77.61
77.61
Administrative provisions. 77.61(1)(a)(a) No motor vehicle, boat, snowmobile, mobile home not exceeding 45 feet in length, trailer, semitrailer, all-terrain vehicle or aircraft shall be registered or titled in this state unless the registrant presents proof that the sales or use taxes imposed by this subchapter have been paid.
77.61(1)(b)
(b) In the case of a motor vehicle purchased from a licensed Wisconsin motor vehicle dealer, the registrant shall present proof that the tax has been paid to such dealer.
77.61(1)(c)
(c) In the case of motor vehicles, boats, snowmobiles, mobile homes not exceeding 45 feet in length, trailers, semitrailers, all-terrain vehicles or aircraft registered or titled, or required to be registered or titled, in this state purchased from persons who are not Wisconsin boat, trailer or semitrailer dealers, licensed Wisconsin aircraft, motor vehicle or mobile home dealers or registered Wisconsin snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle dealers, the purchaser shall file a sales tax return and pay the tax prior to registering or titling the motor vehicle, boat, snowmobile, mobile home not exceeding 45 feet in length, trailer, semitrailer, all-terrain vehicle or aircraft in this state.
77.61(2)
(2) In order to protect the revenue of the state, the department may require any person who is or will be liable to it for the tax imposed by this subchapter to place with it, before or after a permit is issued, the security, not in excess of $15,000, that the department determines. In determining the amount of security to require under this subsection, the department may consider the person's payment of other taxes administered by the department and any other relevant facts. If any taxpayer fails or refuses to place that security, the department may refuse or revoke the permit. If any taxpayer is delinquent in the payment of the taxes imposed by this subchapter, the department may, upon 10 days' notice, recover the taxes, interest, costs and penalties from the security placed with the department by the taxpayer in the following order: costs, penalties, delinquent interest, delinquent tax. No interest may be paid or allowed by the state to any person for the deposit of security. Any security deposited under this subsection shall be returned to the taxpayer if the taxpayer has, for 24 consecutive months, complied with all the requirements of this subchapter.
77.61(3)
(3) The department shall provide a bracket system to be used by retailers in collecting the amount of the tax from their customers, but the use of such brackets shall not relieve the retailer from liability for payment of the full amount of the tax levied by
ss. 77.51 to
77.62.
77.61(4)(a)(a) Every seller and retailer and every person storing, using or otherwise consuming in this state tangible personal property or taxable services purchased from a retailer shall keep such records, receipts, invoices and other pertinent papers and records, including machine-readable records, in such form as the department requires. The department may, after giving notice, require any person to keep whatever records are needed for the department to compute the sales or use taxes the person should pay. Thereafter, the department shall add to any taxes assessed on the basis of information not contained in the records required a penalty of 25% of the amount of the tax so assessed in addition to all other penalties under this chapter.
77.61(4)(c)
(c) For reporting the sales tax and collecting and reporting the use tax imposed on the retailer under
s. 77.53 (3) and the accounting connected with it, retailers may deduct 0.5% of those taxes payable or $10 for that reporting period required under
s. 77.58 (1), whichever is greater, but not more than the amount of the sales taxes or use taxes that is payable under
ss. 77.52 (1) and
77.53 (3) for that reporting period required under
s. 77.58 (1), as administration expenses if the payment of the taxes is not delinquent. For purposes of calculating the retailer's discount under this paragraph, the taxes on retail sales reported by retailers under
subch. V, including taxes collected and remitted as required under
s. 77.785, shall be included if the payment of those taxes is not delinquent.
