LRB-1297/1
JK:cjs
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
February 28, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Loudenbeck, Steffen,
Ballweg, Brooks, Doyle, Edming, Felzkowski, Fields, Gundrum,
Horlacher, Katsma, Knodl, Kuglitsch, Kulp, Macco, Murphy, Ramthun,
Rodriguez, Spiros, Thiesfeldt, Tittl and Tusler, cosponsored by Senators
Kooyenga, Cowles, Jacque, Marklein, Stroebel, Wanggaard and Nass.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
AB46,1,2
1An Act to create 77.61 (5) (b) 14. of the statutes;
relating to: the disclosure of
2a retailer's sales tax liability to a successor.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law generally prohibits the Department of Revenue from divulging
information about a retailer that is included in the sales tax returns filed by the
retailer. DOR is also prohibited from disclosing information about a retailer included
in an audit or investigation of its sales tax liability. However, DOR may allow certain
persons to examine the returns, and related schedules, exhibits, and audit reports,
for purposes of administration and enforcement. Such persons include the secretary
of revenue and DOR officers, agents, and employees; the attorney general and
department of justice employees; public officers of the federal government or other
state governments, to the extent that those governments afford similar rights of
examination to Wisconsin state officials; and any person against whom DOR asserts
a sales tax liability, including a successor, guarantor or surety.
Under this bill, if a person provides evidence to DOR that the person intends
to purchase or has purchased a retailer's business or inventory or that the retailer
is quitting the business and the person will be the retailer's successor or assignee,
that person may examine the retailer's sales tax returns, and related schedules,
exhibits, and audit reports, for the purpose of determining whether the retailer is
liable for any amount of sales tax and obtaining the amount of its outstanding
liability. Current law requires the purchaser of a retailer's business or inventory to
withhold the amount of the purchase price sufficient to pay the retailer's outstanding
sales tax liability. If the purchaser does not withhold the required amount, the
purchaser becomes personally liable for payment of that amount to DOR.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB46,1
1Section
1. 77.61 (5) (b) 14. of the statutes is created to read:
AB46,2,82
77.61
(5) (b) 14. For purposes of determining whether a retailer is liable for any
3amount of tax under this subchapter and obtaining the outstanding liability of the
4retailer in order to comply with s. 77.52 (18), any person, or authorized agent of any
5person, who provides satisfactory evidence to the department, as determined by the
6department, that the person intends to purchase or has purchased the retailer's
7business or stock of goods, or that the retailer will quit the business and the person
8will be the successor or assignee of the retailer.
