Chapter 71

71.42(3) (3) “Life insurance” includes annuities.

71.42(3c) (3c) For purposes of s. 71.45 (2) (a) 16. and 18., “management fees” include expenses and costs, not including interest expenses, pertaining to accounts receivable, accounts payable, employee benefit plans, insurance, legal matters, payroll, data processing, purchasing, taxation, financial matters, securities, accounting, or reporting and compliance matters or similar activities, to the extent that the amounts would otherwise be deductible in determining net income under the Internal Revenue Code as adjusted under s. 71.45 (2).

71.42(3d) (3d) “Member” does not include a member of a limited liability company treated as a corporation under s. 71.22 (1k).

71.42(3h) (3h) “Partner” does not include a partner of a publicly traded partnership treated as a corporation under s. 71.22 (1k).

71.42(3m) (3m) “Pay” means mail or deliver funds to the department or, if the department prescribes another method of payment or another destination, use that other method or submit to that other destination.

71.42(4) (4) “Person” includes corporations, unless the context requires otherwise.

71.42(4d) (4d) “Qualified real estate investment trust” has the meaning given in s. 71.22 (9ad).

71.42(4m) (4m) “Related entity” means any person related to a taxpayer as provided under section 267 or 1563 of the Internal Revenue Code during all or a portion of the taxpayer’s taxable year and any real estate investment trust under section 856 of the Internal Revenue Code, except a qualified real estate investment trust, if more than 50 percent of any class of the beneficial interests or shares of the real estate investment trust are owned directly, indirectly, or constructively by the taxpayer, or any person related to the taxpayer, during all or a portion of the taxpayer’s taxable year. For purposes of this subsection, the constructive ownership rules of section 318 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code, as modified by section 856 (d) (5) of the Internal Revenue Code, shall apply in determining the ownership of stock, assets, or net profits of any person.

71.42(4n) (4n) For purposes of s. 71.45 (2) (a) 16. and 18., “rental expenses” means the gross amounts that would otherwise be deductible under the Internal Revenue Code, as adjusted under s. 71.45 (2), for the use of, or the right to use, real property and tangible personal property in connection with real property, including services furnished or rendered in connection with such property, regardless of how reported for financial accounting purposes and regardless of how computed.

71.42(5) (5) “Taxable year” has the meaning under s. 71.22 (10).

71.42 History History: 1987 a. 312; 1987 a. 411 ss. 5, 148, 149; 1989 a. 31, 336; 1991 a. 39, 269; 1993 a. 16, 437; 1995 a. 27, 380, 428; 1997 a. 27, 37, 237; 1999 a. 9, 194; 2001 a. 16, 109; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25, 49; 2007 a. 20, 226; 2009 a. 2, 28, 161, 183; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55, 216; 2017 a. 59, 231; 2019 a. 185; 2021 a. 1; 2023 a. 36; s. 35.17 correction in (2) (m) 2., (n) 2.

71.43 71.43 Imposition of tax.

71.43(1) (1) Income tax. For the purpose of raising revenue for the state and the counties, cities, villages and towns, there shall be assessed, levied, collected and paid a tax as provided under this chapter on all Wisconsin net incomes of corporations that are not subject to the franchise tax under sub. (2) and that own property within this state; that derive income from sources within this state or from activities that are attributable to this state; or whose business within this state during the taxable year, except as provided under s. 71.23 (3), consists exclusively of foreign commerce, interstate commerce, or both, or that buy or sell lottery prizes if the winning tickets were originally bought in this state; except as exempted under ss. 71.26 (1) and 71.45 (1) (a). This section shall not be construed to prevent or affect the correction of errors or omissions in the assessments of income for former years under s. 71.74 (1) and (2).

