Chapter 70

70.11(4)(b)1. 1. Leasing a part of property described in par. (a) that is owned and operated by a nonprofit organization as a facility that is licensed, certified, or registered under ch. 50, as residential housing, does not render the property taxable, regardless of how the lessor uses the leasehold income.

70.11(4)(b)2. 2. Leasing a part of property described in par. (a) that is occupied by one or more individuals with permanent disabilities for whom evidence is available that demonstrates that such individuals meet the medical definition of permanent disability used to determine eligibility for programs administered by the federal social security administration, as residential housing, does not render the property taxable, regardless of how the lessor uses the leasehold income.

70.11(4)(b)3. 3. Leasing all or part of property described in par. (a) that is owned by a church or religious association or institution to an educational association or institution exempt under par. (a) does not render the property taxable, regardless of how the lessor uses the leasehold income.

70.11(4a) (4a) Benevolent low-income housing.

70.11(4a)(a) (a) Property owned by a nonprofit entity that is a benevolent association and used as low-income housing, including all common areas of a low-income housing project. Property used for a low-income housing project, including other low-income housing projects under common control with such project, and exempt under this subsection may not exceed 30 acres necessary for the location and convenience of buildings or 10 contiguous acres in any one municipality.

70.11(4a)(b) (b) For purposes of this subsection, “low-income housing” means any housing project described in sub. (4b) or any residential unit within a low-income housing project that is occupied by a low-income or very low-income person or is vacant and is only available to such persons.

70.11(4a)(c) (c) For purposes of this subsection, “low-income housing project” means a residential housing project for which all of the following apply:

70.11(4a)(c)1. 1. At least 75 percent of the residential units are occupied by low-income or very low-income persons or are vacant and available only to low-income or very low-income persons.

70.11(4a)(c)2. 2. At least one of the following applies:

70.11(4a)(c)2.a. a. At least 20 percent of the residential units are rented to persons who are very low-income persons or are vacant and are only available to such persons.

70.11(4a)(c)2.b. b. At least 40 percent of the residential units are rented to persons whose income does not exceed 120 percent of the very low-income limit or are vacant and only available to such persons.

70.11(4a)(d) (d) For purposes of this subsection, low-income persons and very low-income persons shall be determined in accordance with the income limits published by the federal department of housing and urban development for low-income and very low-income families under the National Housing Act of 1937.

70.11(4a)(e) (e) For purposes of this subsection, all properties included within the same federal department of housing and urban development contract or within the same federal department of agriculture, rural development, contract are considered to be one low-income housing project.

70.11(4a)(f) (f) Leasing property that is exempt from taxation under this subsection or sub. (4b) as low-income housing does not render it taxable, regardless of how the leasehold income is used.

70.11(4a)(g) (g)

70.11(4a)(g)1. 1. Annually, no later than March 1, each person who owns a low-income housing project shall file with the assessor of the taxation district in which the project is located a statement that specifies which units were occupied on January 1 of that year by persons whose income satisfied the income limit requirements under par. (b), as certified by the property owner to the appropriate federal or state agency, and a copy of the federal department of housing and urban development contract or federal department of agriculture, rural development, contract, if applicable.

70.11(4a)(g)2. 2. The format and distribution of statements under this paragraph shall be governed by s. 70.09 (3).

70.11(4a)(g)3. 3. If the statement required under this paragraph is not received on or before March 1, the taxation district assessor shall send the property owner a notice, by certified mail to the owner’s last-known address of record, stating that failure to file a statement is subject to the penalties under subd. 5.

70.11(4a)(g)4. 4. In addition to the statement under subd. 1., the taxation district assessor may require that a property owner submit other information to prove that the person’s property qualifies as low-income housing that is exempt from taxation under this subsection.

70.11(4a)(g)5. 5. A person who fails to file a statement within 30 days after notification under subd. 3. shall forfeit $10 for each succeeding day on which the form is not received by the taxation district assessor, but not more than $500.

70.11(4b) (4b) Housing projects financed by Housing and Economic Development Authority. All property of a housing project that satisfies all of the following:

70.11(4b)(a) (a) It is owned by a corporation, organization, or association described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code that is exempt from taxation under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

70.11(4b)(b) (b) It is financed by the Housing and Economic Development Authority under s. 234.03 (13).

70.11(4b)(c) (c) The Housing and Economic Development Authority holds a first-lien mortgage security interest on it.

70.11(4b)(d) (d) It is in existence on January 1, 2008.

