Tax 11.85(1)(d)(d) Charges for docking and storing boats. The tax applies to boat storage in public storage warehouses. Tax 11.85(2)(a)(a) The sale of a boat not required to be registered in Wisconsin with the Wisconsin department of natural resources or documented under the laws of the United States may qualify as an exempt occasional sale if the transferor does not hold and is not required to hold a seller’s permit. Tax 11.85(2)(b)(b) Sales of boats to the spouse, parent, stepparent, father-in-law, mother-in-law, child, stepchild, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law of the transferor are exempt if the boat was previously registered or titled with the Wisconsin department of natural resources, if required to be registered or titled, or documented under the laws of the United States in the transferor’s name and if the transferor is not engaged in the business of selling boats. Tax 11.85(2)(c)(c) Vessels and barges primarily engaged in interstate or foreign commerce or commercial fishing that are documented under the laws of the United States showing a net volumetric tonnage of 50 tons or more are exempt from the tax. Accessories, attachments, and parts attached to the vessel or barge and fuel for the vessels and barges are also exempt. Tax 11.85(2)(d)(d) A boat purchased outside Wisconsin by a nonresident and used by the nonresident while temporarily in Wisconsin shall be exempt from the tax if the boat is not used in Wisconsin in the conduct of a trade, occupation, business, or profession or in the performance of personal services for wages or fees. The use tax does not apply to a boat for an individual’s personal use purchased by a nonresident outside this state 90 days or more before bringing the boat into Wisconsin in connection with a change of domicile to this state. Tax 11.85(2)(e)(e) A boat purchased by a Wisconsin or federal governmental unit or by certain nonprofit organizations is exempt from the tax, regardless of the boat’s size or kind, pursuant to s. 77.54 (9a) or 77.55 (1), Stats. Tax 11.85(2)(f)(f) Section 77.53 (17m), Stats., exempts a boat purchased in a state contiguous to this state, as determined under s. 77.522, Stats., by a person domiciled in that state if the boat is berthed in this state’s boundary waters adjacent to the state of the domicile of the purchaser and if the transaction was an exempt occasional sale under the laws of the state in which the purchase was made. Tax 11.85(2)(g)(g) Section 77.54 (30) (a) 7., Stats., exempts fuel sold for use in motorboats that are regularly employed in carrying persons for hire for sport fishing in and upon the outlying waters, as defined in s. 29.001 (63), Stats., and the rivers and tributaries specified in s. 29.2285 (2) (a) 1. and 2., Stats., if the owner and all operators are licensed under s. 29.514, Stats., to operate the boat for that purpose. Tax 11.85(3)(a)(a) No boat may be registered in Wisconsin unless the registrant presents proof that the sales or use tax has been paid or that the transaction was exempt. If the registrant does not present proof that the tax has been paid, the registrant shall pay the tax at the time the boat is registered or titled in Wisconsin, even though the boat may also be used out-of-state. Tax 11.85(3)(b)(b) A boat purchased outside Wisconsin which is required to be registered under Wisconsin law is subject to the Wisconsin use tax, regardless of the state of domicile of the person bringing the boat into Wisconsin or the use of the boat in Wisconsin, unless exempt under sub. (2) (d). Tax 11.85(3)(c)(c) A credit is permitted against the Wisconsin use tax for the sales or use tax imposed by and paid to the state in which the boat was purchased. Tax 11.85(3)(d)(d) The “boat” subject to the use tax at the time the boat is registered in this state includes all accessories affixed or attached to the boat when in use. Anchors, boat cushions, marine radios, radar equipment, and other similar accessories are included in the measure of the tax. Tax 11.85 NoteNote: In a decision dated July 25, 1983, in the case of Alan G. Dwyer vs. Wisconsin Department of Revenue, the Wisconsin Tax Appeals Commission held that the tax applies to boat accessories, including the anchor, boat cushions, and marine radio, in addition to the bare hull of the boat.
Tax 11.85(4)(4) Taxable supplies. Sales of consumable supplies or furnishings not attached to the vessel or barge are not exempt from sales or use tax under s. 77.54 (13), Stats. Tax 11.85 NoteNote: Sales of bedding, linen, table and kitchenware, tables, chairs, lubricants, work clothes, acetylene gas, paper towels, etc., used on commercial vessels or barges of 50 ton burden or over engaged primarily in interstate or foreign commerce or commercial fishing are subject to sales and use tax.