71.43(2) (2) Franchise tax on corporations. For the privilege of exercising its franchise, buying or selling lottery prizes if the winning tickets were originally bought in this state or doing business in this state in a corporate capacity, except as provided under s. 71.23 (3), every domestic or foreign corporation, except corporations specified in ss. 71.26 (1) and 71.45 (1) (a), shall annually pay a franchise tax according to or measured by its entire Wisconsin net income of the preceding taxable year at the rates set forth in s. 71.46 (2). In addition, except as provided in ss. 71.23 (3), 71.26 (1) and 71.45 (1) (a), a corporation that ceases doing business in this state shall pay a special franchise tax according to or measured by its entire Wisconsin net income for the taxable year during which the corporation ceases doing business in this state at the rate under s. 71.46 (2). Every corporation organized under the laws of this state shall be deemed to be residing within this state for the purposes of this franchise tax. All provisions of this chapter and ch. 73 relating to income taxation of corporations shall apply to franchise taxes imposed under this subsection, unless the context requires otherwise. The tax imposed by this subsection on insurance companies subject to taxation under this chapter shall be based on Wisconsin net income computed under s. 71.45, and no other provision of this chapter relating to computation of taxable income for other corporations shall apply to such insurance companies, except for s. 71.255. All other provisions of this chapter shall apply to insurance companies subject to taxation under this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

71.43 History History: 1987 a. 312; 1989 a. 31; 1999 a. 9; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 2.

71.43 Annotation Sub. (2) is discriminatory within the meaning of 31 USC 3124 (1) (a) and in violation of that provision. American Family Mutual Insurance Co. v. DOR, 214 Wis. 2d 577, 571 N.W.2d 710 (Ct. App. 1997), 97-1105.

71.44 71.44 Filing returns; extensions; payment of tax.

71.44(1) (1) Filing returns.

71.44(1)(a) (a) Every corporation, except a corporation all of whose income is exempt from taxation and except as provided in sub. (1m), shall furnish to the department a true and accurate statement, on or before the date on which the corporation is required to file for federal income tax purposes, not including any extension, under the Internal Revenue Code, in the manner and form and setting forth the facts the department deems necessary to enforce this chapter. Every corporation that is required to furnish a statement under this paragraph and that has income that is not taxable under this subchapter shall include with the corporation’s statement a report that identifies each item of the corporation’s nontaxable income. The statement shall be subscribed by the president, vice president, treasurer, assistant treasurer, chief accounting officer, or any other officer duly authorized so to act. In the case of a return made for a corporation by a fiduciary, the fiduciary shall subscribe the return. The fact that an individual’s name is subscribed on the return shall be prima facie evidence that the individual is authorized to subscribe the return on behalf of the corporation.

71.44 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. Tax 2.09, Wis. adm. code.

71.44(1)(b) (b) Each corporation that is required to file a return under this section shall file with that return a copy of its federal income tax return for the same taxable year.

71.44(1)(c) (c) Whenever a corporation has been completely inactive for an entire taxable year, in lieu of filing the statements and information otherwise required by this section, it may file a declaration, on a form to be provided by the department, subscribed by its president, if a resident of this state, and, if not a resident, then by another officer residing in this state, attesting to such inactivity. Such declaration must be filed prior to the otherwise due date for its Wisconsin return for such taxable year. Thereafter the corporation need not file such statements or information for any subsequent year unless specifically requested to do so by the department or unless in a subsequent year the corporation has been activated or reactivated. If a corporation files a false declaration of complete inactivity, or, after filing a declaration, becomes activated or reactivated and fails to file timely statements and information hereunder covering such year or years of activity or reactivity its officers at the time of such filing or failure shall be jointly and severally liable for a civil penalty of $25 for such filing or each such failure, which penalty may be assessed and collected as income or franchise taxes are assessed and collected.

71.44(1)(d) (d) Nothing contained in this subsection shall preclude the department from requiring any corporation to file a return when in the judgment of the department a return should be filed.

71.44(1m) (1m) Unrelated business income. Every corporation subject to a tax on unrelated business income under s. 71.26 (1) (a), if that corporation is required to file for federal income tax purposes, shall furnish to the department a true and accurate statement on or before the date on which the corporation is required to file for federal income tax purposes, not including any extension, under the Internal Revenue Code. The requirements about manner, form, and subscription under sub. (1) apply to statements under this subsection.

71.44(2) (2) Changing accounting periods.

