Wisconsin Legislature: Tax 11.555(3)(b)2.

(2) General. The receipts from the sale of admissions to amusement, entertainment, and recreational events or places are subject to sales tax.

(3) Entrepreneurs, promoters, sponsors, or managers.

(a) Entrepreneurs, promoters, sponsors, or managers of an amusement, entertainment, or recreational event shall be regarded as retailers for the purposes of s. 77.51 (13) (c), Stats., if the entrepreneurs, promoters, sponsors, or managers have control and direction of the event including activities such as controlling the sale of admissions or admission tickets; controlling or regulating the admittance of all persons to the event or place; determining the nature of the amusement, entertainment, or recreation to be offered; deciding the scale of the prices to be charged for admission; receiving the proceeds from ticket sales, including amounts from ticket agents or brokers; and deciding, or having the right to decide, the disposition of the net profits, if any, realized from the event.

(b) As retailers, the entrepreneurs, promoters, sponsors, or managers are persons liable for the sales tax and are required to hold a seller’s permit for each place of operations pursuant to s. 77.52 (7), Stats., and may be required to post security as provided in s. 77.61 (2), Stats. The retailers are required to have a seller’s permit on the first date on which tickets or admission to an event to be conducted in this state are offered for sale.

(4) Exceptions. This section does not apply to:

(a) Traveling attractions which perform in stadiums, theaters, or other places where the permanent management of the stadium, theater, or other location holds a valid seller’s permit, controls the sale of tickets or admissions, and assumes the liability for the payment of the sales tax.

(b) Churches or other nonprofit groups which operate within the occasional sale limitations provided in s. 77.54 (7m), Stats.

(c) Sales of admissions or tickets by any baseball team affiliated with Wisconsin department of American legion baseball.

(d) Sales of admissions by a nonprofit organization to participate in any sports activity in which more than 50 percent of the participants are 19 years old or younger.

Note: Section Tax 11.54 interprets ss. 77.51 (10) and (13) (c), 77.52 (2) (a) 2., (7), and (19), 77.54 (35), and 77.61 (2), Stats.

Note: The interpretations in s. Tax 11.54 are effective under the general sales and use tax law on and after September 1, 1969, except: (a) The exemption for sales by a baseball team of the Wisconsin department of American legion baseball pursuant to 1985 Wis. Act 29, is effective September 1, 1985; and (b) The exemption for certain sales of admissions by a nonprofit organization to participants in sports activities became effective July 1, 2009, pursuant to 2009 Wis. Act 28.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1976, No. 243, eff. 4-1-76; renum. from Tax 11.02; Register, January, 1978, No. 265, eff. 2-1-78; cr. (1) (intro.), (2) and (4) (c), renum. (1) to be (1) (a) and am., renum. (2) and (3) to be (1) (c) and (b) and am., renum. (4), (5) and (6) to be (3) (a), (b) and (4) and am., Register, March, 1991, No. 423, eff. 4-1-91; EmR0924: emerg. am. (title), (1) (a) to (c), (2), (3), (4) (a) and (b), cr. (4) (d, eff. 10-1-09; CR 09-090: am. (title), (1) (a) to (c), (2), (3), (4) (a) and (b), cr. (4) (d) Register May 2010 No. 653, eff. 6-1-10.

Tax 11.55 Repossessions and sales of property to enforce liens.

(3) Enforcement of liens. Pawnbrokers, storage persons, and others selling tangible personal property and items, property, and goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), and (d), Stats., to enforce a lien are retailers with respect to such sales, and tax applies to the receipts from such sales.

(4) Repossessions. Repossessions of tangible personal property and items, property, and goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), and (d), Stats., by a seller from a purchaser when the only consideration is cancellation of the purchaser’s obligation to pay for the property, item, or good is not a taxable transaction. However, sales at retail of repossessed property (e.g., by finance companies, insurance companies, banks and other financial institutions) are taxable sales.

Note: Section Tax 11.55 (1) and (2) were repealed and recreated in s. Tax 11.555.

Note: Section Tax 11.55 interprets s. 77.51 (1fd), (13) and (14g) (f), Stats.

Note: The interpretations in s. Tax 11.55 are effective under the general sales and use tax law on and after September 1, 1969, except that 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.

