Chapter 78

78.12(2) (2) Reports of licensees. Each licensee shall, not later than the last day of each month, file a report for the month before the month during which the report is due.

78.12(3) (3) Reports of others. Any person, including a terminal operator, who is not a licensee and who either uses any motor vehicle fuel in this state or who has possession of any motor vehicle fuel (other than that contained in the ordinary fuel tank attached to a motor vehicle) upon which the motor vehicle fuel tax has not been paid or the liability therefor has not been incurred by any licensee in this state shall file a report and pay the tax on that motor vehicle fuel and shall be subject to this subchapter in the same manner as is provided for licensees.

78.12(4) (4) Computation of tax. At the time when the tax is due under sub. (5), the licensee shall compute that tax as follows:

78.12(4)(a) (a) For gasoline:

78.12(4)(a)1. 1. Subtract the number of gallons under s. 78.01 (2r) for the taxable period from the number of gallons received during the taxable period.

78.12(4)(a)2. 2. Subtract from the amount under subd. 1. an amount equal to 0.00625 multiplied by the number of gallons under subd. 1.

78.12(4)(a)3. 3. Subtract from the amount under subd. 2. an amount equal to 0.0005 multiplied by the number of gallons under subd. 1.

78.12(4)(a)4. 4. Multiply the number of gallons under subd. 3. by the rate published under s. 78.015 as increased under s. 78.017.

78.12(4)(a)5. 5. On October 1, 2021, the percentages used to calculate the amounts to be subtracted from the computation of the tax under subds. 2. and 3. are doubled.

78.12(4)(b) (b) For diesel fuel:

78.12(4)(b)1. 1. Subtract the number of gallons under s. 78.01 (2r) for the taxable period from the number of gallons received during the taxable period.

78.12(4)(b)2. 2. Multiply the number of gallons under subd. 1. by the rate published under s. 78.015 as increased under s. 78.017.

78.12(5) (5) Payment of tax. Licensed suppliers shall pay taxes on motor vehicle fuel no later than the 15th day of the month for motor vehicle fuel sold during the previous month. At the option of a wholesaler distributor, a licensed supplier shall allow the wholesaler distributor to delay paying the tax to the licensed supplier until the date that the tax is due to this state. A wholesaler distributor who makes delayed payments shall make the payments by electronic funds transfer. If a wholesaler distributor fails to make timely payments, the licensed supplier may terminate the right of the wholesaler distributor to make delayed payments. Each licensed supplier shall notify the department of each wholesaler distributor who makes delayed payments of the tax. The department may require any wholesaler distributor who makes delayed payments of the tax to furnish the department a surety bond payable to this state in an amount not to exceed 3 times the highest estimated monthly tax owed by the wholesaler distributor. Whenever the wholesaler distributor pays the licensed supplier, the licensed supplier shall credit the wholesaler distributor’s account for the amount of tax reduction that results from the calculation under s. 78.12 (4) (a) 2.

78.12 History History: 1973 c. 333; 1975 c. 180, 421; 1977 c. 418; 1979 c. 221; 1985 a. 153; 1987 a. 399; 1991 a. 39, 316; 1993 a. 16, 437; 1997 a. 27; 2005 a. 85; 2019 a. 9; 2021 a. 58.

78.12 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. Tax 4.51, 4.52, and 4.75, Wis. adm. code.

78.12 Annotation Sub. (3), when read in conjunction with related statutes, provides that a purchaser of motor vehicle fuel from a licensed supplier is liable to the Department of Revenue for the tax when the purchaser does not pay the tax to the supplier as required by s. 78.01 (1) but does collect the tax from the customers to whom the purchaser sells the fuel and when the department gives a credit to the supplier for the tax it paid as authorized by s. 78.01 (2s). Bender v. DOR, 2005 WI App 31, 278 Wis. 2d 731, 693 N.W.2d 311, 04-0766.

78.13 78.13 Notice by licensee of discontinuance, sale or transfer of business; final report.

78.13(1) (1) Notice required. Whenever any licensee doing business under this subchapter ceases to do business, that licensee shall notify the department in writing immediately. That notice shall specify the date when the licensee ceases doing business and, in the event of the sale or transfer of the business, the name and address of the purchaser or transferee thereof.

78.13(2) (2) Final reports. Every licensee shall, upon the cessation of business or upon the cancellation or revocation of a license, make a report as required under s. 78.12 and pay all motor vehicle fuel taxes, interest and penalties due the state. Such payment shall be made under s. 78.12 (5).