77.61(5)(a)(a) It is unlawful for the department or any person having an administrative duty under this subchapter to make known in any manner whatever the business affairs, operations or information obtained by an investigation of records and equipment of any retailer or any other person visited or examined in the discharge of official duty, or the amount or source of income, profits, losses, expenditures, or any particular thereof, set forth or disclosed in any return, or to permit any return or copy thereof to be seen or examined by any person. This paragraph does not prohibit the department of revenue from publishing statistics classified so as not to disclose the identity of particular returns or reports and the items thereof. This paragraph does not prohibit employes or agents of the department of revenue from offering or submitting information obtained by investigation or any return or any schedule, exhibit or writing pertaining to a return or any copy of, or information derived from, any of those documents as evidence into the record of any contested matter involving the department in proceedings or litigation on state tax matters if that evidence has reasonable probative value.
77.61(5)(b)
(b) Subject to
pars. (c) and
(d) and to rules of the department, any sales tax or use tax returns or any schedules, exhibits, writings or audit reports pertaining to the same, on file with the department, shall be open to examination by any of the following persons or the contents thereof divulged or used as provided in the following cases and only to the extent therein authorized.
77.61(5)(b)1.
1. The secretary of revenue, or any officer, agent or employe of the department of revenue;
77.61(5)(b)2.
2. The attorney general, department of justice employes;
77.61(5)(b)3.
3. Members of the senate committee on organization or its authorized agents or the assembly committee on organization or its authorized agents provided the examination is approved by a majority vote of a quorum of its members and the tax return information is disclosed only in a meeting closed to the public. The committee may disclose tax return information to the senate or assembly or to other legislative committees if the information does not disclose the identity of particular returns or reports and the items thereof. The department of revenue shall provide assistance to the committees or their authorized agents in order to identify returns deemed necessary by them to accomplish the review and analysis of tax policy;
77.61(5)(b)4.
4. Public officers of the federal government or other state governments or the authorized agents of such officers, where necessary in the administration of the laws of such governments, to the extent that such government accords similar rights of examination or information to officials of this state;
77.61(5)(b)5.a.a. The person who filed or submitted such return, or to whom the same relates or by that person's authorized agent or attorney;
77.61(5)(b)5.b.
b. The person required to file reports on collection or taxes withheld from another;
77.61(5)(b)6.
6. Any person examining a return pursuant to a court order duly obtained upon a showing to the court that the information contained in the return is relevant to a pending court action or pursuant to a subpoena signed by a judge of a court of record ordering the department's custodian of returns to produce a return in open court in a court action pending before the judge.
77.61(5)(b)7.
7. Any person against whom the department asserts liability under this subchapter, including a successor, guarantor or surety.
77.61(5)(b)8.
8. Employes of this state, to the extent that the department deems the examination necessary for the employes to perform their duties under contracts or agreements between the department and any other department, division, bureau, board or commission of this state relating to the administration of tax laws.
77.61(5)(b)9.
9. The administrator of the lottery division in the department for the purpose of withholding of lottery winnings under
s. 565.30 (5).
77.61(5)(b)10.
10. The department of regulation and licensing for the purpose of certifying under
s. 440.08 whether an applicant for renewal of a credential is liable for delinquent taxes.
77.61(5)(c)
(c) Copies of sales tax or use tax returns, schedules, exhibits, writings or audit reports shall not be furnished to the persons listed under
par. (b), except persons under
par. (b) 5. or under an agreement between the department and another agency of government.
77.61(5)(d)
(d) The use of information obtained under
par. (b) or
(c) is restricted to the discharge of duties imposed upon the persons by law or by the duties of their office or by order of a court as specified under
par. (b) 6.
77.61(5)(e)
(e) The department may charge for the reasonable cost of divulging information under this subsection.
77.61(5)(f)
(f) District attorneys may examine tax information of persons on file with the department of revenue as follows:
77.61(5)(f)1.
1. Such tax information may be examined for use in preparation for any judicial proceeding or any investigation which may result in a judicial proceeding involving sales or use tax if:
77.61(5)(f)1.b.
b. The treatment of an item reflected in such tax information is or may be related to the resolution of an issue in the proceeding or investigation; or
77.61(5)(f)1.c.
c. The tax information relates or may relate to a transactional relationship between the taxpayer and a person who is or may be a party to the proceeding which affects or may affect the resolution of an issue in such proceeding or investigation.