History: Cr. Register, May, 1978, No. 269, eff. 6-1-78; EmR0924: emerg. am. (title), (1), (2) (a), (3) and (4), eff. 10-1-09; CR 09-090: am. (title), (1), (2) (a), (3) and (4) Register May 2010 No. 653, eff. 6-1-10; CR 22-017: r. and recr. (title), r. (1), (2) Register June 2023 No. 810, eff. 7-1-23.

Tax 11.555 Marketplace providers and sellers.

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Marketplace provider” has the meaning given in s. 77.51 (7i), Stats.

(b) “Marketplace seller” has the meaning given in s. 77.51 (7j), Stats.

(2) General. Except as provided in sub. (4), a marketplace provider is required to collect and remit Wisconsin sales or use tax on all sales of taxable products and services that the marketplace provider facilitates on behalf of a marketplace seller. The amount subject to tax is the entire amount charged to the purchaser, including any amount charged by the marketplace provider for facilitating the sale.

(3) Notification and liability.

(a) A marketplace provider is required to notify the marketplace seller that it is collecting and remitting the tax on all taxable sales in Wisconsin. The department does not prescribe a required form or method for such notification.

(b) Only the marketplace provider can be audited and held liable for Wisconsin sale or use tax on sales facilitated on behalf of a marketplace seller, unless one of the following applies:

1. The marketplace provider has been granted a waiver by the department from collecting and remitting the tax, as provided in sub. (4).

2. The marketplace provider can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the department that the error in collecting and remitting the tax is due to insufficient or incorrect information provided by the marketplace seller. This subdivision does not apply if the marketplace provider and marketplace seller are related entities, as defined in s. 71.01 (9am), Stats.

(c) If a marketplace provider demonstrates that par. (b) 2. applies, the marketplace seller providing the insufficient or incorrect information may be audited and held liable for the tax.

(4) Waivers.

(a) A marketplace provider may apply for a waiver from collecting and remitting Wisconsin sales or use tax if its only activities are facilitating sales of products or services on behalf of marketplace sellers that are operating under a hotel, motel, or restaurant brand name shared with the marketplace provider.

(b) The waiver may be granted if the department is satisfied that the marketplace seller will collect and remit the tax on the entire amount charged to the purchaser.

(c) The department may grant waivers to other types of marketplace providers if there is evidence that the marketplace sellers have a history of reliably collecting and remitting to the department or there is other evidence that the marketplace sellers will reliably collect and remit the tax to the department.

(d) Marketplace providers shall apply to the department using Form S-102, “Application for Marketplace Provider Waiver,” and the application must contain the following:

1. The name and address of all marketplace sellers selling or furnishing tangible personal property or services in Wisconsin that the marketplace provider is requesting the waiver.

2. Each marketplace seller’s Wisconsin sales or use tax permit number and any other information necessary to ensure the entire amount of tax will be collected and remitted by the marketplace seller.

(e) Within 60 days from a written request from the department, a marketplace provider that is granted a waiver must submit updated information provided in par. (d) 1. and 2. for all marketplace sellers selling or furnishing such tangible personal property or services in Wisconsin. The department can require the marketplace provider to provide any other information to ensure the tax is being collected and remitted on the entire amount charged to the purchaser by the marketplace sellers.

(f) If a waiver is granted, the department may require the marketplace provider to notify each marketplace seller that the marketplace seller is liable for the tax on the entire sales price charged to the purchaser for taxable products and services in Wisconsin through that marketplace provider.

(g) The department may regard the marketplace seller as a retailer required to collect and remit the tax for sales facilitated on its behalf by a marketplace provider, when it determines that it is necessary for the efficient administration of Wisconsin sales and use taxes, pursuant to ss. 77.51 (13) (c) and 77.52 (3m) (c), Stats. The department may require the marketplace seller to notify each marketplace provider that the marketplace seller is liable for the tax on the entire sales price charged to the purchaser for taxable products and services in Wisconsin made through that marketplace provider.

(5) Physical marketplace. A marketplace provider includes a person that facilitates a sale on behalf of a seller at a storefront or other physical location. Brokers, dealers, consignors, and other persons that operate a physical location, advertise or list a seller’s product for sale, and process the payment are marketplace providers.

Examples: 1) A convenience store sells admission tickets to a concert for another organization. Customers of the convenience store purchase the tickets at the register in the convenience store. The convenience store forwards all money received from ticket sales to the other organization. The convenience store is a marketplace provider that is required to collect and remit sales tax on the admission tickets.