Tax 11.85(5)(5) Sales to ships. Sales of tangible personal property, items, property, and goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), and (d), Stats., and taxable services delivered to operators of foreign flag ships or ships under the U.S. flag in a Wisconsin harbor are subject to tax, unless the retailer receives a properly completed exemption certificate from the purchaser. Tax 11.85 NoteExample: The operator of the ship may purchase without tax fuel and repair parts for a ship which exceeds 50-ton burden under s. 77.54 (13), Stats. Tax 11.85 NoteNote: The interpretations in s. Tax 11.85 are effective under the general sales and use tax law on and after September 1, 1969, except: (a) Boats documented under laws of the United States do not qualify for the occasional sale exemption effective February 28, 1979, pursuant to Chapter 1, Laws of 1979; (b) Charges by governmental units for docking and storing boats became taxable effective June 1, 1980, pursuant to Chapter 221, Laws of 1979; (c) The exemption for boats of nonresidents kept in waters contiguous to the nonresident’s state of domicile became effective September 1, 1985, pursuant to 1985 Wis. Act 29, later amended effective June 1, 1988, pursuant to 1987 Wis. Act 268; (d) The exemption for boats brought into Wisconsin by new residents became effective August 1, 1987, pursuant to 1987 Wis. Act 27; (e) The exemption for transfers to in-laws became effective August 15, 1991, pursuant to 1991 Wis. Act 39; (f) The exemption for fuel used in motorboats by persons regularly employed in carrying persons for hire for sport fishing became effective July 1, 2009, pursuant to 2009 Wis. Act 28; and (g) The requirement to collect the tax on sales of boats by persons who are not dealers but who hold a Wisconsin seller’s permit became effective October 1, 2009, pursuant to 2009 Wis. Act 2; and (h) The change of the term “gross receipts” to “sales price” and the separate impositions of tax on coins and stamps sold above face value under s. 77.52 (1) (b), Stats., certain leased property affixed to real property under s. 77.52 (1) (c), Stats., and digital goods under s. 77.52 (1) (d), Stats., became effective October 1, 2009, pursuant to 2009 Wis. Act 2. Tax 11.85 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, December, 1978, No. 276, eff. 1-1-79; am. (1) (d), (2) (a) and (b), Register, January, 1983, No. 325, eff. 2-1-83; am. (2) (a), Register, September, 1984, No. 345, eff. 10-1-84; cr. (2) (f), Register, July, 1987, No. 379, eff. 8-1-87; am. (2) (b) to (e), cr. (3) (d) and (4), Register, April, 1990, No. 412, eff. 5-1-90; am. (2) (a), (c) and (f) and (3) (b), cr. (4), renum. (4) to be (5), r. (1) (e), Register, June, 1991, No. 426, eff. 7-1-91; am. (2) (b) and (3) (a), Register, April, 1993, No. 448, eff. 5-1-93; EmR0924: emerg. am. (title), (1) (intro.), (a), (c), (2) (a) to (d), (f), (3) (a), (d) and (5), cr. (2) (g), eff. 10-1-09; CR 09-090: am. (title), (1) (intro.), (a), (c), (2) (a) to (d), (f), (3) (a), (d) and (5), cr. (2) (g) Register May 2010 No. 653, eff. 6-1-10; CR 12-014: am. (2) (b), cr. (2) (bm) Register August 2012 No. 680, eff. 9-1-12. Tax 11.86Tax 11.86 Utility transmission and distribution lines. Tax 11.86(1)(a)(a) “Utility facilities” include telephone, telegraph, and television lines; electrical, water, and gas transmission and distribution lines; and poles, transformers, and towers, including pipes, conduits, sleeves, risers for cable television lines, or other property by which lines are supported or in which they are contained or connected. Tax 11.86(1)(b)(b) “Real property” includes underground utility facilities; lines, poles, foundations, towers, gravel, and any buildings of a substation located on a utility’s own land; and concrete foundations, anchors, crushed rock, and backfill whether or not on land owned by the utility. Tax 11.86(1)(c)(c) “Tangible personal property” includes overhead utility facilities and circuit breakers and other equipment, but not their foundations, installed to control the flow of electricity. It also includes other overhead property by which lines are supported or in which they are contained or connected if erected or installed under an easement or license, including authorizations under ss. 86.16 and 182.017, Stats., on land owned by a person other than the utility. Tax 11.86(2)(a)(a) The sales price from the installation, license, lease, rental, repair, service, alteration, fitting, cleaning, painting, coating, towing, inspection, or maintenance of tangible personal property or items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., is subject to sales tax. Tax 11.86(2)(b)(b) Materials used in construction or forming of real property are taxable when purchased by the contractor. Tax 11.86 NoteExamples: 1) The charges by a contractor for the construction and installation of an overhead utility facility, or a portion of an overhead utility facility, and from a sale “in place” of the facility, if installed under an easement on land owned by a person other than the utility, are taxable. Materials used in the construction or installation of the property may be purchased without tax for resale.
