70.08
70.08
Assessment district. The term "assessment district" is used to designate any subdivision of territory, whether the whole or any part of any municipality, in which by law a separate assessment of taxable property is made by an assessor or assessors elected or appointed therefor except that in cities of the first class such districts may be referred to as administrative districts.
70.09
70.09
Official real property lister; forms for officers. 70.09(1)(1)
Lister, county boards may provide for. Any county board may appoint a county real property lister and may appropriate funds for the operation of the department of such lister.
70.09(2)
(2) Duties of lister. The county board may delegate any of the following duties to the lister:
70.09(2)(a)
(a) To prepare and maintain accurate ownership and description information for all parcels of real property in the county. That information may include the following:
70.09(2)(a)2.
2. The owner's name and an accurate legal description as shown on the latest records of the office of the register of deeds.
70.09(2)(a)4.
4. The number of acres in the parcel if it contains more than one acre.
70.09(2)(a)5.
5. School district and special purpose district codes.
70.09(2)(b)
(b) To provide information on parcels of real property in the county for the use of taxation district assessors, city, village and town clerks and treasurers and county offices and any other persons requiring that information.
70.09(2)(c)
(c) To serve as the coordinator between the county and the taxation districts in the county for assessment and taxation purposes.
70.09(2)(d)
(d) To provide computer services related to assessment and taxation for the assessors, clerks and treasurers of the taxation districts in the county, including but not limited to data entry for the assessment roll, notice of assessments, summary reports, tax roll and tax bills.
70.09(3)(a)(a) The department of revenue shall prescribe basic uniform forms of assessment rolls, tax rolls, tax bills, tax receipts, tax roll settlement sheets and all other forms required for the assessment and collection of general property taxes throughout the state, and shall furnish each county designee a sample of the uniform forms.
70.09(3)(c)
(c) If any county has reason to use forms for assessment and collection of taxes in addition to those prescribed under
par. (a), the county real property lister and treasurer jointly may prescribe such additional forms for use in their county, upon approval of the department of revenue.
70.09(3)(d)
(d) Each county designee who requires the forms prescribed in
pars. (a) and
(c) shall procure them at county expense and shall furnish such forms to the assessors, clerks and treasurers of the taxation districts within the county, as needed in the discharge of their duties.
70.095
70.095
Assessment roll; time-share property. For the purpose of time-share property, as defined in
s. 707.02 (32), a time-share instrument, as defined in
s. 707.02 (28), shall provide a method for allocating real property taxes among the time-share owners, as defined in
s. 707.02 (31), and a method for giving notice of an assessment and the amount of property tax to the owners. Only one entry shall be made on the assessment roll for each building unit within the time-share property, which entry shall consist of the cumulative real property value of all time-share interests in the unit.
70.10
70.10
Assessment, when made, exemption. The assessor shall assess all real and personal property as of the close of January 1 of each year. Except in cities of the 1st class and 2nd class cities that have a board of assessors under
s. 70.075, the assessment shall be finally completed before the first Monday in April. All real property conveyed by condemnation or in any other manner to the state, any county, city, village or town by gift, purchase, tax deed or power of eminent domain before January 2 in such year shall not be included in the assessment. Assessment of manufacturing property subject to
s. 70.995 shall be made according to that section.
70.105
70.105
Assessment freeze. 70.105(1)(1)
Legislative declaration. It is hereby declared that in municipalities in the state, owners of real property from time to time are required to convey the same to public bodies either under threat of condemnation or because of condemnation proceedings. Property conveyed under such circumstances is designed to be used for a public purpose. Because of the circumstances attending such transfer, property owners frequently find that they must purchase on the open market property similar to that which was conveyed and frequently the property so purchased requires greater financial obligations on the part of the owner. In order to minimize the impact of the economic readjustment which results from conveyance of property either under threat of condemnation or through condemnation proceedings, it is deemed reasonable to provide an assessment freeze made applicable to the new property acquired by the owners under the conditions here enumerated.
70.105(2)
(2) Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
70.105(2)(a)
(a) "Assessment freeze" means the assessment placed upon the real property, both land and improvements, by the taxing authorities in the year immediately preceding the conveyance of such property under threat of condemnation or by virtue of condemnation proceedings to a public body, and which shall include a redevelopment or housing authority, expressway board or commission, or municipal utility. The assessed valuation so determined shall be the assessment of the new property required to replace such conveyed property, subject, however, to the conditions hereinafter set forth.
70.105(2)(b)
(b) "Condemnation" means condemnation of property as undertaken under
ch. 32 or under any other applicable provisions of law.
70.105(2)(c)
(c) "New property" means the property which is acquired by the owner to replace the property which has been conveyed under threat of condemnation or through condemnation proceedings.