77.61(5)(f)2.
2. When the department of revenue allows examination of tax information under
subd. 1.:
77.61(5)(f)2.a.
a. If the department has referred the case to a district attorney, the department may make disclosure on its own motion.
77.61(5)(f)2.b.
b. If a district attorney requests examination of tax information relating to a person, the request must be in writing, clearly identify the requester and the person to whom the information relates and explain the need for the information. The department may then allow the examination of tax information so requested and the information may be examined and used solely for the proceeding or investigation for which it was requested.
77.61(5)(f)3.
3. Such tax information may be examined for use in preparation for any administrative or judicial proceeding or an investigation which may result in such proceeding pertaining to the enforcement of a specifically designated state criminal statute not involving tax administration to which this state or a governmental subdivision thereof is a party. Such tax information may be used solely for the proceeding or investigation for which it is requested.
77.61(5)(f)4.
4. The department of revenue may allow an examination of tax information under
subd. 3. only if a district attorney petitions a court of record in this state for an order allowing the examination and the court issues an order after finding:
77.61(5)(f)4.a.
a. There is a reasonable cause to believe, based on information believed to be reliable, that a specific criminal act has been committed;
77.61(5)(f)4.b.
b. There is reason to believe that such tax information is probative evidence of a matter in issue related to the commission of such criminal act; and
77.61(5)(f)4.c.
c. The information sought to be examined cannot reasonably be obtained from any other source, unless it is determined that, notwithstanding the reasonable availability of the information from another source, the tax information constitutes the most probative evidence of a matter in issue relating to the commission of such criminal act.
77.61(5)(f)5.
5. If the department determines that examination of tax information ordered under
subd. 4. would identify a confidential informant or seriously impair a civil or criminal tax investigation, the department may deny access and shall certify the reason therefor to the court.
77.61(5)(fm)
(fm) The department of revenue shall inform each requester of the amount paid or payable under
s. 77.52 for any reporting period and reported on a return filed by any city, village, town, county, school district, special purpose district or technical college district; whether that amount was paid by the statutory due date; the amount of any tax, fees, penalties or interest assessed by the department; and the total amount due or assessed under
s. 77.52 but unpaid by the filer, except that the department may not divulge tax return information that in the department's opinion violates the confidentiality of that information with respect to any person other than the units of government and districts specified in this paragraph. The department shall provide to the requester a written explanation if it fails to divulge information on grounds of confidentiality. The department shall collect from the person requesting the information a fee of $4 for each return.
77.61(5)(g)
(g) Any person violating this subsection may be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500, or imprisoned not less than one month nor more than 6 months, or both.
77.61(8)
(8) In any case in which a refund is authorized or prescribed in this subchapter, or in the rules of the department related to the administration hereof, no such refund shall be made if the total amount thereof is less than $2 unless specifically requested on the appropriate form designated by the department.
77.61(9)
(9) The department may by rule require the filing, submission, preparation or retention of such information returns, exemption and resale certificates and other forms, reports and data as it requires for the proper administration of this subchapter. Any person who fails or refuses to file, submit, prepare or retain such returns, certificates, forms, reports or data, at the time and place and in the manner required, is guilty of a misdemeanor for each such failure or refusal.
77.61(11)
(11) Any city, village or town clerk or other official whose duty it is to issue licenses or permits to engage in a business involving the sale at retail of tangible personal property subject to tax under this subchapter, or the furnishing of services so subject to tax, shall, before issuing such license or permit, require proof that the person to whom such license or permit is to be issued is the holder of a seller's permit as required by this subchapter or has been informed by an employe of the department that the department will issue a seller's permit to that person.
