Chapter 238

238.30 History History: 1987 a. 328, 411; 1991 a. 39; 1995 a. 27, 209; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 259; 2009 a. 2, 28; 2011 a. 32 ss. 3408 to 3409; Stats. 2011 s. 238.30; 2011 a. 37 s. 1; 2013 a. 20; 2013 a. 166 s. 58; 2013 a. 168; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 365; 2021 a. 238 s. 45; 2023 a. 143.

238.301 238.301 Certification for tax benefits.

238.301(1) (1) Application. Any person may apply to the corporation on a form prepared by the corporation for certification under this section. The application shall include all of the following:

238.301(1)(a) (a) The name and address of the person.

238.301(1)(b) (b) The federal tax identification number of the person.

238.301(1)(c) (c) The names and addresses of the locations where the person conducts business and a description of the business activities conducted at those locations.

238.301(1)(d) (d) A description of each eligible activity conducted or proposed to be conducted by the person.

238.301(1)(e) (e) Other information required by the corporation or the department of revenue.

238.301(2) (2) 

238.301(2)(a) (a) The corporation may certify a person who submits an application under sub. (1) if, after conducting an investigation, the corporation determines that the person is conducting or intends to conduct at least one eligible activity.

238.301(2)(b) (b) The corporation shall provide a person certified under this section with a copy of the certification.

238.301(3) (3) Contract. A person certified under this section shall enter into a written contract with the corporation. The contract shall include provisions that detail all of the following:

238.301(3)(a) (a) A description of each eligible activity being conducted or proposed to be conducted by the person.

238.301(3)(b) (b) Whether any of the eligible activities will occur in an economically distressed area, as designated by the corporation under s. 238.304 (1).

238.301(3)(c) (c) Whether any of the eligible activities will benefit members of a targeted group, as determined by the corporation under s. 238.304 (2).

238.301(3)(d) (d) A compliance schedule that includes a sequence of anticipated actions to be taken or goals to be achieved by the person before the person may receive tax benefits under s. 238.303.

238.301(3)(e) (e) The reporting requirements with which the person must comply.

238.301(3)(f) (f) If feasible, a determination of the tax benefits the person will be authorized to claim under s. 238.303 (2) if the person fulfills the terms of the contract.

238.301 History History: 2009 a. 2; 2011 a. 32 s. 3410; Stats. 2011 s. 238.301; 2015 a. 55.

238.302 238.302 Eligible activities. A person who conducts or proposes to conduct any of the following may be certified under s. 238.301 (2):

238.302(1) (1) Job creation project. A project that creates and maintains for a period of time established by the corporation by rule full-time jobs in addition to any existing full-time jobs provided by the person.

238.302(2) (2) Capital investment project. A project that involves a significant investment of capital, as defined by the corporation by rule under s. 238.306 (2) (b), by the person in new equipment, machinery, real property, or depreciable personal property.

238.302(3) (3) Employee training project. A project that involves significant investments in the training or reeducation of employees, as defined by the corporation by rule under s. 238.306 (2) (c), by the person for the purpose of improving the productivity or competitiveness of the business of the person.

238.302(4) (4) Project related to persons with corporate headquarters in Wisconsin. A project that will result in the location or retention of a person’s corporate headquarters in Wisconsin or that will result in the retention of employees holding full-time jobs in Wisconsin if the person’s corporate headquarters are located in Wisconsin.

238.302 History History: 2009 a. 2; 2011 a. 32 s. 3411; Stats. 2011 s. 238.302.

238.303 238.303 Limits on tax benefits and claiming tax benefits.

238.303(1) (1) Limits.

238.303(1)(a) (a) Except as provided in pars. (am) and (b), the total tax benefits available to be allocated by the corporation under ss. 238.301 to 238.306 may not exceed the sum of the tax benefits remaining to be allocated under s. 560.71 to 560.785, 2009 stats., s. 560.797, 2009 stats., s. 560.798, 2009 stats., s. 560.7995, 2009 stats., and s. 560.96, 2009 stats., on March 6, 2009, plus $100,000,000.

238.303(1)(am) (am) The corporation may initially allocate only $61,000,000 of the additional $100,000,000 in tax benefits specified in par. (a). Before the corporation allocates the remaining $39,000,000 in tax benefits specified in par. (a), the corporation shall submit its plan for such allocation, including a report that describes the intended use of the tax benefits, to the joint committee on finance. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the corporation within 14 working days after the date of the corporation’s submittal that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the plan, the plan may be implemented and the remaining amount may be allocated as proposed by the corporation. If, within 14 working days after the date of the corporation’s submittal, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the corporation that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed plan, the plan may be implemented and the remaining amount allocated only upon approval of the committee.

238.303(1)(b) (b) The corporation may submit to the joint committee on finance a request in writing to exceed the total tax benefits specified in par. (a). The corporation shall submit with its request a justification for seeking an increase under this paragraph. The joint committee on finance, following its review, may approve or disapprove an increase in the total tax benefits available to be allocated under ss. 238.301 to 238.306.

