139.38(4)
(4) If the secretary finds that the records of any permittee are not kept in the prescribed form or are in such condition that an unusual amount of time is required to determine therefrom the amount of tax due, the secretary shall give notice of such fact to such permittee and, in such notice, require that the records be revised and kept in the prescribed form. If such permittee fails to comply within 30 days the permittee shall pay the expenses reasonably attributable to a proper examination and tax determination at the rate of $30 per day of each auditor. The secretary shall send a bill for such expenses and the permittee shall pay the amount of such bill within 10 days.
139.38(5)
(5) If any permittee fails to file a report when due the permittee shall be required to pay a late filing fee of $10. A report that is mailed is filed in time if it is mailed in a properly addressed envelope with postage duly prepaid, which envelope is officially postmarked, or marked or recorded electronically as provided under section
7502 (f) (2) (c) of the Internal Revenue Code, on the date due, and if the report is actually received by the secretary or at the destination that the department prescribes within 5 days of the due date. A report that is not mailed is timely if it is received on or before the due date by the secretary or at the destination that the department prescribes. For purposes of this subsection, "mailed" includes delivery by a delivery service designated under section
7502 (f) of the Internal Revenue Code.
139.38(6)
(6) Sections 71.78 (1),
(1m), and
(4) to
(9) and
71.83 (2) (a) 3. and
3m., relating to confidentiality of income, franchise and gift tax returns, apply to any information obtained from any person on a cigarette tax return, report, schedule, exhibit or other document or from an audit report pertaining to the same.
139.38(7)
(7) The department may inspect the business records of any retailer doing business on a reservation or on an Indian tribe's trust land.
139.38 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ss.
Tax 9.19,
9.22,
9.46, and
9.47, Wis. adm. code.
139.39
139.39
Administration and enforcement. 139.39(1m)
(1m) The duly authorized employees of the department have all necessary police powers to prevent violations of this subchapter.
139.39(2)
(2) Authorized personnel of the department of justice and the department of revenue, and any sheriff, police officer, marshal or constable, within their respective jurisdictions, may at all reasonable hours enter the premises of any permittee or retailer and examine the books and records to determine whether the tax imposed by
s. 139.31 has been fully paid and may enter and inspect any premises where cigarettes are made, sold or stored to determine whether
ss. 139.30 to
139.44 are being complied with.
139.39(3)
(3) The secretary may suspend or revoke the permit of any permittee who violates
ss. 100.30 or
139.30 to
139.44 or any rules adopted under
sub. (1). The secretary shall revoke the permit of any permittee who violates
s. 100.30 3 or more times within a 5-year period.
139.39(4)
(4) No suit shall be maintained in any court to restrain or delay the collection or payment of the tax levied in
s. 139.31. The aggrieved taxpayer shall pay the tax when due and, if paid under protest, may at any time within 90 days from the date of payment, sue the state to recover the tax paid. If it is finally determined that any part of the tax was wrongfully collected, the secretary of administration shall pay the amount wrongfully collected out of the general fund. A separate suit need not be filed for each separate payment made by any taxpayer, but a recovery may be had in one suit for as many payments as may have been made.
139.39(4m)
(4m) Any person who sells, distributes, or manufactures cigarettes and who sustains direct economic or commercial injury as the result of a violation of this chapter may bring an action for injunctive relief.
139.39(5)(a)(a) Any person may be compelled to testify in regard to any violation of
ss. 134.65 and
139.30 to
139.44 of which the person may have knowledge, even though such testimony may tend to incriminate the person, upon being granted immunity from prosecution in connection therewith, and upon the giving of such testimony, the person shall not be prosecuted because of the violation relative to which the person has testified.
139.39(6)
(6) Sections 71.74 (1),
(2),
(10),
(11) and
(14),
71.77,
71.80 (12),
71.91 (1) (a) and
(c) and
(2) to
(7),
71.92 and
73.0301 as they apply to the taxes under
ch. 71 apply to the taxes under this subchapter.
Section 71.74 (13) as it applies to the collection of the taxes under
ch. 71 applies to the collection of the taxes under this subchapter, except that the period during which notice of an additional assessment shall be given begins on the due date of the report under this subchapter.