77.61(12)(a)(a) No natural person shall be excused from testifying or from producing any books, papers, records or memoranda in any investigation, or upon any hearing when ordered to do so by the secretary of revenue or the secretary's designee upon the ground that the testimony or evidence, documentary or otherwise, may tend to incriminate or subject the person to criminal penalty, but no such natural person so ordered shall be prosecuted or subjected to any criminal penalty for, or on account of such testimony or books, papers, records or memoranda which the person produces upon such investigation or hearing. No person so testifying shall be exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury in so testifying.
77.61(13)
(13) No injunction shall issue to stay proceedings for assessment or collection of any taxes levied under this subchapter.
77.61(14)
(14) Documents and payments required or permitted under this subchapter are timely furnished, filed or made if they are mailed in a properly addressed envelope with the postage duly prepaid, if the envelope is postmarked before midnight of the due date and if the document or payment is received by the department within 5 days after the prescribed date.
77.61 History
History: 1971 c. 125;
1975 c. 186,
224;
1977 c. 29,
200,
418;
1979 c. 89,
125,
174;
1981 c. 20;
1983 a. 189 s.
329 (12);
1983 a. 405;
1983 a. 544 s.
47 (1);
1985 a. 29,
41;
1987 a. 27,
92,
119,
246;
1989 a. 31,
122,
359;
1991 a. 39,
269,
316;
1993 a. 205,
399;
1995 a. 27,
233,
280.
77.61 Annotation
See note to 885.25, concerning (12), citing State v. Alioto, 64 W (2d) 354, 219 NW (2d) 585.
77.62
77.62
Collection of delinquent sales and use taxes. 77.62(1)(b)
(b) Release real property from the lien of a warrant;
77.62(1)(e)
(e) Compromise on the basis of ability to pay; or
77.62(1)(f)
(f) Compromise delinquent estimated assessments on the basis of fairness and equity.
77.62 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See s.
73.03 (27) for provision as to writing off uncollectible sales and use taxes.
COUNTY AND SPECIAL DISTRICT
SALES AND USE TAXES
77.70
77.70
Adoption by county ordinance. Any county desiring to impose county sales and use taxes under this subchapter may do so by the adoption of an ordinance, stating its purpose and referring to this subchapter. The county sales and use taxes may be imposed only for the purpose of directly reducing the property tax levy and only in their entirety as provided in this subchapter. That ordinance shall be effective on the first day of January, the first day of April, the first day of July or the first day of October. A certified copy of that ordinance shall be delivered to the secretary of revenue at least 120 days prior to its effective date. The repeal of any such ordinance shall be effective on December 31. A certified copy of a repeal ordinance shall be delivered to the secretary of revenue at least 60 days before the effective date of the repeal.
77.70 Annotation
A county may not impose a tax upon admissions to amusements except as part of a general sales and use tax at the statutorily prescribed rate of one-half of 1%. 58 Atty. Gen. 212.
77.70 Annotation
County board may not control municipal use of county sales tax revenue. 60 Atty. Gen. 387.
77.705
77.705
Adoption by resolution. A local professional baseball park district created under
subch. III of ch. 229, by resolution under
s. 229.68 (15), may impose a sales tax and a use tax under this subchapter at a rate of no more than 0.1% of the gross receipts or sales price. Those taxes may be imposed only in their entirety. The resolution shall be effective on the first day of the first month that begins at least 30 days after the adoption of the resolution.
77.705 History
History: 1995 a. 56.
77.707
77.707
Sunset. Retailers and the department of revenue may not collect a tax under
s. 77.705 for any local professional baseball park district created under
subch. III of ch. 229 after the calendar quarter during which the local professional baseball park district board makes a certification to the department of revenue under
s. 229.685 (2), except that the department of revenue may collect from retailers taxes that accrued before that calendar quarter and fees, interest and penalties that relate to those taxes.
77.707 History
History: 1995 a. 56.