Tax 11.86 Note2) The charges by a utility for the repair, service, alteration, fitting, cleaning, painting, coating, towing, inspection, or maintenance of an overhead utility facility, or a portion of an overhead facility of another utility are taxable. Materials used in the repair, service, alteration, fitting, cleaning, painting, coating, towing, inspection, maintenance, or installation may be purchased without tax for resale.
Tax 11.86 Note3) Charges for the installation, sale, license, lease, rental, repair, service, alteration, fitting, cleaning, painting, coating, towing, inspection, or maintenance and removal of underground utility facilities are not subject to sales or use tax. However, the materials used in the construction or installation of the underground utility facilities cannot be purchased for resale and are subject to tax at the time of purchase unless otherwise exempt.
Tax 11.86 Note4) X-ray testing of weld joints in the pipe as part of the construction of an underground utility pipeline is part of the construction process and the charges are not subject to sales or use tax. However, materials used in the X-ray testing of the underground utility pipeline cannot be purchased for resale and are subject to tax at the time of purchase unless otherwise exempt.
Tax 11.86(3)(3) Related expenses. The taxable receipts from the performance of a lump sum contract for the construction of an overhead utility facility, which is tangible personal property, may not be reduced by expenses in performing the contract, such as payments for crop damage, site preparation, restoration work, tree trimming, line clearing, relocating existing lines, engineering and design work, surveying, purchasing a right-of-way, and unloading and hauling materials. Tax 11.86 NoteNote: The related expenses described in sub. (3) are costs of performing the contract and do not affect the amount of taxable receipts.
Tax 11.86(4)(a)(a) The taxable receipts from a contract to construct or repair an overhead utility facility which is tangible personal property may not be reduced by the amount of hourly charges for the use of equipment. Tax 11.86(4)(b)(b) The charges for the rental of equipment used in the construction or repair of a utility line to a utility are taxable. Tax 11.86(5)(a)(a) The sales price received from tree and shrub trimming services for a utility for the purpose of keeping the overhead transmission and distribution lines free from interference from nearby trees and shrubs or inaccessible to children is not taxable under s. 77.52 (2) (a) 20., Stats. Tax 11.86(5)(b)(b) The sales price received under a separate contract for tree trimming and line clearing in connection with the construction of a new utility line is not taxable. Tax 11.86(5)(c)(c) The sales price received from a separate charge for removing an existing utility line is not taxable. Tax 11.86(5)(d)1.1. The sales price received for a service provided by an electric cooperative to another electric cooperative, or by a telecommunications utility to another telecommunications utility, for disaster relief work performed during a disaster period. Tax 11.86(5)(d)3.3. The exemption in this paragraph does not apply to materials and supplies used in performing exempt disaster relief services. Tax 11.86(6)(6) Landscaping services. The sales price received from landscaping and lawn maintenance services is taxable. Except as provided in sub. (5) (a) and (b), landscaping and lawn maintenance services include: Tax 11.86(6)(b)(b) Lawn and garden services, such as planting, mowing, spraying, and fertilizing. Tax 11.86(6)(d)(d) Spreading topsoil and installing sod or planting seed where trenches have been dug or sump pump, transmission, and distribution lines have been buried in residential, business, commercial, and industrial locations, cemeteries, golf courses, athletic fields, stadiums, parking lots, and other areas, and along highways, streets, and walkways. Tax 11.86 NoteNote: The interpretations in s. Tax 11.86 are effective on and after September 1, 1969, except: (a) Underground utility facilities were