Chapter 73

73.06(7) (7) The department of revenue shall call a meeting of the supervisors of equalization at the capitol at a specified time in each year, for a conference on the subjects of taxation and the administration of the laws, and for the instruction of such officers in their duties.

73.06(8) (8) For purposes of this section “local assessor” includes the county assessors under s. 70.99.

73.06 History History: 1973 c. 90; 1977 c. 449; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 275 ss. 11, 15 (3) to (6); 1983 a. 538 s. 269 (3); 1987 a. 399; 1997 a. 237; 2001 a. 16; 2017 a. 59; 2017 a. 207 s. 5.

73.06 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 17.14 on removal of assessors from office.

73.06 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. Tax 12.06 and 12.07, Wis. adm. code.

73.06 Annotation The statutory duties under subs. (1) to (3) and s. 73.03 (3), (4), and (9) to (12) are broad grants of investigative and prosecutorial authority and are not the types of activities that can be compelled by mandamus, as each of these duties requires the Department of Revenue to use discretion, even if the existence of a violation is clear. In the area of criminal and civil investigative and enforcement activities, government actors invariably employ discretion so as to make those activities not amenable to mandamus relief absent a statute compelling a specific action under a specific set of facts. Klein v. DOR, 2020 WI App 56, 394 Wis. 2d 66, 949 N.W.2d 608, 18-1133.

73.07 73.07 District offices, supplies, expenses.

73.07(1) (1) Office furniture and equipment furnished to income assessment district and branch offices by counties prior to July 1, 1986, shall remain in those offices until the department of revenue determines that the furniture and equipment are no longer needed.

73.07(2) (2) Office furniture and equipment furnished to supervisors of equalization prior to January 1, 1974, shall continue to be furnished until no longer required by them.

73.07(3) (3) The county board of any county shall provide rooms for the use of the tax appeals commission upon the request of the chairperson of the commission. Hearings of the commission may also be held in the department’s district income tax office when the chairperson of the commission deems it advisable.

73.07 History History: 1971 c. 42; 1973 c. 90; 1977 c. 143; 1979 c. 110 s. 60 (13); 1983 a. 275 s. 15 (4); 1983 a. 538 s. 269 (3); 1985 a. 29; 1993 a. 184.

73.09 73.09 Assessor certification.

73.09(1) (1) Local assessment personnel. The department of revenue shall establish by rule the level of certification under sub. (3), the continuing education requirements under sub. (4), examinations under sub. (5), and the requirements for and responsibilities associated with temporary certification under sub. (6) for all assessors and assessment personnel of each local unit of government and for county assessor systems under s. 70.99.

73.09(2) (2) Department of revenue assessment personnel. The requirements established for local assessment personnel under sub. (1) shall also apply to department of revenue assessment personnel. The division of personnel management in the department of administration with the assistance of the department of revenue shall determine the position classifications for which certification shall apply within the department of revenue. The first level of certification shall be obtained within a timeframe consistent with the department of revenue’s employment practices. The department of revenue in consultation with the division of personnel management shall establish requirements for obtaining higher levels of assessor certification.

73.09(3) (3) Levels of certification. The levels of certification for assessors and assessment personnel shall be commensurate with the degree of complexity of the various classes of property within each taxation district.

73.09(4) (4) Recertification.

73.09(4)(a) (a) All certifications issued prior to January 1, 1981, are valid for 10 years from the date of issuance. All certifications issued on or after January 1, 1981, but before August 15, 1991, expire on the 6th June 1 following the date of issuance. All certifications issued on or after August 15, 1991, expire 5 years after the date on which they are issued.

73.09(4)(b) (b) Persons may be recertified by attending at least 4 of the previous 5 annual meetings called by the department of revenue under s. 73.06 (1) and by meeting continuing education requirements determined by the department of revenue. The department of revenue may revoke a person’s certification if the person fails to attend more than one annual meeting or fails to meet the continuing education requirements in any recertification cycle. The department may reinstate a certification revoked under this paragraph after a revocation period of no less than one year has expired if the person whose certification was revoked requests reinstatement, attends the next annual meeting under s. 73.06 (1) following the date on which the department revoked the certification, and passes an examination under sub. (5).