139.39 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also s.
Tax 9.36, Wis. adm. code.
139.395
139.395
Theft of tax moneys. All cigarette tax moneys received by a distributor, bonded direct marketer, or manufacturer for the sale of cigarettes on which the tax under this subchapter has become due and has not been paid are trust funds in the hands of the distributor, bonded direct marketer, or manufacturer and are the property of this state. Any distributor, bonded direct marketer, or manufacturer who fraudulently withholds, appropriates or otherwise uses cigarette tax moneys that are the property of this state is guilty of theft under
s. 943.20 (1), whether or not the distributor, bonded direct marketer, or manufacturer has or claims to have an interest in those moneys.
139.395 History
History: 1993 a. 16;
2005 a. 25.
139.40
139.40
Seizure and confiscation. 139.40(1)
(1) All cigarettes acquired, owned, imported, possessed, kept, stored, made, sold, distributed or transported in violation of this chapter, and all personal property used in connection therewith is unlawful property and subject to seizure by the secretary or any peace officer. All cigarettes seized for violating
s. 139.31 (4) or
(5) shall be destroyed.
139.40(2)
(2) If cigarettes which do not bear the proper tax stamps or on which the tax has not been paid are so seized they may be given to law enforcement officers to use in criminal investigations or sold to qualified buyers by the secretary, without notice. If the cigarettes are sold, after deducting the costs of the sale and the keeping of the property, the proceeds of the sale shall be paid into the state treasury. If the secretary finds that such cigarettes may deteriorate or become unfit for use in criminal investigations or for sale or that those uses would otherwise be impractical, the secretary may order them destroyed or give them to a charitable or penal institution for free distribution to patients or inmates.
139.40(3)
(3) If cigarettes on which the tax has been paid and which bear the proper tax stamps are seized they shall be returned to the true owner if ownership can be ascertained and such owner or the owner's agent is not involved in the violation resulting in such seizure. If such ownership cannot be ascertained or if the owner or the owner's agent was guilty of a violation of any of the provisions of
ss. 139.30 to
139.44, which resulted in the seizure of such cigarettes, they may be sold or otherwise disposed of as provided in
sub. (2).
139.40(4)
(4) If personal property other than cigarettes is so seized the secretary shall advertise the same for sale by publication of a class 2 notice under
ch. 985. If no claimant, either of lien or ownership, has notified the secretary within 10 days after last insertion of such notice, the property shall be sold. If such sale is not practical the property may be destroyed. If a claimant of a lien or ownership notifies the secretary within the prescribed time, the secretary may apply to a court of record in the county where the property was seized for an order directing disposition of said property or the proceeds thereof. If a sale of such seized property is ordered, all liens, if any, may be transferred from the property to the proceeds of such sale. Neither the property seized nor the proceeds from the sale thereof shall be turned over to any claimant of lien or ownership unless such claimant first establishes that the property was not used in connection with any violation of
ss. 139.30 to
139.44 or that, if so used, it was done without the claimant's knowledge or consent and without the claimant's knowledge of such facts as should have given the claimant reason to believe it would be put to such use. If no claim of lien or ownership is so established the property may be ordered destroyed. In case of sale, the net proceeds after deducting costs, expenses and established claims shall be paid into the state treasury.
139.41
139.41
Place to place delivery. No person shall peddle any cigarettes from house to house, where the sale is consummated and delivery made concurrently.
139.42
139.42
Nuisance. Any building or place of any kind where cigarettes are sold, possessed, stored or manufactured without a lawful permit in violation of
ss. 139.30 to
139.41 is declared a public nuisance and may be closed and abated as such.
139.43
139.43
Statewide concern. Sections 139.30 to
139.44 shall be construed as an enactment of statewide concern for the purpose of providing a uniform regulation of the sale of cigarettes.
139.43 History
History: 1993 a. 213;
1995 a. 225.
139.43 Annotation
The state regulatory scheme for tobacco sales preempts municipalities from adopting regulations that are not in strict conformity with those of the state. U.S. Oil, Inc. v. City of Fond du Lac,
199 Wis. 2d 333,
544 N.W.2d 589 (Ct. App. 1995),
95-0213.