determined not to be tangible personal property, effective September 1, 1970; (b) Landscaping services described in sub. (6) became taxable effective May 1, 1982, pursuant to Chapter 317, Laws of 1981; (c) The Wisconsin Tax Appeals Commission decision in Capital City Tree Experts, Inc., dated June 19, 1987, later modified by stipulation and order of the Circuit Court of Dane County dated September 21, 1987, held that the service of trimming trees on a utility right-of-way to prevent interference and to make inaccessible to children is not a taxable landscaping service; d) The change of the term “gross receipts” to “sales price” and the separate impositions of tax on coins and stamps sold above face value under s. 77.52 (1) (b), Stats., certain leased property affixed to real property under s. 77.52 (1) (c), Stats., and digital goods under s. 77.52 (1) (d), Stats., became effective October 1, 2009, pursuant to 2009 Wis. Act 2; and (e) The exemption for services performed during a disaster period became effective January 1, 2017, pursuant to 2017 Wis. Act 290. Tax 11.86 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, November, 1978, No. 275, eff. 12-1-78; am. (4) (a) and cr. (5), Register, September, 1984, No. 345, eff. 10-1-84; r. and recr., Register, June, 1991, No. 426, eff. 7-1-91; emerg. r. and recr. (6), eff. 5-18-97; r. and recr. (6), Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97; correction in (6) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., Stats., Register, May, 1999, No. 521; EmR0924: emerg. am. (1) (a), (b), (2) (a), (3), (4), (5), (6) (intro.), (b) and (d), eff. 10-1-09; CR 09-090: am. (1) (a), (b), (2) (a), (3), (4), (5), (6) (intro.), (b) and (d) Register May 2010 No. 653, eff. 6-1-10; CR 20-018: cr. (5) (d) Register July 2021 No. 787, eff. 8-1-21. Tax 11.87Tax 11.87 Prepared food, food and food ingredients, and soft drinks. Tax 11.87(1)(b)(b) “Exempt food” means food and food ingredients that are exempt from the sales and use tax as provided in s. 77.54 (20n), Stats. Tax 11.87(1)(e)(e) “Personal care” means assistance with the activities of daily living, including eating, dressing, bathing, and ambulation. Tax 11.87(1)(f)(f) “Retirement home” means a nonprofit residential facility, which as its primary function provides personal care above the level of room and board to retired persons, where 3 or more unrelated adults or their spouses have their principal residence and where support services, including meals from a common kitchen, are available to residents. Tax 11.87(1)(g)(g) “Sanatorium” means an institution for the recuperation and treatment of the victims of physical or mental disorders. Tax 11.87(1)(h)(h) “Taxable food” means food and food ingredients, including candy, dietary supplements, prepared food, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages subject to the sales and use tax. Tax 11.87 NoteNote: See s. Tax 11.51 to determine which items are exempt food and which items are taxable food. Tax 11.87(2)(a)(a) General. Generally, the sales price from sales of food or beverages shall be taxable when sold by restaurants, cafeterias, lunch counters, coffee shops, snack bars, eating houses, hotels, motels, lodging houses, sororities, fraternities, drug stores, diners, taverns, drive-ins, mobile sales units, clubs, young men’s christian associations, young women’s christian associations, and similar businesses, organizations, or establishments. Tax 11.87(2)(b)(b) Sales by generally exempt seller. Certain foods that have been prepared by a seller by cooking, baking, or other methods shall be taxable as “prepared food” even though the seller is principally engaged in the sale of exempt food. Heated food or beverages mean those products, items, or components which have been prepared for sale in a heated condition and which are sold at any temperature which is higher than the air temperature of the room or place where they are sold. Tax 11.87 NoteExample: When a supermarket roasts chickens on a rotisserie and sells them in a heated condition, the roasted chickens are taxable because they are prepared food.