77.71
77.71
Imposition of county and special district sales and use taxes. Whenever a county sales and use tax ordinance is adopted under
s. 77.70 or a special district resolution is adopted under
s. 77.705, the following taxes are imposed:
77.71(1)
(1) For the privilege of selling, leasing or renting tangible personal property and for the privilege of selling, performing or furnishing services a sales tax is imposed upon retailers at the rate of 0.5% in the case of a county tax or at the rate under
s. 77.705 in the case of a special district tax of the gross receipts from the sale, lease or rental of tangible personal property, except property taxed under
sub. (4), sold, leased or rented at retail in the county or special district or from selling, performing or furnishing services described under
s. 77.52 (2) in the county or special district.
77.71(2)
(2) An excise tax is imposed at the rate of 0.5% in the case of a county tax or at the rate under
s. 77.705 in the case of a special district tax of the sales price upon every person storing, using or otherwise consuming in the county or special district tangible personal property or services if the property or service is subject to the state use tax under
s. 77.53, except that a receipt indicating that the tax under
sub. (1),
(3) or
(4) has been paid relieves the buyer of liability for the tax under this subsection and except that if the buyer has paid a similar local tax in another state on a purchase of the same property or services that tax shall be credited against the tax under this subsection and except that for motor vehicles that are used for a purpose in addition to retention, demonstration or display while held for sale in the regular course of business by a dealer the tax under this subsection is imposed not on the sales price but on the amount under
s. 77.53 (1m).
77.71(3)
(3) An excise tax is imposed upon a contractor engaged in construction activities within the county or special district, at the rate of 0.5% in the case of a county tax or at the rate under
s. 77.705 in the case of a special district tax of the sales price of tangible personal property that is used in constructing, altering, repairing or improving real property and that becomes a component part of real property in that county or special district, unless the contractor has paid the sales tax of a county in the case of a county tax or of a special district in the case of a special district tax in this state on that property, and except that if the buyer has paid a similar local sales tax in another state on a purchase of the same property that tax shall be credited against the tax under this subsection.
77.71(4)
(4) An excise tax is imposed at the rate of 0.5% in the case of a county tax or at the rate under
s. 77.705 in the case of a special district tax of the sales price upon every person storing, using or otherwise consuming a motor vehicle, boat, snowmobile, mobile home not exceeding 45 feet in length, trailer, semitrailer, all-terrain vehicle or aircraft, if that property must be registered or titled with this state and if that property is to be customarily kept in a county that has in effect an ordinance under
s. 77.70 or in a special district that has in effect a resolution under
s. 77.705, except that if the buyer has paid a similar local sales tax in another state on a purchase of the same property that tax shall be credited against the tax under this subsection.
77.72(1)(1)
General rule for property. For the purposes of this subchapter, all retail sales of tangible personal property are completed at the time when, and the place where, the seller or the seller's agent transfers possession to the buyer or the buyer's agent. In this subsection, a common carrier or the U.S. postal service is the agent of the seller, regardless of any f.o.b. point and regardless of the method by which freight or postage is paid. Rentals and leases of property, except property under
sub. (2), have a situs at the location of that property.
77.72(2)
(2) Leased or rented moving property. 77.72(2)(a)(a)
Motor vehicles. Leased or rented motor vehicles and other equipment used principally on the highway at normal highway speeds are located in the county in which they are customarily kept, except that drive-it-yourself motor vehicles and equipment used principally on the highway at normal highway speeds, if those vehicles or that equipment are used for one-way trips or leased for less than one month, are located in the county in which they come into the lessee's possession.
77.72(2)(b)
(b)
Other moving property. Except for motor vehicles and equipment described in
par. (a), leased or rented property that characteristically is moving property, including but not limited to aircraft and boats, is located in a county if it is used primarily in that county or it is usually kept in that county when it is not in use.
77.72(3)(a)(a)
General rule. Except as provided in
par. (b), services have a situs at the location where they are furnished.
77.72(3)(b)
(b)
Exceptions. Communication service has a situs where the customer is billed for the service if the customer calls collect or pays by credit card. Towing services have a situs at the location to which the vehicle is delivered. Services performed on tangible personal property have a situs at the location where the property is delivered to the buyer.