73.09(4)(c) (c) Recertification is contingent upon submission of an application for renewal, at least 60 days before the expiration date of the current certificate, attesting to the completion of the requirements specified in par. (b). Persons applying for renewal on the basis of attendance at the meetings called by the department under s. 73.06 (1) and by meeting continuing education requirements shall submit a recertification fee, in an amount determined by the department not to exceed $75, with their applications.

73.09(5) (5) Examinations. As provided in subs. (1) and (2), the department of revenue shall prepare and administer examinations for each level of certification. A person applying for an examination under this subsection shall submit an examination fee with the person’s application. If the department administers and grades the examinations, the fee shall be the amount equal to the department’s best estimate of the actual cost to administer and grade the examinations, but no greater than $75. If a test service provider administers and grades the examinations, the fee shall be the amount equal to the department’s best estimate of the provider’s actual cost to administer and grade the examinations, but no greater than $75. The department shall grant certification to each person who passes the examination for that level.

73.09(6) (6) Temporary certification. As provided in subs. (1) and (2), the department of revenue shall promulgate rules for the temporary certification of the first level of certification and designate the functions that those persons may perform. The department of revenue may grant an individual a temporary certification that is valid for 90 days.

73.09(6m) (6m) Social security numbers. Each applicant for certification or recertification under this section shall provide the applicant’s social security number on the application. The department of revenue may not disclose a social security number that it obtains under this subsection, except to the department of workforce development for the purpose of requesting certifications under s. 108.227. The department of revenue may not certify or recertify any person who fails to provide his or her social security number on his or her application.

73.09(7) (7) Revocation of certification.

73.09(7)(a) (a) The secretary of revenue or a designee may revoke or suspend the certification of any assessor, assessment personnel, or expert appraiser for the practice of any fraud or deceit in obtaining certification, or any negligence, incompetence, or misconduct, including making a fraudulent change in the assessment roll after it is opened for examination under s. 70.47 (3). The secretary of revenue or the secretary’s designee may require any assessor, assessment personnel, or expert appraiser to take corrective action in order to avoid the revocation or suspension of that person’s certification for the activities described under this paragraph.

73.09(7)(b) (b) Charges of fraud, deceit, negligence, incompetence or misconduct may be made against any assessor, assessment personnel or expert appraiser by the department of revenue. Such charges shall be in writing, stating the specific acts, and submitted to the secretary of revenue. All charges shall be heard by the secretary within 3 months after their filing.

73.09(7)(c) (c) The time and place for such hearing shall be fixed by the secretary of revenue and a copy of the charges, together with a notice of the time and place of hearing, shall be given by personal service or by registered letter with return receipt requested, mailed to the last-known address of such expert appraiser, at least 30 days before the hearing. The expert appraiser so charged shall have the right to appear personally and by counsel, to cross-examine witnesses appearing against him or her, and to produce evidence and witnesses in his or her own defense.

73.09(7)(d) (d) If, after such hearing, the secretary of revenue determines that there is just cause for revocation, the secretary shall revoke the certificate of registration of the expert appraiser and notify the expert appraiser to that effect. The expert appraiser shall return his or her certificate to the secretary of revenue immediately on receipt of the notice. The action of the secretary of revenue may be reviewed under ch. 227.

73.09(7)(e) (e) The secretary of revenue, for reasons sufficient, may reinstate a certificate of registration that has been revoked under this subsection, after one year upon formal application for reinstatement.

73.09(7m) (7m) Liability for delinquent taxes.

73.09(7m)(a) (a) If the department of revenue determines that an applicant for certification or recertification under this section or a person who holds a certificate issued under this section is liable for delinquent taxes, as defined in s. 73.0301 (1) (c), the department of revenue may deny the application or revoke the certificate. Except as provided in par. (c), a denial or revocation under this paragraph is not subject to judicial review.

73.09(7m)(b) (b) If the department of revenue denies an application or revokes a certificate under par. (a), the department shall mail a notice of denial or revocation to the applicant or certificate holder. The notice shall include a statement of the facts that warrant the denial or revocation and a statement that the applicant or certificate holder may, within 30 days after the date on which the notice of denial or revocation is mailed, file a written request with the department to have the determination that he or she is liable for delinquent taxes reviewed at a hearing under s. 73.0301 (5) (a).