70.105(2)(d)
(d) "Property" means the real estate plus fixtures attached to the real estate and which together form the basis for the assessment of real property.
70.105(2)(e)
(e) "Threat of condemnation" means acquisition of the owner's property which a public entity, including a redevelopment or housing authority, or expressway board or commission, or municipal utility acquires for a public purpose.
70.105(3)
(3) Ordinance providing an assessment freeze. The local legislative body of any municipality may by ordinance provide for the granting of an assessment freeze on property acquired by the owner for the purpose of replacing other property which had belonged to such owner and which was either conveyed by such owner under threat of condemnation or which was condemned for the benefit of a public entity to be used for public purposes, provided the newly acquired property shall be devoted by such owner to the same general purposes as was the property conveyed under threat of condemnation or through condemnation procedure. The ordinance so adopted shall specify conditions which must be satisfied in order to obtain the assessment freeze. The following conditions shall be embodied in such ordinance:
70.105(3)(a)
(a) The owner of the property shall establish that he or she was the owner in fee thereof which was acquired either under threat of condemnation or by condemnation by a public body and for any of the following purposes:
70.105(3)(a)3.
3. Any other public improvement which has been approved by the local legislative body.
70.105(3)(b)
(b) The property conveyed as set forth in
par. (a) and the new property acquired shall both be located in the same municipality.
70.105(3)(c)
(c) The owner of such property shall be either a person, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or association, and such ownership must be in substance rather than as to form.
70.105(3)(d)
(d) The owner of the property conveyed under threat of condemnation or by condemnation shall have been the owner of such property for at least 5 years prior to such conveyance.
70.105(3)(e)
(e) The property, which is acquired by the owner and for which an assessment freeze is sought, shall be used for the same general purposes as was the property conveyed or transferred either under threat of condemnation or by condemnation.
70.105(3)(f)
(f) The land acquired by the owner and for which an assessment freeze is sought shall not be less than 30,000 square feet in area or in the alternative, the improvements or structures located on the land shall not be less than 200,000 cubic feet in volume. The period of the assessment freeze shall not exceed 5 years from the year in which it is first granted. The maximum amount of the assessment freeze allowed shall not be greater than 50 percent of the assessment of the property acquired and for which an assessment freeze is sought that would have been made by the assessor or the commissioner of taxation, as the case may be, had no assessment freeze been granted. In no event shall the assessment under such assessment freeze be less than the amount of the assessment of the property conveyed under threat of condemnation or by condemnation.
70.105(3)(g)
(g) The assessment freeze granted shall terminate in the first year of assessment following conveyance of said real property by the owner.
70.105(3)(h)
(h) Such other conditions may be set forth in the ordinance as the local legislative body determines.
70.105(3)(i)
(i) The improvements on the land acquired by the owner shall be new or the aggregate amount of such improvements made to existing structures shall be in excess of the assessment on the improvements on the real estate which was conveyed by the owner under threat of condemnation or by condemnation.
70.105(3)(j)
(j) In applying the provisions of this section real property functionally related to the real property conveyed under threat of condemnation or by condemnation shall be deemed an integral part of the property conveyed for the purposes of determining the assessment freeze.
70.105(3)(k)
(k) This section shall be applicable independent of whether the real property is conveyed under threat of condemnation or condemnation or whether an easement is granted for the purposes set forth in
par. (a) 3. in lieu of condemnation.
70.105(4)
(4) Findings and certification. The local assessor or the commissioner of assessments in such municipality shall, upon application by an owner seeking an assessment freeze, make a thorough investigation to ascertain whether such application meets the requirements of the ordinance enacted by the local legislative body. The assessor or commissioner of assessments, as the case may be, shall make findings to demonstrate that such application complies with the ordinance and shall submit a certification together with the assessor's or commissioner's findings to the local legislative body for approval. If the local legislative body determines from the commissioner of assessments' certification that an assessment freeze shall operate, the local legislative body shall by resolution provide for such assessment freeze. The local legislative body shall specify the period when such assessment freeze shall commence to operate and when new construction or remodeling of existing structures is required, shall specify the time within which such construction or remodeling shall be completed and the commencement date of the assessment freeze.
70.109
70.109
Presumption of taxability. Exemptions under this chapter shall be strictly construed in every instance with a presumption that the property in question is taxable, and the burden of proof is on the person who claims the exemption.
70.109 History
History: 1997 a. 237.
70.109 Annotation
Exemption from payment of taxes is an act of legislative grace; the party seeking the exemption bears the burden of proving entitlement. Exemptions are only allowed to the extent the plain language of a statute permits. For tax exemptions to be valid they must be clear and express, and not extended by implication. In construing tax exemptions, courts apply a strict but reasonable construction resolving any doubts regarding the exemption in favor of taxability. United Rentals, Inc. v. City of Madison, 2007 WI App 131,
302 Wis. 2d 245,
733 N.W.2d 322,
05-1440.