71.44(2)(a) (a) Corporations may not change their basis of reporting from a calendar year to a fiscal year, from a fiscal year to a calendar year, or from one fiscal year to another without first obtaining the approval of the department of revenue unless the internal revenue service has approved the change or unless the change, including a change to a short taxable year, is required by the internal revenue code before approval by the internal revenue service and the reason for the change is explained in the first return filed for the new taxable year. Corporations that make changes on the basis of federal changes shall submit a copy of the internal revenue service’s notice of approval, if prior federal approval, other than expeditious approval, was required, or requirement, if prior federal approval was not required or if the corporation qualifies for expeditious approval, to the department of revenue along with the return for the first taxable year for which the change applies.

71.44(2)(b) (b) If a corporation changes its basis of reporting from a calendar year to a fiscal year a separate return shall be made for the period between the close of the last calendar year and the date designated as the close of the fiscal year. If the change is from a fiscal year to a calendar year, a separate return shall be made for the period between the close of the last fiscal year and the following December 31. If the change is from one fiscal year to another fiscal year a separate return shall be made for the period between the close of the former fiscal year and the date designated as the close of the new fiscal year. In no case shall a separate income or franchise tax return be made for a period of more than 12 months.

71.44(2)(c) (c) If a separate corporation income tax return is made for a fractional part of a year for federal income tax purposes, the corporation shall file a separate Wisconsin income or franchise tax return for that fractional year. The income shall be computed and reported on the basis of the period for which the separate return is made, and that fractional part of a year shall constitute a taxable year, except that if a corporation terminates, under section 1362 (d) (1) or (2) of the internal revenue code, its election to be treated as an S corporation for federal income tax purposes the corporation may allocate its items of income, loss or deduction between its short taxable year as a tax-option corporation and its short taxable year as a nontax-option corporation according to the method under section 1362 (e) (2) of the internal revenue code.

71.44(2)(d) (d) If a separate income or franchise tax return is made for a short period under par. (b) on account of a change in the taxable year, the net income for such short period shall be placed on an annual basis using the method applicable for federal income taxes under section 443 (b) (1) of the internal revenue code.

71.44(3) (3) Extensions.

71.44(3)(a) (a) In the case of a corporation required to file a return, the department of revenue shall allow an automatic extension of 7 months or until the original due date of the corporation’s corresponding federal return, whichever is later. Any extension of time granted by law or by the internal revenue service for the filing of corresponding federal returns shall extend the time for filing under this subchapter to 30 days after the federal due date if the corporation reports the extension in the manner specified by the department on the return. Except for payments of estimated taxes, income or franchise taxes payable upon the filing of the tax return shall not become delinquent during such extension period, but shall, except as provided in par. (b), be subject to interest at the rate of 12 percent per year during such period.

71.44(3)(b) (b) For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2008, for persons who qualify for a federal extension of time to file under 26 USC 7508A due to a presidentially declared disaster or terroristic or military action, income or franchise taxes payable upon the filing of the tax return are not subject to interest as otherwise provided under par. (a).

71.44 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. Tax 2.88 and 2.96, Wis. adm. code.

71.44(4) (4) Payment of tax.

71.44(4)(b) (b) Corporation franchise and income taxes not paid on or before the deadline for filing returns described in sub. (1) or (1m) shall be deemed delinquent.

71.44(4)(c) (c) The department of revenue shall accept in advance income or franchise taxes and surtaxes from taxpayers desirous of making such payments before the same shall become due and payable. Advance payment of taxes under this provision shall not relieve the taxpayer from additional taxes which may result from subsequent legislation or from additional taxable income disclosed or discovered subsequent to such payment.

71.44(4)(d) (d) No person is required to pay a balance due of less than $1.

71.44 History History: 1987 a. 312, 411; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 199; 1995 a. 428; 1997 a. 27; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28; 2017 a. 2.

71.44 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. Tax 2.03, Wis. adm. code.

71.45 71.45 Income computation.