139.44
139.44
Interest and penalties. 139.44(1)
(1) Any person who falsely or fraudulently makes, alters or counterfeits any stamp or procures or causes the same to be done, or who knowingly utters, publishes, passes or tenders as true any false, altered or counterfeit stamp, or who affixes the same to any package or container of cigarettes, or who possesses with the intent to sell any cigarettes in containers to which false, altered or counterfeit stamps have been affixed is guilty of a Class G felony.
139.44(1m)
(1m) Any person who falsely or fraudulently tampers with a cigarette meter in order to evade the tax under
s. 139.31 is guilty of a Class G felony.
139.44(2)
(2) Any person who makes or signs any false or fraudulent report or who attempts to evade the tax imposed by
s. 139.31 or
139.76, or who aids in or abets the evasion or attempted evasion of that tax may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.
139.44(3)
(3) Any permittee who fails to keep the records required by
ss. 139.30 to
139.42 or
139.77 to
139.82 shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.
139.44(4)
(4) Any person who refuses to permit the examination or inspection authorized in
s. 139.39 (2) or
139.83 may be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 90 days or both. Such refusal shall be cause for immediate suspension or revocation of permit by the secretary.
139.44(5)
(5) Any person who violates any of the provisions of
ss. 139.30 to
139.41 or
139.75 to
139.83 for which no other penalty is prescribed shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 or imprisoned not less than 10 days nor more than 90 days or both.
139.44(6)
(6) Any person who violates any of the rules of the department shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500 or be imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.
139.44(7)
(7) In addition to the penalties imposed for violation of
ss. 139.30 to
139.41 or
139.75 to
139.83 or any of the rules of the department, the permit of any person convicted shall be automatically revoked and he or she shall not be granted another permit for a period of 2 years following such revocation.
139.44(8)(a)
(a) If the number of cigarettes does not exceed 6,000, a fine of not more than $200 or imprisonment for not more than 6 months or both.
139.44(8)(b)
(b) If the number of cigarettes exceeds 6,000 but does not exceed 36,000, a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year in the county jail or both.
139.44(8)(c)
(c) If the number of cigarettes exceeds 36,000, the person is guilty of a Class I felony.
139.44(9)
(9) Unpaid taxes bear interest at the rate of 12% per year from the due date of the return until paid or deposited with the department, and all refunded taxes bear interest at the rate of 9% per year from the due date of the return to the date on which the refund is certified on the refund rolls.
139.44(10)
(10) All nondelinquent payments of additional amounts owed shall be applied in the following order: penalties, interest, tax principal.
139.44(11)
(11) Delinquent cigarette taxes bear interest at the rate of 1.5% per month until paid. The taxes imposed by this subchapter shall become delinquent if not paid:
139.44(11)(a)
(a) In the case of a timely filed return, no return filed or a late return, on or before the due date of the return; or
139.44(11)(b)
(b) In the case of a deficiency determination of taxes, within 2 months after the date of demand.
139.44(12)
(12) 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.
139.45
139.45
Prosecutions by attorney general. Upon request by the secretary of revenue, the attorney general may represent this state or assist a district attorney in prosecuting any case arising under this subchapter or under
ss. 134.65 and
134.66. The attorney general may take any action necessary to enforce
s. 139.345.
139.45 History
History: 1985 a. 302;
2005 a. 25.
139.46
139.46
Lists. The department shall compile and maintain a list of direct marketers who have complied with the requirements of
s. 139.345 and a list of direct marketers who the department knows have not complied with such requirements. The department shall provide copies of the lists described under this section to the attorney general and to each person who delivers cigarettes to consumers in this state that are sold by direct marketing under
s. 139.345.
139.46 History
History: 2005 a. 25.
TOBACCO PRODUCTS TAX
Subch. III of ch. 139 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also s.
Tax 9.69, Wis. adm. code.
139.75
139.75
Definitions. In this subchapter:
139.75(1)
(1) "Business" means any trade, occupation, activity or enterprise engaged in for the purpose of selling or distributing tobacco products in this state.
139.75(2)
(2) "Consumer" means any person who has title to or possession of tobacco products in storage for use or other consumption in this state.
139.75(3)
(3) "Department" means the department of revenue.