2) An antique store displays and sells antiques in its store that are owned by the antique store and by others. When making sales of antiques owned by other persons, the antique store collects the money from the purchaser and provides the sale amount, less a commission, to the owner of the antiques. The antique store is a marketplace provider that is required to collect and remit the sales tax on the entire sales price charged to the purchaser from the sale of the antiques.

(6) Reporting and other provisions.

(a) Filing tax returns.

1. A marketplace provider reports its own sales, and the sales it facilitates on behalf of marketplace sellers, on its sales and use tax return.

2. A marketplace seller shall include all of its sales, including sales facilitated on its behalf by a marketplace provider, in total sales on its sales and use tax return. The marketplace seller may claim a deduction on its return for sales amounts that are made through the marketplace provider and for which the marketplace seller received notification under s. 77.523 (2), Stats.

(b) Exemption certificates. A marketplace provider is required to obtain and maintain fully completed exemption certificates from purchasers claiming an exemption from Wisconsin sales or use tax for sales facilitated on behalf of a marketplace seller. The marketplace provider is also required to obtain and maintain exemption certificates for sales made on its own behalf.

1. A marketplace provider is allowed to claim a bad debt deduction on a sales transaction if it collects and remits Wisconsin sales or use tax on behalf of the marketplace seller, and either the marketplace provider or marketplace seller is eligible to claim the deduction under section 166 of the Internal Revenue Code for the worthless amount of the transaction.

2. For an eligible bad debt deduction under subd. 1., a marketplace provider shall claim the bad debt deduction on its Wisconsin sales and use tax return for the period in which the marketplace provider or marketplace seller writes off the amount as uncollectible in its books and records.

3. A marketplace seller may not claim a bad debt deduction on a sales transaction if the marketplace provider claims a bad debt deduction on that same transaction.

(d) Small seller exception. A marketplace provider or marketplace seller with no physical presence or activities in Wisconsin other than making sales into Wisconsin may qualify for the small seller exception under s. 77.51 (13gm), Stats. A retailer that qualifies for the small seller exception may, but is not required to, collect and remit Wisconsin sales and use tax. In determining the annual gross sales amount for purposes of the small seller exception, the following apply:

1. Gross sales includes both taxable and nontaxable sales.

2. A marketplace provider’s gross sales include sales made into Wisconsin on its own behalf and on behalf of other sellers.

3. A marketplace seller’s gross sales includes sales made into Wisconsin on its own behalf and made on its behalf by a marketplace provider.

(e) Nonprofit occasional sales.

1. A marketplace provider is required to collect and remit Wisconsin sales or use tax on taxable sales it facilitates on behalf of a nonprofit organization. Although the nonprofit organization’s own sales may be an exempt occasional sale under s. 77.54 (7m), Stats., the exemption does not apply or extend to sales by a marketplace provider, unless the marketplace provider is a nonprofit organization that qualifies for the occasional sales exemption.

2. A nonprofit organization does not include sales facilitated by a marketplace provider in determining if it is engaged in a trade or business for purposes of the occasional sales exemption.

Note: Section Tax 11.55 interprets ss. 77.51 (7i), (7j), (11d), (13), (13g), (13gm), (14) (n) 7., and (17) (g), 77.52 (3m) and (14) (c), 77.523, 77.54 (7m), and 77.585 (1g) and (11), Stats.

Note: 2019 Wis. Act 10 relating to marketplace providers and sellers became effective January 1, 2020.

History: CR 22-017: cr. Register June 2023 No. 810, eff. 7-1-23; correction in (3) (b) 2. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., and corrections in (4) (g), (6) (d) 2. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2023 No. 810.

Tax 11.56 Printing industry.

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Manufacturer” includes a printer or other person who performs any one or more of the processes in manufacturing printed matter, provided that the printer or other person qualifies as being engaged in manufacturing under s. 77.51 (7h), Stats., whether or not the printed matter is sold.

(b) “Manufacturing printed matter” includes either of the following processes by a manufacturer:

1. Initial typesetting and composition, producing a paste-up, combining photographs with words, making page makeups and taking pictures of them, making proofs and paper for editing, producing negatives which go to the stripping department for assembly of the flat and taking a picture, either positive or negative, of a flat which after it is finally proofed is known as plate-ready film, and producing an image carrier which is installed on a printing press, or using equivalent prepress technology to produce an image carrier, and the bindery/finishing stage.