73.09(7m)(c) (c) If, after a hearing under s. 73.0301 (5) (a), the department of revenue affirms a determination under par. (a) that an applicant or certificate holder is liable for delinquent taxes, the department shall affirm its denial or revocation. An applicant or certificate holder may seek judicial review under ch. 227 in the circuit court for Dane County of an affirmation by the department of a denial or revocation under this paragraph.

73.09(7m)(d) (d) If, after a hearing under s. 73.0301 (5) (a), the department of revenue determines that a person whose certificate is revoked under par. (a) is not liable for delinquent taxes, as defined in s. 73.0301 (1) (c), the department shall reinstate the certificate. The department may not charge a fee for reinstatement of a certificate under this paragraph.

73.09(8) (8) Liability for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions. If the department of workforce development certifies under s. 108.227 that an applicant for certification or recertification under this section is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions, the department of revenue shall deny the application for certification or recertification or revoke the certificate. A person subject to a denial or revocation under this subsection for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions is entitled to a notice under s. 108.227 (2) (b) 1. b. and hearing under s. 108.227 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this chapter.

73.09 History History: 1979 c. 221; 1981 c. 20 s. 1039; 1983 a. 27 ss. 1264v, 2200 (15); 1985 a. 120; 1991 a. 39, 316; 1997 a. 237; 2003 a. 33 ss. 1626, 1627, 9160; 2009 a. 234; 2013 a. 36; 2015 a. 55, 216; 2017 a. 324; 2021 a. 1.

73.09 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. Tax 12.05, 12.055, and 12.065, Wis. adm. code.

73.10 73.10 Municipal finance.

73.10(1) (1) In this section “department” means the department of revenue.

73.10(2) (2) 

73.10(2)(a) (a)

73.10(2)(a)1. 1. The department shall collect annually from all town, city, village, county, and other public officers all of following:

73.10(2)(a)1.a. a. Information regarding the collection of taxes, receipts from licenses, and other sources.

73.10(2)(a)1.b. b. Information regarding the expenditure of public funds for all purposes.

73.10(2)(a)1.c. c. Any other information that is considered necessary by the department.

73.10(2)(a)2. 2. Information collected under subd. 1. shall be on forms prescribed by the department that include any requirements under par. (b). All public officers requested to provide information under subd. 1. shall properly complete and promptly return to the department all forms transmitted to them by the department.

73.10(2)(a)3. 3. The department shall examine all town, village, city, county, and other public records that the department considers necessary. The department shall publish annually the information collected under this paragraph, with any compilations, analyses, or recommendations that the department determines are necessary. The department shall disseminate information concerning local government accounting, auditing, and fiscal matters.

73.10(2)(b) (b)

73.10(2)(b)1. 1. The department may require by rule all of the following:

73.10(2)(b)1.a. a. That the information it needs under par. (a) be submitted as annual financial statements, notes to the financial statements, and supporting schedules.

73.10(2)(b)1.b. b. That the statements, notes, and schedules under subd. 1. a. conform to generally accepted accounting principles promulgated by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board or its successor bodies.

73.10(2)(b)1.c. c. That the statements, notes, and schedules under subd. 1. a. be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.

73.10(2)(b)2. 2. Notwithstanding s. 227.01 (13) (j), a rule promulgated under this paragraph is subject to the requirements of ch. 227.

73.10(2)(c) (c) Beginning in 2021, each municipality that is eligible to receive a payment under s. 79.097 shall submit with the information required under pars. (a) and (b) the actual annual revenues received under s. 66.0420 (7).

73.10(3) (3) The department may inspect and examine or cause an inspection and examination of the records of any town, city, village, county or other public officer whenever such officer fails or neglects to return properly the information required by sub. (2) within the time specified under s. 86.303 (5) (c), (d) or (g).

73.10(4) (4) The officers responsible for the furnishing of information collected pursuant to this section shall be jointly and severally liable for any loss the town, city, village, county or other local public body, board, commission or agency suffers through their delinquency; and no payment shall be made them for salary, or on any other accounts, until the total amount of charges for such inspection and examination as provided in sub. (6) has been paid into the treasury of the regular county or other local public body, board, commission or agency.

