veterinarians.
77.52(2)(a)11.
11. The producing, fabricating, processing, printing or imprinting of tangible personal property for a consideration for consumers who furnish directly or indirectly the materials used in the producing, fabricating, processing, printing or imprinting. This subdivision does not apply to the printing or imprinting of tangible personal property which will be subsequently transported outside the state for use outside the state by the consumer for advertising purposes.
77.52(2)(a)12.
12. The sale of cable television system services including installation charges.
77.52(2)(a)20.
20. The sale of landscaping and lawn maintenance services including landscape planning and counseling, lawn and garden services such as planting, mowing, spraying and fertilizing and shrub and tree services.
77.52(2)(am)
(am) For purposes of
par. (a) 12. "cable television system" means any facility which, for a fee, regularly amplifies and transmits by wire, coaxial cable, lightwave or microwave, simultaneously to 50 or more subscribers, programs broadcast by television or radio stations or originated by themselves or any other party. "Cable television system" does not include a master antenna system which serves one residential, commercial or government building or complex of buildings under common ownership or control if that facility does not provide any broadcast signals other than those which may be viewed in that facility.
77.52(2m)(a)(a) With respect to the services subject to tax under
sub. (2), no part of the charge for the service may be deemed a sale or rental of tangible personal property if the property transferred by the service provider is incidental to the selling, performing or furnishing of the service, except as provided in
par. (b).
77.52(2m)(b)
(b) With respect to the services subject to tax under
sub. (2) (a) 7.,
10.,
11. and
20., all property physically transferred to the customer in conjunction with the selling, performing or furnishing of the service is a sale of tangible personal property separate from the selling, performing or furnishing of the service.
77.52(3)
(3) The taxes imposed by this section may be collected from the consumer or user.
77.52(4)
(4) It is unlawful for any retailer to advertise or hold out or state to the public or to any customer, directly or indirectly, that the tax or any part thereof will be assumed or absorbed by the retailer or that it will not be added to the selling price of the property sold or that if added it, or any part thereof, will be refunded. Any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor.
77.52(5)
(5) The department may by rule provide that the amount collected by the retailer from the consumer or user in reimbursement of the retailer's tax be displayed separately from the list price, the price advertised in the premises, the marked price, or other price on the sales check or other proof of sale.
77.52(6)
(6) A retailer is relieved from liability for sales tax insofar as the measure of the tax is represented by accounts which have been found to be worthless and charged off for income or franchise tax purposes. If the retailer has previously paid the tax, the retailer may, under rules prescribed by the department, take as a deduction from the measure of the tax the amount found worthless and charged off for income or franchise tax purposes. If any such accounts are thereafter collected in whole or in part by the retailer, the amount as collected shall be included in the first return filed after such collection and the tax paid with the return.
77.52(9)
(9) The department shall issue a permit for each place of operation in this state to any person who requests one and who holds a valid certificate under
s. 73.03 (50). Permits under this subsection are not assignable and are valid only for the person who originally obtains them and only at the place of operation designated on them. Holders of permits shall display them prominently at the place for which they are valid.
77.52(11)
(11) If any person fails to comply with any provision of this subchapter relating to the sales tax or any rule of the department relating to the sales tax adopted under this subchapter, is delinquent in respect to any tax imposed by the department or fails timely to file any return or report in respect to any tax under
ch. 71,
72,
76,
77,
78 or
139 after having been requested to file that return or report, the department upon hearing, after giving the person 10 days' notice in writing specifying the time and place of hearing and requiring the person to show cause why the permit should not be revoked or suspended, may revoke or suspend any one or more of the permits held by the person. The department shall give to the person written notice of the suspension or revocation of any of the permits. The notices required in this subsection may be served personally or by mail in the manner prescribed for service of notice of a deficiency determination. If the department suspends or revokes a permanent permit under this subsection, it may grant a temporary permit that is valid for one month and may then grant additional temporary permits if the person pays all amounts owed under this chapter for the month for which the previous temporary permit was issued. Persons who receive a temporary permit waive the notice requirement under
s. 77.61 (2). The department shall not issue a new permanent permit after the revocation of a permit unless it is satisfied that the former holder of the permit will comply with the provisions of this subchapter, the rules of the department relating to the sales tax and the provisions relating to other taxes administered by the department.
77.52(12)
(12) A person who operates as a seller in this state without a permit or after a permit has been suspended, revoked or has expired and each officer of any corporation, partnership member, limited liability company member or other person authorized to act on behalf of a seller who so operates, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Permits shall be held only by persons actively operating as sellers of tangible personal property or taxable services. Any person not so operating shall forthwith surrender that person's permit to the department for cancellation. The department may revoke the permit of a person found not to be actively operating as a seller of tangible personal property or taxable services.
77.52(13)
(13) For the purpose of the proper administration of this section and to prevent evasion of the sales tax it shall be presumed that all receipts are subject to the tax until the contrary is established. The burden of proving that a sale of tangible personal property or services is not a taxable sale at retail is upon the person who makes the sale unless that person takes from the purchaser a certificate to the effect that the property or service is purchased for resale or is otherwise exempt.
77.52(14)(a)(a) The certificate referred to in
sub. (13) relieves the seller from the burden of proof only if any of the following is true:
77.52(14)(a)1.
1. The certificate is taken in good faith from a person who is engaged as a seller of tangible personal property or taxable services and who holds the permit provided for in
sub. (9) and who, at the time of purchasing the tangible personal property or services, intends to sell it in the regular course of operations or is unable to ascertain at the time of purchase whether the property or service will be sold or will be used for some other purpose.
77.52(14)(a)2.
2. The certificate is taken in good faith from a person claiming exemption.
77.52(14)(b)
(b) The certificate referred to in
sub. (13) shall be signed by and bear the name and address of the purchaser, and shall indicate the general character of the tangible personal property or service sold by the purchaser and the basis for the claimed exemption. The certificate shall be in such form as the department prescribes.
77.52(15)
(15) If a purchaser who gives a resale certificate makes any use of the property other than retention, demonstration or display while holding it for sale, lease or rental in the regular course of the purchaser's operations, the use shall be taxable to the purchaser under
s. 77.53 as of the time the property is first used by the purchaser, and the sales price of the property to the purchaser shall be the measure of the tax. Only when there is an unsatisfied use tax liability on this basis because the seller has provided incorrect information about that transaction to the department shall the seller be liable for sales tax with respect to the sale of the property to the purchaser.
77.52(16)
(16) Any person who gives a resale certificate for property or services which that person knows at the time of purchase is not to be resold by that person in the regular course of that person's operations as a seller for the purpose of evading payment to the seller of the amount of the tax applicable to the transaction is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person certifying to the seller that the sale of property or taxable service is exempt, knowing at the time of purchase that it is not exempt, for the purpose of evading payment to the seller of the amount of the tax applicable to the transaction, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
77.52(17)
(17) If a purchaser gives a certificate with respect to the purchase of fungible goods and thereafter commingles these goods with other fungible goods not so purchased but of such similarity that the identity of the constituent goods in the commingled mass cannot be determined, sales from the mass of commingled goods shall be deemed to be sales of the goods so purchased until a quantity of commingled goods equal to the quantity of purchased goods so commingled has been sold.