2. Using computers, scanners, proofers, typesetters, photographic equipment, film processors, and direct-to-plate equipment exclusively in performing any of the processes listed in subd. 1. “Manufacturing printed matter” does not include using the equipment described in this subdivision to design, write, or compose an original document to be printed.

(c) “Typesetting” includes converting images into standardized letter forms of a certain style which usually are hyphenated, justified and indented automatically by means of machinery and equipment. Typesetting machinery and equipment includes fonts, video display terminals, tape and disc making equipment, computers, and typesetters which are interconnected to operate essentially as one machine. A system shall be considered to operate essentially as one machine whether or not the tape or disc is automatically fed to the typesetter.

(2) Printers’ taxable sales. Taxable receipts of printers include receipts from the following, unless otherwise exempt:

(a) Charges for printing, lithography, photolithography, rotogravure, gravure, letter press, silk screen printing, imprinting, multilithing, mimeographing, photostating, steel die engraving, and similar operations for customers, whether or not the paper and other materials are furnished by the customers. A printer’s charge for printing on paper furnished by a customer to produce printed matter not to be sold is subject to the tax.

(b) Charges for services in connection with the sale of printed matter, such as overtime and set-up charges, die cutting, embossing, folding, and binding operations, and charges for painting signs, show cards, and posters, whether the materials are furnished by the printer or by the customer.

(3) Taxable sales by others.

(a) Sales of tangible personal property and items, property, and goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), and (d), Stats., by persons who are not printers, including so-called “trade shops” such as typesetters, image reproduction manufacturers, color separators and binders, or finishers are taxable unless the sales qualify for a statutory exemption, including the following:

1. Section 77.54 (2), Stats., which exempts from tax the sales price of tangible personal property or items under s. 77.52 (1) (b), Stats., that are used exclusively and directly by a manufacturer in manufacturing an article of tangible personal property or item or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c), Stats., that is destined for sale and that becomes an ingredient or component part of the article of tangible personal property or item or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c), Stats., destined for sale or is consumed or destroyed or loses its identity in manufacturing the article of tangible personal property or item or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c), Stats., destined for sale, except as provided in s. 77.54 (30) (a) 6., Stats.

2. Section 77.54 (2m), Stats., which exempts from tax the sales price of tangible personal property or services that are used exclusively and directly by a manufacturer in manufacturing shoppers guides, newspapers, or periodicals and that become an ingredient or component of shoppers guides, newspapers, or periodicals or that are consumed or lose their identity in the manufacture of shoppers guides, newspapers, or periodicals, whether or not the shoppers guides, newspapers, or periodicals are transferred without charge to the recipient. The exemption does not apply to advertising supplements that are not newspapers.

(b) Tangible personal property and items under s. 77.52 (1) (b), Stats., include typed matter, whether or not combined with artwork, such as typeset output, a paste-up, mechanical, assembly, camera-ready copy, flat, or a photoreproduction, including film plates.

(4) Nontaxable sales.

(a) Tax does not apply to charges, if stated separately on invoices and in the accounting records, for mailing services such as:

1. Addressing printed matter by hand or mechanically for the purpose of mailing.

2. Enclosing, sealing, and preparing for mailing.

3. Mailing letters or other printed matter.

(b) Tax also does not apply to a printer’s sales of:

1. Catalogs, as defined in s. Tax 11.19 (5m) (b), and the envelopes in which the catalogs are mailed.

2. Printed advertising materials for out-of-state use, as provided in s. Tax 11.19 (4) (a).

3. Advertising and promotional direct mail, as defined in s. Tax 11.19 (5s) (b).

(5) Exempt printing machinery and equipment. Section 77.54 (6) (am) 1., Stats., provides that machines and specific processing equipment and repair parts or replacements thereof, exclusively and directly used by a manufacturer in manufacturing tangible personal property or items or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c), Stats., and safety attachments for those machines and equipment are exempt from the sales or use tax. This includes machinery and equipment and repair parts or replacements of the machinery and equipment used exclusively and directly by a manufacturer in the printing process to manufacture tangible personal property or items or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c), Stats.