139.75(4)(a)
(a) Any person engaged in the business of selling tobacco products in this state who brings, or causes to be brought, into this state from outside the state any tobacco products for sale;
139.75(4)(b)
(b) Any person who makes, manufactures or fabricates tobacco products in this state for sale in this state; or
139.75(4)(c)
(c) Any person engaged in the business of selling tobacco products outside this state who ships or transports tobacco products to retailers in this state to be sold by those retailers.
139.75(4m)
(4m) "File" means mail or deliver a document that the department prescribes to the department or, if the department prescribes another method of submitting or another destination, use that other method or submit to that other destination.
139.75(5)
(5) "Manufacturer" means any person who manufactures and sells tobacco products.
139.75(5d)
(5d) "Moist snuff" means any finely cut, ground, or powdered smokeless tobacco that is intended to be placed or dipped in the mouth.
139.75(5m)
(5m) "Pay" means mail or deliver funds to the department or, if the department prescribes another method of submitting or another destination, use that other method or submit to that other destination.
139.75(6)
(6) "Place of business" means any place where tobacco products are sold, manufactured, stored or kept for the purpose of sale or consumption, including any vessel, vehicle, airplane, train or vending machine.
139.75(7)
(7) "Retail outlet" means each place of business from which tobacco products are sold to consumers.
139.75(8)
(8) "Retailer" means any person engaged in the business of selling tobacco products to ultimate consumers.
139.75(9)
(9) "Sale" means any transfer, exchange or barter for a consideration. It includes a gift by a person engaged in the business of selling tobacco products for advertising or as a means of evading this subchapter or for any other purpose, and it includes solicitation of orders for, and the sale for, future delivery.
139.75(10)
(10) "Storage" means any keeping or retention of tobacco products for use or consumption in this state.
139.75(11)
(11) "Subjobber" means any person, other than a manufacturer or distributor, who buys tobacco products from a distributor and sells them to persons other than the ultimate consumers.
139.75(12)
(12) "Tobacco products" means cigars; cheroots; stogies; periques; granulated, plug cut, crimp cut, ready-rubbed and other smoking tobacco; snuff, including moist snuff; snuff flour; cavendish; plug and twist tobacco; fine cut and other chewing tobaccos; shorts; refuse scraps, clippings, cuttings and sweepings of tobacco and other kinds and forms of tobacco prepared in such manner as to be suitable for chewing or smoking in a pipe or otherwise, or both for chewing and smoking; but "tobacco products" does not include cigarettes, as defined under
s. 139.30 (1m).
139.75(13)
(13) "Use" means the exercise of any right or power incidental to the ownership of tobacco products.
139.76
139.76
Imposition; exceptions. 139.76(1)
(1) An excise tax is imposed upon the sale, offering or exposing for sale, possession with intent to sell or removal for consumption or sale or other disposition for any purpose of tobacco products by any person engaged as a distributor of them at the rate, for tobacco products, not including moist snuff, of 71 percent of the manufacturer's established list price to distributors without diminution by volume or other discounts on domestic products and, for moist snuff, at the rate of 100 percent of the manufacturer's established list price to distributors without diminution by volume or other discounts on domestic products. The tax imposed under this subsection on cigars shall not exceed an amount equal to 50 cents for each cigar. On products imported from another country, not including moist snuff, the rate of tax is 71 percent of the amount obtained by adding the manufacturer's list price to the federal tax, duties and transportation costs to the United States. On moist snuff imported from another country, the rate of the tax is 100 percent of the amount obtained by adding the manufacturer's list price to the federal tax, duties, and transportation costs to the United States. The tax attaches at the time the tobacco products are received by the distributor in this state. The tax shall be passed on to the ultimate consumer of the tobacco products. All tobacco products received in this state for sale or distribution within this state, except tobacco products actually sold as provided in
sub. (2), shall be subject to such tax.
139.76(2)
(2) Tobacco products sold to or by post exchanges of the U.S. armed forces, to or by federally operated veterans hospitals in this state, and tobacco products sold to an interstate carrier of passengers for hire to be resold to bona fide passengers actually being transported and tobacco products sold for shipment outside this state in interstate commerce are not subject to the tax.