70.11(4d) (4d) Benevolent retirement homes for the aged. Property that is owned by a nonprofit entity that is a benevolent association and used as a retirement home for the aged, but not exceeding 30 acres of land necessary for the location and convenience of buildings, while such property is not used for profit, if the fair market value of the individual dwelling unit, as determined by the assessor for the taxation district in which the property is located, is less than 130 percent of the average equalized value under s. 70.57 of improved parcels of residential property located in the county in which the retirement home for the aged is located in the previous year, as determined by the assessor of the taxation district in which the property is located based on the sum of the average per parcel equalized value of residential land and the average per parcel equalized value of residential improvements, as determined by the department of revenue. For purposes of determining the fair market value of an individual dwelling unit under this subsection, the value of any common area is excluded. The common area of a retirement home for the aged is exempt from general property taxes if 50 percent or more of the home’s individual dwelling units are exempt from general property taxes under this subsection. If less than 50 percent of the home’s individual dwelling units are exempt from general property taxes under this subsection, the common area of the retirement home for the aged is subject to general property taxes. Leasing a part of property used as a retirement home for the aged, as described in this subsection, does not render it taxable, regardless of how the leasehold income is used.

70.11(4g) (4g) Real property held for rehabilitation or future construction and later sale to low-income persons. Real property owned by a nonprofit organization if all of the following requirements are fulfilled:

70.11(4g)(a) (a) The nonprofit organization holds the property for the purpose of rehabilitating an existing structure or constructing a new structure on the property for sale to low-income persons for use as a personal residence.

70.11(4g)(b) (b) The nonprofit organization offers low-income persons loans to purchase the property for which no interest is charged.

70.11(4g)(c) (c) The nonprofit organization requires prospective purchasers to participate in the rehabilitation or construction of the property.

70.11(4g)(d) (d) The nonprofit organization acquired the property within 3 years before the assessment date.

70.11(4m) (4m) Nonprofit hospitals.

70.11(4m)(a) (a) Real property owned and used and personal property used exclusively for the purposes of any hospital of 10 beds or more devoted primarily to the diagnosis, treatment or care of the sick, injured, or disabled, which hospital is owned and operated by a corporation, voluntary association, foundation or trust, except an organization that is organized under s. 185.981 or ch. 611, 613 or 614 and that offers a health maintenance organization as defined in s. 609.01 (2) or a limited service health organization as defined in s. 609.01 (3) or an organization that is issued a certificate of authority under ch. 618 and that offers a health maintenance organization or a limited service health organization, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any shareholder, member, director or officer, and which hospital is not operated principally for the benefit of or principally as an adjunct of the private practice of a doctor or group of doctors. This exemption does not apply to property used for commercial purposes, as a health and fitness center or as a doctor’s office. The exemption for residential property shall be limited to dormitories of 12 or more units which house student nurses enrolled in a state accredited school of nursing affiliated with the hospital.

70.11(4m)(b) (b) Real property leased by and used exclusively for the purposes of any hospital that has 10 beds or more, is devoted primarily to the diagnosis, treatment or care of the sick, injured or disabled and is owned and operated by a corporation, voluntary association, foundation or trust, except an organization that is organized under s. 185.981 or ch. 611, 613 or 614 and that offers a health maintenance organization as defined in s. 609.01 (2) or a limited service health organization as defined in s. 609.01 (3) or an organization that is issued a certificate of authority under ch. 618 and that offers a health maintenance organization or a limited service health organization, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any shareholder, member, director or officer and is not operated principally for the benefit of or principally as an adjunct to the private practice of a doctor or group of doctors. This exemption applies only to real property leased from a nonprofit organization or nonprofit hospital that is exempt from taxation under this chapter and that uses the income derived from the lease only for maintenance of the leased property or construction debt retirement of the leased property or both. This exemption does not apply to property used for commercial purposes, as a health and fitness center or as a doctor’s office.

70.11(4m)(c) (c) In this subsection, “health and fitness center” means an establishment the primary purpose of which is to provide recreational services or facilities that are purported to assist patrons in physical exercise, in weight control or in figure development, including but not limited to a health and fitness center, studio, salon or club. In this subsection, “health and fitness center” does not include a facility the primary purpose of which is to provide services or facilities that are primarily a part of a course of rehabilitation or therapy prescribed by a physician or physical therapist to treat a physical injury or dysfunction and that are aimed primarily at patients of the hospital or an affiliated entity and not at the general public and that is located within the physical confines of a hospital.

70.11(4n) (4n) Vacant parcel owned by a church or religious association. Any parcel of vacant land owned by a church or religious association that is no more than 0.8 acres and located in a 1st class city, that is less than a quarter mile from the shoreline of Lake Michigan, and that is adjacent or contiguous to a city incorporated in 1951 with a 2018 estimated population exceeding 9,000.