70.11
70.11
Property exempted from taxation. The property described in this section is exempted from general property taxes if the property is exempt under
sub. (1),
(2),
(18),
(21),
(27) or
(30); if it was exempt for the previous year and its use, occupancy or ownership did not change in a way that makes it taxable; if the property was taxable for the previous year, the use, occupancy or ownership of the property changed in a way that makes it exempt and its owner, on or before March 1, files with the assessor of the taxation district where the property is located a form that the department of revenue prescribes or if the property did not exist in the previous year and its owner, on or before March 1, files with the assessor of the taxation district where the property is located a form that the department of revenue prescribes. Except as provided in
subs. (3m) (c),
(4) (b),
(4a) (f), and
(4d), leasing a part of the property described in this section does not render it taxable if the lessor uses all of the leasehold income for maintenance of the leased property or construction debt retirement of the leased property, or both, and, except for residential housing, if the lessee would be exempt from taxation under this chapter if it owned the property. Any lessor who claims that leased property is exempt from taxation under this chapter shall, upon request by the tax assessor, provide records relating to the lessor's use of the income from the leased property. Property exempted from general property taxes is:
70.11(1)
(1) Property of the state. Property owned by this state except land contracted to be sold by the state. This exemption shall not apply to land conveyed after September, 1933, to this state or for its benefit while the grantor or others for the grantor's benefit are permitted to occupy the land or part thereof in consideration for the conveyance; nor shall it apply to land devised to the state or for its benefit while another person is permitted by the will to occupy the land or part thereof. This exemption shall not apply to any property acquired by the department of veterans affairs under
s. 45.32 (5) and
(7) or to the property of insurers undergoing rehabilitation or liquidation under
ch. 645. Property exempt under this subsection includes general property owned by the state and leased to a private, nonprofit corporation that operates an Olympic ice training center, regardless of the use of the leasehold income.
70.11(2)
(2) Municipal property and property of certain districts, exception. Property owned by any county, city, village, town, school district, technical college district, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, metropolitan sewerage district, municipal water district created under
s. 198.22, joint local water authority created under
s. 66.0823, transit authority created under
s. 59.58 (7) or
66.1039, long-term care district under
s. 46.2895 or town sanitary district; lands belonging to cities of any other state used for public parks; land tax-deeded to any county or city before January 2; but any residence located upon property owned by the county for park purposes that is rented out by the county for a nonpark purpose shall not be exempt from taxation. Except as to land acquired under
s. 59.84 (2) (d), this exemption shall not apply to land conveyed after August 17, 1961, to any such governmental unit or for its benefit while the grantor or others for his or her benefit are permitted to occupy the land or part thereof in consideration for the conveyance. Leasing the property exempt under this subsection, regardless of the lessee and the use of the leasehold income, does not render that property taxable.
70.11(2m)
(2m) Property leased or subleased to school districts. All of the property that is owned or leased by a corporation, organization or association that is exempt from federal income taxation under section
501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code if all of that property is leased or subleased to a school district for no or nominal consideration for use by an educational institution that offers regular courses for 6 months in a year.
70.11(3)(a)(a) Grounds of any incorporated college or university, not exceeding 80 acres.
70.11(3)(b)
(b) The fact that college or university officers, faculty members, teachers, students or employees live on the grounds does not render them taxable. In addition to the exemption of leased property specified in the introductory phrase of this section, a university or college may also lease property for educational or charitable purposes without making it taxable if it uses the income derived from the lease for charitable purposes.
70.11(3)(c)
(c) All buildings, equipment and leasehold interests in lands described in s.
36.06, 1971 stats., and s.
37.02 (3), 1971 stats.
70.11(3a)
(3a) Buildings at the Wisconsin Veterans homes. All buildings, equipment and leasehold interests in lands described in
s. 45.03 (5).
70.11(3m)(a)(a) All real and personal property of a housing facility for which all of the following applies:
70.11(3m)(a)2.
2. At least 90 percent of the facility's residents are students enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the facility houses no more than 300 such students.
70.11(3m)(a)3.
3. The facility offers support services and outreach programs to its residents, the public or private institution of higher education at which the student residents are enrolled, and the public.
70.11(3m)(b)
(b) If a nonprofit organization owns more than one housing facility, as described under
par. (a), the exemption applies to only one facility, at one location.
70.11(3m)(c)
(c) Leasing a part of the property described in this subsection does not render it taxable if the lessor uses the leasehold income only for the following:
70.11(3m)(c)2.
2. Construction debt retirement of the leased property.
70.11(3m)(c)3.
3. The purposes for which the exemption under section
501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code is granted to the nonprofit organization that owns the facility.