78.13 History History: 1973 c. 333; 1975 c. 180, 421; 1981 c. 20; 1987 a. 399; 1991 a. 189; 1993 a. 16.

78.15 78.15 Theft of tax moneys. If any licensee sells any motor vehicle fuel upon which the tax imposed by this subchapter has become due and has not been paid, all motor vehicle fuel tax moneys received by that licensee because of that sale are trust funds in that licensee’s hands and the property of this state. Any licensee who fails or refuses to pay over to the state the tax on motor vehicle fuel at the time required under s. 78.12 (5) or who fraudulently withholds or appropriates or otherwise uses such moneys or any portion thereof belonging to this state is guilty of theft and shall be punished as provided by law for the crime of theft, irrespective of whether or not that licensee has or claims to have any interest in the moneys so received by that licensee.

78.15 History History: 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 16.

78.155 78.155 Penalties for misuse of dyed diesel fuel.

78.155(1) (1) Any person who sells dyed diesel fuel to a buyer who the person knows or has reason to know will use the dyed diesel fuel for a purpose that is taxable under this subchapter shall pay to the department a penalty of $1,000 or twice the amount of tax that should have been paid on the dyed diesel fuel, whichever is greater.

78.155(2) (2) Any person who knows or has reason to know that he or she used dyed diesel fuel for a purpose that is taxable under this subchapter shall pay to the department a penalty of $1,000 or twice the amount of tax that should have been paid on the dyed diesel fuel, whichever is greater.

78.155(3) (3) Any retailer who does not conspicuously label a fuel pump, or other delivery facility, that dispenses dyed diesel fuel so as to notify customers that it contains dyed diesel fuel shall pay to the department a penalty of $1,000.

78.155 History History: 1993 a. 437.

78.19 78.19 Refund for fuel destroyed. If any motor vehicle fuel in the possession of a licensee is destroyed by fire, lightning, storm, flood or accident not caused by the willful act of that licensee or any employee thereof, before it is sold or used by that licensee, and if the licensee applies to the department and proves the destruction or loss satisfactorily to the department, the department shall authorize a tax credit or shall refund the amount of tax paid thereon. Such application or claim shall be filed with the department within 15 days after the motor vehicle fuel is destroyed or lost or the tax credit or refund will not be allowed.

78.19 History History: 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 16.

78.21 78.21 Seizure and sale.

78.21(1) (1) The department may seize, the department of transportation may seize and the department of transportation may request any police officer to seize, any motor vehicle fuel and the vehicle or other means of transporting it if the person who possesses the motor vehicle fuel does any of the following:

78.21(1)(a) (a) Imports, sells, uses, delivers or stores in this state motor vehicle fuel if the tax on the motor vehicle fuel has not been paid, dye has been added to the motor vehicle fuel or liability for the tax has not been incurred by the holder of an unrevoked supplier license, unless a supplier possesses the motor vehicle fuel and the motor vehicle fuel is manufactured in this state or imported by pipeline or barge and stored in this state and unless an alcohol supplier possesses the motor vehicle fuel and has imported it by barge, railcar or transport truck into a terminal in this state or unless an agricultural user possesses the motor vehicle fuel and that motor vehicle fuel is dyed.

78.21(1)(b) (b) Exports motor vehicle fuel unless the person has an export license or a supplier’s license or has paid the motor vehicle fuel tax of the destination state to the supplier and has a bill of lading that proves the export.

78.21(1)(c) (c) Operates or maintains a motor vehicle on any highway in this state with dyed fuel, unless the vehicle is a truck that is used principally for agricultural purposes and is marked with an agricultural use plate or tag or unless the motor vehicle is a truck that has received the fuel in a jurisdiction that permits the introduction of dyed fuel of that color and type into the motor vehicle fuel tank of highway vehicles.

78.21(1)(d) (d) Engages in a business for which a license is required under s. 78.09 and does not have that license.

78.21(1)(e) (e) Operates a transport truck to ship diesel fuel on the highways of the state, destined for delivery in this state, as shown on the shipping papers and does not have on board a shipping paper that sets out on its face a notation that the load is exempt if it is exempt or taxable if it is taxable.

78.21(2) (2) The department of transportation may promulgate rules to interpret sub. (1).

78.21 History History: 1993 a. 16.

78.215 78.215 Separate fuel supply tanks required. Every motor vehicle operated by diesel fuel shall be equipped with a diesel fuel supply tank separate from and in no way connected to any cargo tank on or attached to that motor vehicle.

78.215 History History: 1993 a. 16.

78.22 78.22 Motor vehicle fuel floor tax.