70.11(5) (5) Agricultural fairs. Property owned and used exclusively by any state or county agricultural society, or by any other domestic corporation formed to encourage agricultural and industrial fairs and exhibitions and necessary for fairgrounds or for exhibition and sale of agricultural and dairy property, not exceeding 80 acres. The use of such property for celebrations or as places of amusement shall not render it taxable.

70.11(6) (6) Fire companies. Property of any fire company used exclusively for its purposes.

70.11(7) (7) Land of military organizations. Land owned by military organizations and used for armories, public parks or monument grounds but not used for private gain.

70.11(9) (9) Memorials. All memorial halls and the real estate upon which the same are located, owned and occupied by any organization of United States war veterans organized pursuant to act of congress and domesticated in this state pursuant to the laws of this state, containing permanent memorial tablets with the names of former residents of any given town, village, city or county who lost their lives in the military or naval service of the state or the United States in any war inscribed thereon, and all personal property owned by such organizations, and all buildings erected, purchased or maintained by any county, city, town or village as memorials under s. 45.72. The renting of such halls or buildings for public purposes shall not render them taxable, provided that all income derived therefrom be used for the upkeep and maintenance thereof. Where such hall or building is used in part for exempt purposes and in part for pecuniary profit, it shall be assessed for taxation to the extent of such use for pecuniary profit as provided in s. 70.1105 (1).

70.11(10m) (10m) Lions foundation camps for children with visual impairments. Lands not exceeding 40 acres and the buildings thereon owned by the Wisconsin Lions Foundation and used as camps for children with visual impairments, so long as the property is used for such purposes and not for pecuniary profit of any individual.

70.11(11) (11) Bible camps. All real property not exceeding 40 acres and the personal property situated therein, of any Bible camp conducted by a religious nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of this state, so long as the property is used for religious purposes and not for pecuniary profit of any individual.

70.11(12) (12) Certain charitable organizations.

70.11(12)(a) (a) Property owned by units which are organized in this state of the following organizations: the Salvation Army; Goodwill Industries, not exceeding 10 acres of property in any municipality; the Boy Scouts of America; the Boys’ Clubs of America; the Girl Scouts or Camp Fire Girls; the Young Men’s Christian Association, not exceeding 40 acres for property that is located outside the limit of any incorporated city or village and not exceeding 10 acres for property that is located inside the limit of any incorporated city or village; the Young Women’s Christian Association, not exceeding 40 acres for property that is located outside the limit of any incorporated city or village and not exceeding 10 acres for property that is located inside the limit of any incorporated city or village; Jewish Community Centers of North America, not exceeding 40 acres for property that is located outside the limit of any incorporated city or village and not exceeding 10 acres for property that is located inside the limit of any incorporated city or village; or any person as trustee for them of property used for the purposes of those organizations, provided no pecuniary profit results to any individual owner or member.

70.11(12)(b) (b) Real property not exceeding 40 acres and the personal property located thereon owned by units which are not organized in this state of the organizations listed in par. (a). No such unit which is not organized in this state may claim an exemption for more than a total of 80 rods of shoreline on lakes, rivers and streams.

70.11(12)(c) (c) All property of a resale store that is owned by a nonprofit organization that qualifies for the income tax exemption under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, if at least 50 percent of the revenue generated by the resale store is given to one other nonprofit organization located either in the same county where the resale store is located or in a county adjacent to the county where the resale store is located. In this paragraph, “resale store” means a store that primarily sells used tangible personal property at retail.

70.11(13) (13) Cemeteries. Land owned by cemetery authorities, as defined in s. 157.061 (2), and used exclusively as public burial grounds and tombs and monuments therein, and privately owned burial lots; land adjoining such burial grounds, owned and occupied exclusively by the cemetery authority for cemetery purposes; personal property owned by any cemetery authority and necessary for the care and management of burial grounds; burial sites and contiguous lands which are cataloged under s. 157.70.

70.11(13m) (13m) Archaeological sites. Archaeological sites and contiguous lands identified under s. 44.02 (23) if the property is subject to a permanent easement, covenant or similar restriction running with the land and if that easement, covenant or restriction is held by the state historical society or by an entity approved by the state historical society and protects the archaeological features of the property.

70.11(14) (14) Art galleries. Property of any public art gallery, if used exclusively for art exhibits and for art teaching, if public access to such gallery is free not less than 3 days in each week.

70.11(15) (15) Manure storage facilities. Any manure storage facility used by a farmer. This exemption shall apply whether the facility is deemed personal property or is so affixed to the realty as to be classified as real estate.