238.303(2) (2) Authority to claim tax benefits. The corporation may authorize a person certified under s. 238.301 (2) to claim tax benefits only after the person has submitted a report to the corporation that documents to the satisfaction of the corporation that the person has complied with the terms of the contract under s. 238.301 (3) and the requirements of any applicable rules adopted under s. 238.306 (2).

238.303(3) (3) Notice of eligibility. The corporation shall provide to the person a notice of eligibility to receive tax benefits that reports the amount of tax benefits for which the person is eligible.

238.303(4) (4) Sunset. No tax benefits may be awarded under ss. 238.301 to 238.306 after December 31, 2015, unless the tax benefits were allocated to a taxpayer by the corporation in a contract that the corporation executed before that date or in a letter of intent to enter into such a contract that the corporation issued before that date.

238.303 History History: 2009 a. 2, 265; 2011 a. 4; 2011 a. 32 ss. 3412 to 3415; Stats. 2011 s. 238.303; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55; 2015 a. 195 s. 82.

238.304 238.304 Eligible activities in economically distressed areas and benefiting members of targeted groups. The corporation may authorize a person certified under s. 238.301 (2) to claim additional tax benefits under s. 238.303 if, after conducting an investigation, the corporation determines any of the following:

238.304(1) (1) The person conducts at least one eligible activity in an area designated by the corporation as economically distressed. In designating an area as economically distressed under this subsection, the corporation shall follow the methodology established by rule under s. 238.306 (2) (e).

238.304(2) (2) The person conducts at least one eligible activity that benefits, creates, retains, or significantly upgrades full-time jobs for, that trains, or that reeducates, members of a targeted group.

238.304 History History: 2009 a. 2; 2011 a. 32 s. 3416; Stats. 2011 s. 238.304.

238.3045 238.3045 Transferability of tax benefits.

238.3045(1) (1) Application and corporation approval.

238.3045(1)(a) (a) An applicant for certification for tax benefits under s. 238.301 may submit with its application under s. 238.301 (1) an application to the corporation on a form prescribed by the corporation to transfer those tax benefits to another person under this section. The application shall include the name, address, and tax identification number of the person to whom the applicant intends to transfer the tax benefits and any other information the corporation requires. The corporation shall notify the applicant of the corporation’s determination concerning the transfer of tax benefits when the corporation notifies the applicant of the corporation’s certification determination under s. 238.301.

238.3045(1)(b) (b) The corporation may approve the transfer of tax benefits under this section if the corporation certifies the applicant under par. (a) for tax benefits under s. 238.301 and finds that the applicant meets at least one of the following conditions:

238.3045(1)(b)1. 1. Is headquartered and employs at least 51 percent of its employees in this state.

238.3045(1)(b)2. 2. Intends to relocate its headquarters to this state and employ at least 51 percent of its employees in this state.

238.3045(1)(b)3. 3. Intends to expand its operations in this state, and that expansion will result in an increase in the number of full-time employees employed by the applicant in this state in an amount equal to at least 10 percent of the applicant’s full-time workforce in this state at the time of application.

238.3045(1)(b)4. 4. Intends to expand its operations in this state, and that expansion will result in the applicant making a significant capital investment in property located in this state, as determined by the corporation.

238.3045(1)(c) (c)

238.3045(1)(c)1. 1. Subject to subd. 2., a person that receives an approval under par. (b) shall transfer tax benefits in accordance with the terms of the application under par. (a) after the corporation authorizes the person to claim tax benefits under s. 238.303 (2) and provides the notice of eligibility under s. 238.303 (3). The notice of eligibility shall contain all relevant information concerning a transfer of tax benefits under this section. The person to whom tax benefits are transferred may carry forward, beginning on the date of the notice of eligibility, any unused amount of the value of those tax benefits as provided under the appropriate provision in ch. 71 or in s. 76.636.

238.3045(1)(c)2. 2. Tax benefits may be transferred under this paragraph only in exchange for some consideration, other than money, in connection with the eligible activity for which the tax benefits were initially awarded.

238.3045(2) (2) Revocation.

238.3045(2)(a) (a) If the corporation revokes a person’s certification for tax benefits under s. 238.305, and, at the time of revocation, that person has transferred those tax benefits under this section, that person shall be liable for the full value of the tax benefits, and the person to whom the tax benefits were transferred may not claim any tax benefits that were not claimed prior to revocation.

238.3045(2)(c) (c) The department of revenue has full power to administer tax benefits transferred under this section and may take any action, conduct any proceeding, and proceed as it is authorized in respect to income and franchise taxes imposed under ch. 71. The income and franchise tax provisions in ch. 71 relating to assessments, refunds, appeals, collection, interest, and penalties apply to tax benefits transferred under this section.

238.3045(3) (3) Annual report. Annually, the corporation shall submit a report to the joint committee on finance that provides a detailed assessment of the progress to date of the program under this section.

238.3045(4) (4) Program limits and termination.

238.3045(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the corporation may not authorize the transfer of tax benefits under this section that total more than $15,000,000, and the corporation may not authorize the transfer of tax benefits after 36 months after April 4, 2014.