70.11(4)
(4) Educational, religious and benevolent institutions; women's clubs; historical societies; fraternities; libraries. 70.11(4)(a)(a) Property owned and used exclusively by educational institutions offering regular courses 6 months in the year; or by churches or religious, educational or benevolent associations, or by a nonprofit entity that is operated as a facility that is licensed, certified, or registered under
ch. 50, including benevolent nursing homes but not including an organization that is organized under
s. 185.981 or
ch. 611,
613 or
614 and that offers a health maintenance organization as defined in
s. 609.01 (2) or a limited service health organization as defined in
s. 609.01 (3) or an organization that is issued a certificate of authority under
ch. 618 and that offers a health maintenance organization or a limited service health organization and not including property owned by any nonstock, nonprofit corporation which services guaranteed student loans for others or on its own account, and also including property owned and used for housing for pastors and their ordained assistants, members of religious orders and communities, and ordained teachers, whether or not contiguous to and a part of other property owned and used by such associations or churches, and also including property described under
par. (b); or by women's clubs; or by domestic, incorporated historical societies; or by domestic, incorporated, free public library associations; or by fraternal societies operating under the lodge system (except university, college and high school fraternities and sororities), but not exceeding 10 acres of land necessary for location and convenience of buildings while such property is not used for profit. Property owned by churches or religious associations necessary for location and convenience of buildings, used for educational purposes and not for profit, shall not be subject to the 10-acre limitation but shall be subject to a 30-acre limitation. Property that is exempt from taxation under this subsection and is leased remains exempt from taxation only if, in addition to the requirements specified in the introductory phrase of this section, the lessee does not discriminate on the basis of race.
70.11(4)(b)1.1. Leasing a part of property described in
par. (a) that is owned and operated by a nonprofit organization as a facility that is licensed, certified, or registered under
ch. 50, as residential housing, does not render the property taxable, regardless of how the lessor uses the leasehold income.
70.11(4)(b)2.
2. Leasing a part of property described in
par. (a) that is occupied by one or more individuals with permanent disabilities for whom evidence is available that demonstrates that such individuals meet the medical definition of permanent disability used to determine eligibility for programs administered by the federal social security administration, as residential housing, does not render the property taxable, regardless of how the lessor uses the leasehold income.
70.11(4a)
(4a) Benevolent low-income housing. 70.11(4a)(a)(a) Property owned by a nonprofit entity that is a benevolent association and used as low-income housing, including all common areas of a low-income housing project. Property used for a low-income housing project, including other low-income housing projects under common control with such project, and exempt under this subsection may not exceed 30 acres necessary for the location and convenience of buildings or 10 contiguous acres in any one municipality.
70.11(4a)(b)
(b) For purposes of this subsection, "low-income housing" means any housing project described in
sub. (4b) or any residential unit within a low-income housing project that is occupied by a low-income or very low-income person or is vacant and is only available to such persons.
70.11(4a)(c)
(c) For purposes of this subsection, "low-income housing project" means a residential housing project for which all of the following apply:
70.11(4a)(c)1.
1. At least 75 percent of the residential units are occupied by low-income or very low-income persons or are vacant and available only to low-income or very low-income persons.
70.11(4a)(c)2.a.
a. At least 20 percent of the residential units are rented to persons who are very low-income persons or are vacant and are only available to such persons.
70.11(4a)(c)2.b.
b. At least 40 percent of the residential units are rented to persons whose income does not exceed 120 percent of the very low-income limit or are vacant and only available to such persons.
70.11(4a)(d)
(d) For purposes of this subsection, low-income persons and very low-income persons shall be determined in accordance with the income limits published by the federal department of housing and urban development for low-income and very low-income families under the National Housing Act of 1937.
70.11(4a)(e)
(e) For purposes of this subsection, all properties included within the same federal department of housing and urban development contract or within the same federal department of agriculture, rural development, contract are considered to be one low-income housing project.
70.11(4a)(f)
(f) Leasing property that is exempt from taxation under this subsection or
sub. (4b) as low-income housing does not render it taxable, regardless of how the leasehold income is used.
70.11(4a)(g)1.1. Annually, no later than March 1, each person who owns a low-income housing project shall file with the assessor of the taxation district in which the project is located a statement that specifies which units were occupied on January 1 of that year by persons whose income satisfied the income limit requirements under
par. (b), as certified by the property owner to the appropriate federal or state agency, and a copy of the federal department of housing and urban development contract or federal department of agriculture, rural development, contract, if applicable.
70.11(4a)(g)2.
2. The format and distribution of statements under this paragraph shall be governed by
s. 70.09 (3).
70.11(4a)(g)3.
3. If the statement required under this paragraph is not received on or before March 1, the taxation district assessor shall send the property owner a notice, by certified mail to the owner's last-known address of record, stating that failure to file a statement is subject to the penalties under
subd. 5.