70.11(15m) (15m) Secondary containment structures. Secondary containment structures used to prevent leakage of liquid fertilizer or pesticides.

70.11(16) (16) Labor temples. Property owned and used exclusively by any labor organization or by any domestic corporation whose members are workmen associated according to crafts, trades or occupations or their authorized representatives or associations composed of members of different crafts, trades or occupations, provided no pecuniary profit results to any member.

70.11(17) (17) Farmers’ temples. Property owned and used exclusively for social and educational purposes and for meetings by any corporation, all of whose members are farmers; provided no pecuniary profit results to any member.

70.11(18) (18) Housing. Property of housing authorities exempt from taxation under s. 66.1201 (22).

70.11(19) (19) Institutions and centers for dependent children and persons who have developmental disabilities. The property of any residential care center for children and youth that is licensed under s. 48.60 for the care of dependent or neglected children or delinquent juveniles if that property is used for that purpose and the property of any nonprofit institution that is subject to examination under s. 46.03 (5) and that has a full-time population of at least 150 individuals who have developmental disabilities, as defined in s. 51.01 (5), if that property is used for that purpose.

70.11(20) (20) Property held in trust in public interest. Property that is owned by, or held in trust for, a nonprofit organization, if all of the following requirements are fulfilled:

70.11(20)(a) (a) The property is used to preserve native wild plant or native wild animal life, Indian mounds or other works of ancient persons or geological or geographical formations of scientific interest.

70.11(20)(b) (b) The property is open to the public subject to reasonable restrictions.

70.11(20)(c) (c) No pecuniary profit accrues to any owner or member of the organization or to any associate of any such owner or member from the use or holding of the property.

70.11(20)(d) (d) The county board of the county where the property is located has not determined that the property is not owned by, or held in trust for, a nonprofit organization and has not determined that at least one of the requirements under pars. (a) to (c) has not been fulfilled.

70.11(21) (21) Treatment plant and pollution abatement equipment.

70.11(21)(ab) (ab) In this subsection:

70.11(21)(ab)1. 1. “Air contaminants” has the meaning given in s. 285.01 (1).

70.11(21)(ab)2. 2. “Industrial waste” means waste resulting from any process of industry, trade, or business, or the development of any natural resource, that has no monetary or market value, except as provided in subd. 3. b., and that would otherwise be considered superfluous, discarded, or fugitive material. “Industrial waste” does not include other wastes, as defined in s. 281.01 (7).

70.11(21)(ab)3. 3. “Used exclusively” means to the exclusion of all other uses except any of the following:

70.11(21)(ab)3.a. a. For other use not exceeding 5 percent of total use.

70.11(21)(ab)3.b. b. To produce heat or steam for a manufacturing process, if the fuel consists of either 95 percent or more industrial waste that would otherwise be considered superfluous, discarded, or fugitive material or 50 percent or more of wood chips, sawdust, or other wood residue from the paper and wood products manufacturing process, if the wood chips, sawdust, or other wood residue would otherwise be considered superfluous, discarded, or fugitive material.

70.11(21)(am) (am) All property purchased or constructed as a waste treatment facility used exclusively and directly to remove, store, or cause a physical or chemical change in industrial waste or air contaminants for the purpose of abating or eliminating pollution of surface waters, the air, or waters of the state if that property is not used to grow agricultural products for sale and, if the property’s owner is taxed under ch. 76, if the property is approved by the department of revenue. The department of natural resources and department of health services shall make recommendations upon request to the department of revenue regarding such property. All property purchased or upon which construction began prior to July 31, 1975, shall be subject to s. 70.11 (21), 1973 stats.

70.11(21)(b) (b) The books and records of owners of property covered by this subsection shall be open to examination by representatives of the department of natural resources, department of health services and department of revenue.

70.11(21)(c) (c) A prerequisite to exemption under this subsection for owners who are taxed under ch. 76 is the filing of a statement on forms prescribed by the department of revenue with the department of revenue. This statement shall be filed not later than January 15 of the year in which a new exemption is requested or in which a waste treatment facility that has been granted an exemption is retired, replaced, disposed of, moved to a new location, or sold.

70.11(21)(d) (d) The department of revenue shall allow an extension to a date determined by the department by rule for filing the report form required under par. (c) if a written application for an extension, stating the reason for the request, is filed with the department of revenue before January 15.

70.11(21)(f) (f) If property about which a statement has been filed under par. (c) is determined to be taxable, the owner may appeal that determination under s. 76.08.