78.22(1) (1) Floor tax imposed. On the date any motor vehicle fuel tax rate change becomes effective under s. 78.01, a floor tax is hereby imposed upon every person who is in possession of any motor vehicle fuel held for sale or resale and on which the motor vehicle fuel tax already has been imposed. The person shall determine the volume of motor vehicle fuel and shall file by the 15th day of the month in which the new tax rate becomes effective a return, together with any tax due on it, determined in accordance with sub. (2).

78.22(2) (2) Floor tax or refund computation. The amount of any motor vehicle fuel floor tax or refund shall be computed by multiplying the number of gallons of motor vehicle fuel held in inventory as determined under sub. (1) by the difference between the tax rate already paid and the new tax rate, and the resulting figure shall be expressed in dollars.

78.22(3) (3) Administration. Sections 71.74 (1), (2), (10), (11), (13) and (14), 71.75 (4) to (7), 71.82 (2) (a) and (b), 71.83 (2) (b) 3., 71.88 (1) (a) and (2) (a), 71.89 to 71.91, 71.92, 73.01 and 73.015 apply to the administration of this section.

78.22(4) (4) Late filing fee. Any person who fails to file a motor vehicle fuel floor tax return when due shall pay a late filing fee of $10. A return that is mailed is filed in time if it is mailed in a properly addressed envelope with postage duly prepaid and the 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 the return is actually received by the department or at the destination that the department prescribes within 5 days of the due date. A return that is not mailed is timely if it is received on or before the due date by the department 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.

78.22(5) (5) Delinquent interest. If the tax imposed in this section is not paid when due, interest at the rate of 1.5 percent per month accrues from the date the tax became due until paid.

78.22(6) (6) Penalty. If any person liable for the tax files a false or fraudulent return, there shall be added to the tax an amount equal to the tax the person evaded or attempted to evade.

78.22 History History: 1981 c. 20; 1987 a. 312 s. 17; 1993 a. 16; 1997 a. 27; 2005 a. 49.

subch. II of ch. 78 SUBCHAPTER II

ALTERNATE FUELS TAX

78.39 78.39 Definitions. In this subchapter:

78.39(1) (1) “Alternate fuels” means all combustible gases and liquids suitable for generation of power for propulsion of motor vehicles, except that “alternate fuels” does not include motor vehicle fuel, as defined in s. 78.005 (13), or general aviation fuel, as defined in s. 78.55 (3).

78.39(2) (2) “Alternate fuels dealer” means any person, including the state and any political subdivision of the state, but not including the United States or its agencies except to the extent now or hereafter permitted by the constitution and laws of the United States, in the business of handling alternate fuels who delivers any part of the alternate fuels into the fuel supply tank or tanks of a motor vehicle not then owned or controlled by that person or to a retailer or user if the supplier reports and pays the tax under s. 78.40 (1).

78.39(3) (3) “Alternate fuels user” means the owner or other person, including the state and any political subdivision of the state, but not including the United States or its agencies except to the extent now or hereafter permitted by the constitution and laws of the United States, responsible for the operation of a motor vehicle at the time an alternate fuel is placed in the fuel supply tank or tanks of the motor vehicle while the vehicle is within this state.

78.39(4) (4) “Department” means the department of revenue.

78.39(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.

78.39(5) (5) “Motor vehicle” has the meaning given in s. 78.005 (12).

78.39(5d) (5d) “Pay” has the meaning given in s. 78.005 (13b).

78.39(5f) (5f) “Person” includes any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or association. A single-owner entity that is disregarded as a separate entity under ch. 71 is disregarded as a separate entity for purposes of this subchapter.

78.39(5m) (5m) “Sign” has the meaning given in s. 78.005 (13r).

78.39(6) (6) “Supplier” has the meaning given in s. 78.005 (14).

78.39(7) (7) “Use” means the receipt, delivery, or placing of alternate fuels into the fuel supply tank of a motor vehicle in this state, by an alternate fuels user and the delivery to a retailer or user if the supplier reports and pays the tax under s. 78.40 (1).

78.39 History History: 1993 a. 16 ss. 1907, 1918, 1920; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 83; 2005 a. 49; 2015 a. 216.

78.40 78.40 Tax imposed; collected; exceptions.