71.45(1) (1) Exempt and excludable income. There shall be exempt from taxation under this subchapter income as follows:

71.45(1)(a) (a) Income of insurers exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to section 501 (c) (15) of the internal revenue code, town mutuals organized under or subject to ch. 612, foreign insurers, and domestic insurers engaged exclusively in life insurance business, domestic insurers insuring against financial loss by reason of nonpayment of principal, interest and other sums agreed to be paid under the terms of any note or bond or other evidence of indebtedness secured by a mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument constituting a lien or charge on real estate and corporations organized under ch. 185, but not including income of cooperative health care associations organized under s. 185.981, or of a service insurance corporation organized under ch. 613, that is derived from 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 operating under subch. I of ch. 616 which are bona fide cooperatives operated without pecuniary profit to any shareholder or member, or operated on a cooperative plan pursuant to which they determine and distribute their proceeds in substantial compliance with s. 185.45. This paragraph does not apply to income that is realized from the sale of or purchase and subsequent sale or redemption of lottery prizes if the winning tickets were originally bought in this state.

71.45(1)(b) (b) For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006 and ending before January 1, 2016, the amount of any incentive payment received by an individual under s. 23.33 (5r), 2013 stats., in the taxable year to which the claim relates.

71.45(1)(c) (c) An amount equal to the increase in the number of full-time equivalent employees employed by the taxpayer in this state during the taxable year, multiplied by $4,000 for a business with gross receipts of no greater than $5,000,000 in the taxable year or $2,000 for a business with gross receipts greater than $5,000,000 in the taxable year. For purposes of this paragraph, the increase in the number of full-time equivalent employees employed by the taxpayer in this state during the taxable year is determined by subtracting from the number of full-time equivalent employees employed by the taxpayer in this state during the taxable year, as determined by computing the average employee count from the taxpayer’s quarterly unemployment insurance reports or other information as required by the department for the taxable year, the number of full-time equivalent employees employed by the taxpayer in this state during the immediately preceding taxable year, as determined by computing the average employee count from the taxpayer’s quarterly unemployment insurance reports or other information as required by the department for the immediately preceding taxable year. No person may claim a deduction under this paragraph if the person may claim a credit under this subchapter based on the person relocating the person’s business from another state to this state and in an amount equal to the person’s tax liability. No person may claim a deduction under this paragraph for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014. The department shall promulgate rules to administer this paragraph.

71.45 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. Tax 3.05, Wis. adm. code.

71.45(1)(d) (d) Income received in the form of allocations issued by this state with moneys received from the coronavirus relief fund authorized under 42 USC 801 to be used for any of the following purposes:

71.45(1)(d)1. 1. Broadband expansion.

71.45(1)(d)2. 2. Privately owned movie theater grants.

71.45(1)(d)3. 3. A nonprofit grant program.

71.45(1)(d)4. 4. A tourism grants program.

71.45(1)(d)5. 5. A cultural organization grant program.

71.45(1)(d)6. 6. Music and performance venue grants.

71.45(1)(d)7. 7. Lodging industry grants.

71.45(1)(d)8. 8. Low-income home energy assistance.

71.45(1)(d)9. 9. A rental assistance program.

71.45(1)(d)10. 10. Supplemental child care grants.

71.45(1)(d)11. 11. A food insecurity initiative.

71.45(1)(d)12. 12. A farm support program.

71.45(1)(d)13. 13. Grants to small businesses.

71.45(1)(d)14. 14. Ethanol industry assistance.

71.45(1)(d)15. 15. Wisconsin Eye.

71.45(1)(dm) (dm) Income received in the form of a grant issued by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation during and related to the COVID-19 pandemic under the ethnic minority emergency grant program. Amounts otherwise deductible under this chapter that are paid directly or indirectly with the grant money are deductible.

71.45(1)(dn) (dn) Income received in the form of a grant from the restaurant revitalization fund under section 5003 of the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2. Amounts otherwise deductible under this chapter that are paid directly or indirectly with the grant money are deductible. Amounts excluded under this paragraph by a tax-option corporation or partnership shall be treated as tax-exempt income for purposes of sections 705 and 1366 of the Internal Revenue Code.

71.45(1t) (1t) Exemption from the income tax. The interest and income from the following obligations are exempt from the tax imposed under s. 71.43 (1):

71.45(1t)(b) (b) Those issued under s. 66.1201.

71.45(1t)(c) (c) Those issued under s. 66.1333.

71.45(1t)(d) (d) Those issued under s. 66.1335.

71.45(1t)(e) (e) Those issued under s. 234.65 to fund an economic development loan to finance construction, renovation or development of property that would be exempt under s. 70.11 (36).