73.10(5) (5) The department may inquire into the system of accounting of public funds in use by towns, villages, cities, counties and all other local public bodies, boards, commissions, departments or agencies except technical college districts and school districts; devise a system of accounts which is as nearly uniform as practicable; and audit the books of the town, village, city, county or other local public body, board, commission, department or agency, or any municipal electric utility upon its own motion.

73.10(6) (6) The department may establish a scale of charges for audits, inspections, and other services rendered by the department in connection with financial records or procedures of towns, villages, cities, counties, and all other local public bodies, boards, commissions, departments, or agencies. Upon the completion of such work or, at the department’s discretion, during work in progress, the department shall transmit to the clerk of the town, village, city, county, or other local public body, board, commission, department, or agency a statement of such charges. Duplicates of the statements shall be filed in the office of the secretary of administration. Within 60 days after the receipt of the above statement of charges, it shall be audited as other claims against towns, villages, cities, counties, and other local public bodies, boards, commissions, departments, or agencies are audited, and it shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the appropriation under s. 20.566 (2) (gi). Past due accounts of towns, villages, cities, counties, and all other local public bodies, boards, commissions, departments, or agencies shall be certified on or before the 4th Monday of August of each year and included in the next apportionment of state special charges to local units of government.

73.10 History History: 1971 c. 108 ss. 1, 4, 6; 1971 c. 125 ss. 36, 394; 1971 c. 154 s. 1; 1971 c. 211 ss. 85, 86; 1973 c. 90; 1973 c. 243 s. 82; 1975 c. 224; 1977 c. 29, 418; 1981 c. 20, 237; 1983 a. 27; 1983 a. 192 s. 303 (7); 1985 a. 29; 1985 a. 182 s. 57; 1985 a. 225; 1987 a. 399; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 399; 2001 a. 107; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 149; 2019 a. 9.

73.10 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Tax 16, Wis. adm. code.

73.12 73.12 Set off of payments to vendors.

73.12(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

73.12(1)(a) (a) “Tax” means an amount that is owed to this state under ch. 71, 72, 76, 77, 78 or 139 and any addition to tax, interest, penalties or other liability in respect to those amounts and that has been reduced to a tax warrant or in respect to which the time limit for appeal has passed.

73.12(1)(b) (b) “Vendor” means a person providing goods or services to this state under subch. IV or V of ch. 16 or under ch. 84.

73.12(2) (2) Request for setoff. The department of revenue may request the department of administration to proceed under sub. (3) against any vendor who owes a tax. A request under this subsection consists of identification of the vendor and of the vendor’s contracts with this state and notice to the vendor of the request for a setoff.

73.12(3) (3) Setoff. Upon receipt of a request under sub. (2), the department of administration shall begin to set off against amounts owed by this state to a vendor taxes owed to this state by that vendor until those taxes are paid in full. If the secretary of administration determines, within 30 days after receipt of a request for setoff, that the vendor against whom setoff is requested is either an essential supplier of critical commodities or the only vendor from whom a necessary good or service can be obtained and notifies the secretary of revenue of that determination, the department of administration shall waive the right of setoff and the department of administration shall pay to the vendor the amounts set off. The department of administration shall, within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter, transfer to the department of revenue the taxes set off during the previous calendar quarter for deposit in the general fund, or in the transportation fund in respect to taxes owed under ch. 78, and shall notify the department of revenue of the amounts set off against each vendor.

73.12(4) (4) Application of proceeds. Upon notice under sub. (3), the department of revenue shall reduce on its books the liability of the vendor by the amount set off. The department shall reduce the principal amount of tax liability and related amounts beginning with the liability of longest standing and proceeding chronologically to the most recent liability. In respect to each principal amount of liability and related amounts, the department of revenue shall reduce amounts in the order provided in s. 71.91 (5) (k).

73.12(5) (5) Liability precluded. Exchange of information required to administer this section does not result in liability under s. 71.78, 72.06, 77.61 (5), 78.80 (3) or 139.38 (6). The department of administration is not liable to any vendor because of setoffs under this section.

73.12(6) (6) Preservation of other remedies. The availability of the remedy under this section does not abridge the rights of the department of revenue to proceed under ss. 71.80 (12), 71.91 (1) (a) and (c) and (2) to (5m) and 71.92.