70.11(22) (22) Camps for persons with disabilities. Lands not exceeding 10 acres and the buildings thereon owned by the Wisconsin Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children and Adults, Incorporated, and known as Camp Wawbeek, used for camps for children and adults with orthopedic impairments and not to exceed 371 acres of wooded and meadowland adjacent thereto used in connection therewith, excluding a caretaker’s home and 10 acres of land in connection therewith, so long as the property is used solely for such purposes and not for pecuniary profit of any individual.

70.11(25) (25) Nonprofit medical research foundations. Property owned and operated by a corporation, voluntary association, foundation or trust, no part of the net earnings of which inure to the benefit of any shareholder, member, director or officer thereof, which property is used exclusively for the purposes of: medical and surgical research the knowledge derived from which is applied to the cures, prevention, relief and therapy of human diseases; providing instruction for practicing physicians and surgeons, promoting education, training, skill and investigative ability of physicians, scientists and individuals engaged in work in the basic sciences which bear on medicine and surgery; or providing diagnostic facilities and treatment for deserving destitute individuals not eligible for assistance from charitable or governmental institutions. Such corporation, voluntary association, foundation or trust must have received a certificate under section 501 (c) (3) of the internal revenue code as a nonprofit organization exempt for income tax purposes.

70.11(26) (26) Property of industrial development agencies. All real and personal property owned by an industrial development agency formed under s. 59.57 (2). Any such property subject to contract of sale or lease shall be taxed as personal property to the vendee or lessee thereof.

70.11(27) (27) Manufacturing machinery and specific processing equipment.

70.11(27)(a) (a) In this subsection:

70.11(27)(a)1. 1. “Building” means any structure used for sheltering people, machinery, animals or plants; storing property; or working, office, parking, sales or display space.

70.11(27)(a)2. 2. “Machinery” means a structure or assemblage of parts that transmits forces, motion or energy from one part to another in a predetermined way by electrical, mechanical or chemical means, but “machinery” does not include a building.

70.11(27)(a)3. 3. “Manufacturing” means engaging in an activity classified as manufacturing under s. 70.995.

70.11(27)(a)4. 4. “Power wiring” means bus duct, secondary service wiring or other wiring that is used exclusively to provide electrical service to production machines that are exempt under par. (b). “Power wiring” does not include transformers.

70.11(27)(a)5. 5. “Production process” means the manufacturing activities beginning with conveyance of raw materials from plant inventory to a work point of the same plant and ending with conveyance of the finished product to the place of first storage on the plant premises, including conveyance of work in process directly from one manufacturing operation to another in the same plant, including the holding for 3 days or less of work in process to ensure the uninterrupted flow of all or part of the production process and including quality control activities during the time period specified in this subdivision but excluding storage, machine repair and maintenance, research and development, plant communication, advertising, marketing, plant engineering, plant housekeeping and employee safety and fire prevention activities; and excluding generating, transmitting, transforming and furnishing electric current for light or heat; generating and furnishing steam; supplying hot water for heat, power or manufacturing; and generating and furnishing gas for lighting or fuel or both.

70.11(27)(a)6. 6. “Specific processing equipment” means containers for chemical action, mixing or temporary holding of work in process to ensure the uninterrupted flow of all or part of the production process, process piping, tools, implements and quality control equipment.

70.11(27)(a)6m. 6m. “Storage” means the holding or safekeeping of raw materials or components before introduction into the production process; the holding, safekeeping or preservation of work in process or of components outside the production process; and the holding or safekeeping of finished products or of components after completion of the production process; whether or not any natural processes occur during that holding, safekeeping or preservation; but “storage” does not include the holding for 3 days or less of work in process to ensure the uninterrupted flow of all or part of the production process.

70.11(27)(a)7. 7. “Used directly” means used so as to cause a physical or chemical change in raw materials or to cause a movement of raw materials, work in process or finished products.

70.11(27)(a)8. 8. “Used exclusively” means to the exclusion of all other uses except for other use not exceeding 5 percent of total use.

70.11(27)(b) (b) Machinery and specific processing equipment; and repair parts, replacement machines, safety attachments and special foundations for that machinery and equipment; that are used exclusively and directly in the production process in manufacturing tangible personal property, regardless of their attachment to real property, but not including buildings. The exemption under this paragraph shall be strictly construed.

70.11(28) (28) Humane societies. Property owned and operated by a humane society organized primarily for the care and shelter of homeless, stray or abused animals, on a nonprofit basis, no part of the net income of which inures to the benefit of any member, officer or shareholder, if the property is used exclusively for the primary purposes of the humane society.

70.11(29) (29) Nonprofit radio stations. Property owned by a radio station that is exempt from taxation under section 501 of the internal revenue code as amended to December 31, 1980, if the property is used for the purposes for which the exemption was granted.