238.3045(4)(b) (b) Upon expiration of the 36-month period under par. (a), the corporation may continue to authorize the transfer of tax benefits under this section for up to an additional 36 months, and the corporation may authorize the transfer of up to an additional $15,000,000 in tax benefits, if the corporation determines that a continuation of the program under this section will promote significant economic development in this state. Before the corporation authorizes the transfer of tax benefits under this paragraph, the chief executive officer of the corporation shall notify the joint committee on finance in writing that the corporation intends to continue authorizing the transfer of tax benefits under this section. That notice shall state the reasons supporting the corporation’s determination that the transfer of additional tax benefits will promote significant economic development in this state. If, within 14 working days after the date of that notice, the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the corporation that the committee has scheduled a meeting to review the corporation’s proposed continuation of the program, the corporation may proceed to authorize the transfer of additional tax benefits under this section. If, within 14 working days after the date of that notice, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the corporation that the committee has scheduled a meeting to review the proposed continuation of the program, the corporation may proceed to authorize the transfer of additional tax benefits only upon approval of the committee.

238.3045 History History: 2013 a. 184; 2015 a. 55.

238.305 238.305 Revocation of certification. The corporation shall revoke the certification of a person who does any of the following:

238.305(1) (1) Supplies false or misleading information to obtain certification under s. 238.301 (2).

238.305(2) (2) Supplies false or misleading information to obtain tax benefits under s. 238.303.

238.305(3) (3) Leaves the state to conduct substantially the same business outside of the state.

238.305(4) (4) Ceases operations in the state and does not renew operation of the business or a similar business within 12 months.

238.305 History History: 2009 a. 2; 2011 a. 32 s. 3417; Stats. 2011 s. 238.305.

238.306 238.306 Responsibilities of the corporation. The corporation shall do all of the following:

238.306(1) (1) Accountability.

238.306(1)(a) (a) Verify, under s. 238.03 (2) (e), the information submitted to the corporation by the person for the purpose of claiming tax benefits.

238.306(1)(b) (b) Notify and obtain written approval from the chief executive officer of the corporation for any certification under sub. (2) (j).

238.306(2) (2) Rules. Establish by rule all of the following:

238.306(2)(a) (a) A schedule of hourly wage ranges to be paid, and health insurance benefits to be provided, to an employee by a person certified under s. 238.301 (2) and the corresponding per employee tax benefit for which a person certified under s. 238.301 (2) may be eligible.

238.306(2)(b) (b) A definition of “significant investment of capital” for purposes of s. 238.302 (2), together with a corresponding schedule of tax benefits for which a person who is certified under s. 238.301 (2) and who conducts a project described in s. 238.302 (2) may be eligible. The corporation shall include in the definition required under this paragraph a schedule of investments that takes into consideration the size or nature of the business.

238.306(2)(c) (c) A definition of “significant investments in the training or reeducation of employees” for purposes of s. 238.302 (3), together with a corresponding schedule of tax benefits for which a person who is certified under s. 238.301 (2) and who conducts a project under s. 238.302 (3) may be eligible.

238.306(2)(d) (d) A schedule of tax benefits for which a person who is certified under s. 238.301 (2) and who conducts a project that will result in the location or retention of a person’s corporate headquarters in Wisconsin may be eligible.

238.306(2)(e) (e) The methodology for designating an area as economically distressed under s. 238.304 (1). The methodology under this paragraph shall require the corporation to consider the most current data available for the area and for the state on the following indicators:

238.306(2)(e)1. 1. Unemployment rate.

238.306(2)(e)2. 2. Percentage of families with incomes below the poverty line established under 42 USC 9902 (2).

238.306(2)(e)3. 3. Median family income.

238.306(2)(e)4. 4. Median per capita income.

238.306(2)(e)5. 5. Average annual wage.

238.306(2)(e)6. 6. Real property values.

238.306(2)(e)7. 7. Other significant or irregular indicators of economic distress, such as a natural disaster.

238.306(2)(f) (f) A schedule of additional tax benefits for which a person who is certified under s. 238.301 (2) and who conducts an eligible activity described under s. 238.304 may be eligible.

238.306(2)(g) (g) Reporting requirements, minimum benchmarks, and outcomes expected of a person certified under s. 238.301 (2) before that person may receive tax benefits under s. 238.303.

238.306(2)(h) (h) Policies, criteria, and methodology for allocating a portion of the tax benefits available under s. 238.303 to rural areas.

238.306(2)(i) (i) Policies, criteria, and methodology for allocating a portion of the tax benefits available under s. 238.303 to small businesses.

238.306(2)(j) (j) Policies and criteria for certifying a person who may be eligible for tax benefits greater than or equal to $3,000,000.

238.306(2)(k) (k) Procedures for implementing ss. 238.301 to 238.306.

238.306(3) (3) Reporting. Annually, 6 months after the report has been submitted under s. 238.07 (2), submit to the joint legislative audit committee and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) a comprehensive report assessing the program under ss. 238.301 to 238.306. The report under this subsection shall update the applicable information provided in the report under s. 238.07 (2).

238.306 History History: 2009 a. 2; 2011 a. 32 s. 3418; Stats. 2011 s. 238.306; 2017 a. 369.

238.308 238.308 Business development tax credit.