71.45(1t)(em) (em) Those issued under s. 234.08 or 234.61, on or after January 1, 2004, if the obligations are issued to fund multifamily affordable housing projects or elderly housing projects.

71.45(1t)(f) (f) Those issued under subch. II of ch. 229.

71.45(1t)(g) (g) Those issued under s. 66.0621 by a local professional baseball park district, a local professional football stadium district, or a local cultural arts district.

71.45(1t)(h) (h) Those issued under s. 114.70 or 114.74.

71.45(1t)(i) (i) Those issued under s. 231.03 (6), on or after October 27, 2007, if the proceeds from the obligations that are issued are used by a health facility, as defined in s. 231.01 (5), to fund the acquisition of information technology hardware or software.

71.45(1t)(k) (k) Those issued under s. 66.0304, if any of the following applies:

71.45(1t)(k)1. 1. The bonds or notes are used to fund multifamily affordable housing projects or elderly housing projects in this state, and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority has the authority to issue its bonds or notes for the project being funded.

71.45(1t)(k)2. 2. The bonds or notes are used by a health facility, as defined in s. 231.01 (5), to fund the acquisition of information technology hardware or software, in this state, and the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority has the authority to issue its bonds or notes for the project being funded.

71.45(1t)(k)3. 3. The bonds or notes are issued to fund a redevelopment project in this state or a housing project in this state, and the authority exists for bonds or notes to be issued by an entity described under s. 66.1201, 66.1333, or 66.1335.

71.45(1t)(L) (L) Those issued under s. 231.03 (6), if the bonds or notes are issued for the benefit of a person who is eligible to receive the proceeds of bonds or notes from another entity for the same purpose for which the bonds or notes are issued under s. 231.03 (6) and the interest income received from the other bonds or notes is exempt from taxation under this subchapter.

71.45(1t)(m) (m) Those issued by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to provide loans to a public affairs network under s. 234.75 (4).

71.45(1t)(n) (n) Those issued by the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority under s. 231.03 (6), if the bonds or notes are issued in an amount totaling $35,000,000 or less, and to the extent that the interest income received is not otherwise exempt under this subsection.

71.45(2) (2) Determination of net income.

71.45(2)(a) (a) Insurers subject to taxation under this chapter shall pay a tax according to or measured by net income. Such tax is payable under s. 71.44 (1). Except as provided in sub. (5), “net income” of an insurer subject to taxation under this chapter means federal taxable income as determined in accordance with the provisions of the internal revenue code adjusted as follows:

71.45(2)(a)1. 1. By adding to federal taxable income the amount of any loss carry-forward or carry-back, including any capital loss carry-forward or carry-back, deducted in the calculation of federal taxable income.

71.45(2)(a)2. 2. By adding to federal taxable income, if not already included therein, the amount of any federal tax refund or portion thereof previously applied to reduce the amount of tax payable under this chapter.

71.45(2)(a)3. 3. For insurers subject to taxation under s. 71.43 (1), by adding to federal taxable income the amount of any interest income, except interest under sub. (1t), that is not included in federal taxable income except the amount of any interest income which is by federal law exempt from taxation by this state and, for insurers subject to taxation under s. 71.43 (2), by adding to federal taxable income the amount of any interest income which is not included in federal taxable income.

71.45(2)(a)4. 4. By adding to federal taxable income an amount equal to dividend income received during the taxable year to the extent such dividend income was used as a deduction in determining federal taxable income.

71.45(2)(a)5. 5. By adding to federal taxable income the amount of taxes imposed by this or any other state, or the District of Columbia, that are value-added taxes, single business taxes or taxes on or measured by net income, gross income, gross receipts or capital stock, if any, that are deducted in the calculation of federal taxable income except that gross receipts taxes assessed in lieu of property taxes are deductible from gross income.

71.45(2)(a)5m. 5m. By adding to federal taxable income the amount of the environmental tax that is imposed under section 59A of the internal revenue code and that is deducted in calculating federal taxable income.

71.45(2)(a)6. 6. By adding or subtracting, as appropriate, the difference between the federal basis and the Wisconsin basis of any asset sold, exchanged, abandoned or otherwise disposed of in a taxable transaction during the taxable year.