Tax 11.87 NoteExamples: 1) Retailer A sells heated food and heated beverages. Heated foods and heated beverages are prepared food and Retailer A’s sales of the heated foods and heated beverages are subject to tax.
Tax 11.87 Note2) Restaurant B sells prepared foods and also other foods and food ingredients, including cartons of milk, cookies, and candy. Restaurant B’s sales of prepared foods, based on Restaurant B’s prior tax year, are more than 75% of its total sales of food and food ingredients. Restaurant B makes napkins and straws available to the purchaser. Restaurant B’s sales of the food and beverages, including the cartons of milk are subject to tax since (a) Restaurant B’s sales of prepared foods are more than 75% of Restaurant B’s total sales of food and food ingredients, based on Restaurant B’s prior tax year; and (b) napkins and straws are available to the purchaser.
Tax 11.87 Note3) Same as Example 2, except that the seller is a convenience store instead of a restaurant. The answer is the same as in Example 2.
Tax 11.87 Note4) Convenience Store C sells prepared foods and other foods and food ingredients, including cartons of milk, cookies, soft drinks, and candy. Convenience Store C’s sales of prepared foods, based on its prior tax year, are less than 75% of its total sales of food and food ingredients. Convenience Store C makes napkins and straws available to the purchaser, but does not physically hand or give the straws or napkins to the purchaser. Convenience Store C’s sales of heated food, heated beverages, soft drinks, and candy are subject to tax, but Convenience Store C’s sales of milk and cookies are not subject to tax since (a) Convenience Store C’s sales of prepared foods are less than 75% of Convenience Store C’s total sales of food and food ingredients, based on its prior tax year; and (b) Convenience Store C makes the napkins and straws available to the purchaser, rather than physically giving or handing the napkins or straws to the purchaser.
Tax 11.87 Note5) Same as Example 4, except that Convenience Store C’s customary practice is to physically give or hand the napkins and straws to the purchaser. Convenience Store C’s sales of heated food, heated beverages, soft drinks, candy, cookies, and cartons of milk are subject to tax since Convenience Store C’s customary practice is to physically give or hand the napkins and straws to the purchaser. The tax applies to these sales even though Convenience Store C’s sales of prepared foods are less than 75% of its total sales of food and food ingredients.
Tax 11.87 Note6) Grocery Store A has a self-service salad bar. Grocery Store A’s sales of prepared foods, based on its prior tax year, are less than 75% of its total sales of food and food ingredients. The plates necessary to receive the food items at the salad bar, along with the forks, knives, and napkins are made available to the purchaser. Grocery Store A’s sales of the self-service salad bar items are subject to tax since the plates necessary to receive the food items at the salad bar are made available to the purchaser.
Tax 11.87(2)(d)(d) Caterers. Food and food ingredients, sold by caterers are generally taxable as prepared foods. For purposes of this paragraph: Tax 11.87(2)(d)1.1. “Caterer” means a person engaged in the business of preparing meals, food, and drinks, and serving these items on premises designated by a purchaser. When an agreement with a caterer provides that the caterer shall prepare and serve “prepared foods” either for a stated price per meal, for a lump sum, or for a price per plate, the consideration paid shall constitute taxable receipts. Tax 11.87(2)(d)2.2. Charges made by a caterer for preparing and serving prepared foods to social clubs, service clubs, fraternal organizations, or other nonexempt purchasers shall constitute exempt sales for resale only if the purchasers are regularly engaged as retailers of prepared foods, hold a seller’s permit and give a properly completed exemption certificate to the caterer. Tax 11.87(2)(d)3.3. The tax shall apply to items purchased by caterers, including dishes, silverware, linen napkins, tablecloths, punch fountains, coffee silver service, and glassware, which are used by caterers to serve food or beverages to their customers, or used in conjunction with providing catering service, unless customers are charged a separate and optional amount for their use. In addition, items such as tents, public address systems, portable dance floors, portable bars, chairs, and tables may be purchased without tax for resale, if used exclusively for rental purposes by a caterer and if customers are charged a separate and optional amount for their use. Disposable items transferred to customers for a valuable consideration, including paper and plastic cups and plates, plastic eating utensils, napkins, straws, placemats, and toothpicks also may be purchased without tax for resale.