78.40(1) (1) Imposition of tax and by whom paid. An excise tax at the rate determined under ss. 78.405 and 78.407 is imposed on the use of alternate fuels. The tax, with respect to all alternate fuel delivered by an alternate fuel dealer into supply tanks of motor vehicles in this state, attaches at the time of delivery and shall be collected by the dealer from the alternate fuels user and shall be paid to the department. The tax, with respect to alternate fuels acquired by any alternate fuels user other than by delivery by an alternate fuel dealer into a fuel supply tank of a motor vehicle, of a snowmobile, of a limited use off-highway motorcycle that is not registered for private use under s. 23.335 (3) (a), of an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle that is not registered for private use under s. 23.33 (2) (d) or (2g), or of a recreational motorboat, attaches at the time of the use of the fuel and shall be paid to the department by the user. The department may permit any supplier of alternate fuels to report and pay to the department the tax on alternate fuels delivered into the storage facility of an alternate fuels user or retailer which will be consumed for alternate fuels tax purposes or sold at retail.

78.40(2) (2) Exceptions. No tax is hereby imposed upon or with respect to the following:

78.40(2)(a) (a) Alternate fuels used by the United States or its agencies where such use is evidenced by an exemption certificate executed by an authorized representative of the U.S. government or agency thereof certifying that the fuel used is for the exclusive consumption by the U.S. government or its agencies.

78.40(2)(c) (c) Alternate fuels used by a common motor carrier as defined in ch. 194, if the carrier certifies to the department that the fuel is for use in the operation of a motor vehicle for the urban mass transportation of passengers as defined in s. 71.38.

78.40 History History: 1979 c. 11, 221; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 302; 1987 a. 27; 1987 a. 312 s. 17; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 113; 1997 a. 27; 2011 a. 208; 2015 a. 170.

78.40 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. Tax 4.53, Wis. adm. code.

78.405 78.405 Annual adjustment of the tax rate.

78.405(1) (1) Before April 1, the department annually shall calculate the rate for the tax under s. 78.40 as follows:

78.405(1)(a) (a) Determine the standard number of British thermal units per gallon generated by gasoline.

78.405(1)(b) (b) Determine the standard number of British thermal units per gallon generated by each kind of alternate fuel that is sold in this state.

78.405(1)(c) (c) For each kind of alternate fuel sold in this state, divide the result under par. (b) by the result under par. (a).

78.405(1)(d) (d) For each kind of alternate fuel sold in this state, multiply the result under par. (c), expressed as a decimal, by the rate for the tax under s. 78.01 as adjusted for the current year under s. 78.015.

78.405(2) (2) The rates determined under sub. (1) are effective on the April 1 after they are calculated.

78.405 History History: 1983 a. 27; 1991 a. 39; 1997 a. 27.

78.407 78.407 Adjustment in 1997. On November 1, 1997, the rate of the tax imposed under s. 78.40 (1) is increased by one cent.

78.407 History History: 1997 a. 27.

78.47 78.47 Alternate fuels license. No person may act as an alternate fuels dealer in this state unless the person holds a valid alternate fuels license issued by the department and a valid certificate under s. 73.03 (50). Except for alternate fuel which is delivered by an alternate fuels dealer into a fuel supply tank of any motor vehicle in this state, no person may use an alternate fuel in this state unless the person holds a valid alternate fuel license issued by the department or unless the alternate fuel has been delivered by a supplier who is authorized under s. 78.40 (1) to report and pay the tax on behalf of the user or retailer.

78.47 History History: 1979 c. 11; 1985 a. 302; 1993 a. 16; 1997 a. 27.

78.47 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. Tax 4.53, Wis. adm. code.

78.48 78.48 Application; form; investigation; bond; issue.

78.48(1) (1) Application. Application for an alternate fuels license shall be made upon a form prepared and furnished by the department. It shall be subscribed by the applicant and shall contain the information that the department reasonably requires for the administration of this subchapter. Only a person who holds a valid certificate under s. 73.03 (50) may apply for a license under this subsection.

78.48(2) (2) Investigation. The department shall investigate each applicant under sub. (1). No license may be issued if the department deems that the applicant does not hold a valid certificate under s. 73.03 (50), the application is not filed in good faith, the applicant is not the real party in interest and the license of the real party in interest has been revoked for cause, or other reasonable cause for nonissuance exists.

78.48(3) (3) Hearing. Before refusing to issue a license, the department shall grant the applicant a hearing, of which the applicant shall be given at least 5 days’ written notice.

78.48(4) (4) Issue. If the application and the bond under sub. (9), if that bond is required, are approved, the department shall issue a license in as many copies as the licensee has places of business for which an alternate fuels license is required.

78.48(6) (6) Transfer forbidden. An alternate fuels license is not transferable to another person or to another place of business.