73.12(7) (7) Tax identification information. The department of administration may collect from vendors and provide to the department of revenue any tax identification information that the department of revenue requires to administer the program under this section.

73.12 History History: 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 312 s. 17; 1989 a. 31; 1997 a. 237; 2005 a. 25.

73.13 73.13 Reducing nondelinquent taxes.

73.13(1) (1) In this section:

73.13(1)(a) (a) “Department” means the department of revenue.

73.13(1)(b) (b) “Tax” means an amount that is owed to this state under s. 66.0615 (1m) (f) 3. or ch. 71, 72, 76, 77, 78, or 139, and that is not delinquent.

73.13(2) (2) 

73.13(2)(a) (a) A taxpayer may petition the department to reduce the taxpayer’s taxes, including the costs, penalties, and interest related to the taxpayer’s taxes. The petition shall set forth a sworn statement of the taxpayer and shall be in a form that the department prescribes. The department may examine the taxpayer under oath about the petition and may require the taxpayer to provide the department with financial statements and any other information requested by the department that is related to the petition.

73.13(2)(b) (b) If the department determines that the taxpayer is unable to pay the taxes, costs, penalties, and interest in full, the department shall determine the amount that the taxpayer is able to pay and shall enter an order reducing the taxes in accordance with the department’s determination. The order shall provide either that the order is effective only if the reduced taxes are paid in full within 10 days from the date on which the order is issued or that the order is effective only if the reduced taxes are paid according to a payment schedule that the department determines. The department or its collection agents, upon receipt of the order, shall accept payment in accordance with the order. Upon payment of the reduced taxes, the department shall credit the unpaid portion of the principal amount of the taxes and record the unpaid amount of costs, penalties, and interest accrued to the date of the order.

73.13(2)(c) (c) If within 3 years from either the date of the order under par. (b) or the date of the final payment according to a payment schedule as determined under par. (b), whichever is later, the department of revenue ascertains that the taxpayer has an income or owns property sufficient to enable the taxpayer to pay the unpaid portion of the principal amount of the taxes due, including the costs, penalties, and interest recorded under par. (b), the department shall reopen the order under par. (b) and order the taxpayer to pay in full the unpaid portion of the principal amount of the taxes due, including the costs, penalties, and interest recorded under par. (b). Before the entry of the order for payment, the department of revenue shall send a written notice to the taxpayer advising the taxpayer of the department’s intention to reopen the order under par. (b) and fixing a time and place for the appearance of the taxpayer, if the taxpayer desires a hearing. If the department of revenue determines that the taxpayer is able to pay the unpaid portion of the principal amount of the taxes due, including the costs, penalties, and interest recorded under par. (b), the department shall enter the order for payment in full. The unpaid portion of the principal amount of the taxes due, including the costs, penalties, and interest recorded under par. (b), are due and payable immediately upon entry of the order for payment in full and thereafter are subject to the interest under s. 71.82 (2), as that subsection applies to delinquent income and franchise taxes under s. 71.82, and to the delinquent account fee under s. 73.03 (33m).

73.13 History History: 2005 a. 49; 2017 a. 324.

73.15 73.15 Hardware and software used to maintain medical records.

73.15(1) (1) The department of revenue shall implement a program to certify health care providers as eligible for the electronic medical records credit under ss. 71.07 (5i), 71.28 (5i), and 71.47 (5i).

73.15(2) (2) If the department of revenue certifies a health care provider under sub. (1), the department shall determine the amount of credits to allocate to the health care provider. The total amount of electronic medical records credits allocated to health care providers in any year may not exceed $10,000,000.

73.15(3) (3) The department of revenue shall promulgate rules to administer this section.

73.15 History History: 2007 a. 20; 2011 a. 32 ss. 3355g to 3355m; Stats. 2011 s. 73.15.

73.16 73.16 General provision.

73.16(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

73.16(1)(ab) (ab) “Combined group” has the meaning given in s. 71.255 (1) (a).

73.16(1)(b) (b) “Department” means the department of revenue.

73.16(1)(c) (c) “Person who is a party to the determination” means a person who requests a determination for that person’s benefit, files a claim for a refund, or is assessed by the department, but not including any of the following: