Chapter 70

70.111 Annotation “Interstate traffic” in sub. (3) means interstate commerce. Discussing what constitutes a boat in interstate commerce. Town of La Pointe v. Madeline Island Ferry Line, Inc., 179 Wis. 2d 726, 508 N.W.2d 440 (Ct. App. 1993).

70.111 Annotation A mobile home is an improvement to real property under former s. 70.043 (1), 2021 stats., when the home is resting for more than a temporary time, in whole or in part, on some other means of support than its wheels, but a mobile home may be personal property and exempt under sub. (19) (b) although it may have some weight off its wheels. Ahrens v. Town of Fulton, 2002 WI 29, 251 Wis. 2d 135, 641 N.W.2d 423, 99-2466.

70.111 Annotation In applying sub. (20), the use of the equipment rather than the primary purpose of the underlying business is the determining factor in deciding whether equipment is exempt from taxation. De minimis uses of the property are not sufficient to invoke this exemption. Village of Lannon v. Wood-Land Contractors, Inc., 2003 WI 150, 267 Wis. 2d 158, 672 N.W.2d 275, 02-0236.

70.111 Annotation Sub. (22) unambiguously expresses the legislature’s clear intent to exempt rental property from taxation that is held for rental for one month or less and for property available for rental for more than one month to be taxed. There is no ambiguity in the statutory language such that it might possibly apply to property that is held for rental for one month or less and that is also available for rental for more than one month. United Rentals, Inc. v. City of Madison, 2007 WI App 131, 302 Wis. 2d 245, 733 N.W.2d 322, 05-1440.

70.111 Annotation As used in sub. (1), “kept for personal use” does not explicitly limit the use of personal property solely to personal use. The decisive question is whether the use is de minimus or inconsequential. Faydash v. City of Sheboygan, 2011 WI App 57, 332 Wis. 2d 397, 797 N.W.2d 540, 10-2073.

70.111 Annotation Sub. (27) is ambiguous because it does not define the phrase “used in manufacturing,” but the legislative history surrounding its enactment demonstrates that sub. (27) was enacted to exempt from taxation only machines, tools, and patterns that are reported to local assessors. The exemption does not apply to machines, tools, and patterns that are assessed by the Department of Revenue under s. 70.995. DOR v. Master’s Gallery Foods, Inc., 2024 WI App 21, 411 Wis. 2d 563, 5 N.W.3d 952, 22-1909.

70.111 Note NOTE: The above annotations relate to personal property taxation exemptions under this section prior to the sunset of the personal property tax under 2023 Wis. Act 12.

70.112 70.112 Property exempted from taxation because of special tax. The property described in this section is exempted from general property taxes:

70.112(1) (1) Money and intangible personalty. Money and all intangible personal property, such as credit, checks, share drafts, other drafts, notes, bonds, stocks and other written instruments.

70.112(4) (4) Special property and gross receipts taxes or license fees.

70.112(4)(a) (a) All special property assessed under ss. 76.01 to 76.26 and property of any light, heat, and power company taxed under s. 76.28, car line company, and electric cooperative association that is used and useful in the operation of the business of such company or association. If a general structure for which an exemption is sought under this section is used and useful in part in the operation of any public utility assessed under ss. 76.01 to 76.26 or of the business of any light, heat, and power company taxed under s. 76.28, car line company, or electric cooperative association and in part for nonoperating purposes of the public utility or company or association, that general structure shall be assessed for taxation under this chapter at the percentage of its full market value that fairly measures and represents the extent of its use for nonoperating purposes. Nothing provided in this paragraph shall exclude any real estate or any property which is separately accounted for under s. 196.59 from special assessments for local improvements under s. 66.0705.

70.112(4)(b) (b) If real or tangible personal property is used more than 50 percent, as determined by the department of revenue, in the operation of a telephone company that is subject to the tax imposed under s. 76.81, the department of revenue shall assess the property and that property shall be exempt from the general property taxes imposed under this chapter. If real or tangible personal property is used less than 50 percent, as determined by the department of revenue, in the operation of a telephone company that is subject to the tax imposed under s. 76.81, the taxation district in which the property is located shall assess the property and that property shall be subject to the general property taxes imposed under this chapter.

70.112(5) (5) Motor vehicles, bicycles, snowmobiles. Every automobile, motor bicycle, motor bus, motorcycle, motor truck, moped, road tractor, school bus, snowmobile, truck tractor, or other similar motor vehicle, or trailer or semitrailer used in connection therewith.

70.112(6) (6) Aircraft. Every aircraft.

70.112(7) (7) Mobile homes and manufactured homes. Every unit, as defined in s. 66.0435 (1) (j), that is subject to a monthly municipal permit fee under s. 66.0435 (3).

70.112 History History: 1971 c. 221, 289; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 27, 243, 342, 368; 1999 a. 80; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2001 a. 16; 2007 a. 11.

70.113 70.113 State aid to municipalities; aids in lieu of taxes.

70.113(1) (1) As soon after April 20 of each year as is feasible the department of natural resources shall pay to the city, village, or town treasurer all of the following amounts from the following appropriations for each acre situated in the municipality of state forest lands, as defined in s. 28.02 (1), state parks under s. 27.01 and state public shooting, trapping or fishing grounds and reserves or refuges operated thereon, acquired at any time under s. 29.10, 1943 stats., s. 23.09 (2) (d) or 29.749 (1) or from the appropriations made by s. 20.866 (2) (tp) by the department of natural resources or leased from the federal government by the department of natural resources:

70.113(1)(a) (a) Eighty cents, to be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (5) (da) or (dq). Beginning on July 10, 2021, the amount is three dollars and 20 cents.

70.113(1)(b) (b) Thirty cents, to be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (5) (dq).

70.113(2) (2) 

70.113(2)(a) (a) Towns, cities or villages shall be paid for forest lands as defined in s. 28.02 (1), state parks under s. 27.01 and other lands acquired under s. 23.09 (2) (d), 23.27, 23.29, 23.293, 23.31 or 29.749 (1) located within such municipality and acquired after June 30, 1969. Such payments shall be made from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (5) (da) or (dq) and remitted by the department of natural resources in the amounts certified by the department of revenue according to par. (b).

70.113(2)(b) (b) Towns, cities or villages shall be paid aids in lieu of taxes for real estate specified in par. (a). The first payment on an acquisition after July 1, 1969, shall be determined on the basis of the January 1 local assessment following the acquisition multiplied by the county, local and school tax rate levied against all January 1 assessments for that year. The payment to the town, city or village shall be made after April 20 following the tax levy. Subsequent payments shall be made after April 20 following the levy date according to the following schedule:

70.113(2)(b)1. 1. For the 2nd year, 90 percent of the first year’s payment.

70.113(2)(b)2. 2. For the 3rd year, 80 percent of the first year’s payment.

70.113(2)(b)3. 3. For the 4th year, 70 percent of the first year’s payment.

70.113(2)(b)4. 4. For the 5th year, 60 percent of the first year’s payment.

70.113(2)(b)5. 5. For the 6th year, 50 percent of the first year’s payment.

70.113(2)(b)6. 6. For the 7th year, 40 percent of the first year’s payment.

70.113(2)(b)7. 7. For the 8th year, 30 percent of the first year’s payment.

70.113(2)(b)8. 8. For the 9th year, 20 percent of the first year’s payment.

70.113(2)(b)9. 9. For the 10th year and every year thereafter, 10 percent of the first year’s payment.

70.113(2)(b)10. 10. In no year shall the amounts paid under the 10-year schedule be less than three dollars and fifty cents per acre.

70.113(3) (3) The town, city or village authorized to receive payment under sub. (2) and the state may petition the department of revenue to review the assessment of the property upon which taxes were levied, the taxes now being the basis for payment under sub. (2). The petition to the department of revenue to review the assessment shall be due within 30 days of receipt of the assessment. In its review, the department of revenue shall determine if the assessment complained of is unreasonably out of proportion to the general average of the assessment of all other property in the taxation district, and if it finds the assessment high or low it shall lower or raise the assessment. The department of revenue shall make its determination not later than 60 days after the petition is received, and its decision shall be final and not subject to review.

70.113(4) (4) For land acquired after December 31, 1991, aids shall be paid under s. 70.114 and not under this section.

70.113 History History: 1971 c. 125 s. 522 (1); 1973 c. 90; 1975 c. 39 s. 734; 1975 c. 198; 1977 c. 29 ss. 1646 (3), 1647 (10), (18); 1977 c. 224; 1979 c. 34 s. 2102 (39) (a); 1979 c. 175 s. 53; 1979 c. 355 s. 241; 1983 a. 27 s. 2202 (38); 1985 a. 29 s. 3202 (39) (b), (dm); 1987 a. 27, 399; 1989 a. 336; 1991 a. 39; 1995 a. 27, 417; 1997 a. 27, 248; 2021 a. 58.

70.114 70.114 Aids on certain state lands equivalent to property taxes.

70.114(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

70.114(1)(a) (a) “Department” means the department of natural resources.

70.114(1)(b) (b)

70.114(1)(b)1. 1. For land purchased before July 1 2011, “estimated value,” for the year during which land is purchased, means the purchase price and, for later years, means the value that was used for calculating the aid payment under this section for the prior year increased or decreased to reflect the annual percentage change in the equalized valuation of all property, excluding improvements, in the taxation district, as determined by comparing the most recent determination of equalized valuation under s. 70.57 for that property to the next preceding determination of equalized valuation under s. 70.57 for that property.

70.114(1)(b)2. 2. For land purchased on or after July 1, 2011, “estimated value,” for the year during which land is purchased, means the lesser of the purchase price or the determination of the land’s equalized valuation under s. 70.57 in the year before the year during which the land is purchased, increased or decreased to reflect the annual percentage change in the equalized valuation of all property, excluding improvements, in the taxation district, as determined by comparing the most recent determination of equalized valuation under s. 70.57 for that property, except that if the land was exempt from taxation in the year prior to the year during which the Department purchased the land, or enrolled in the forest cropland program under subch. I of ch. 77 or the managed forest land program under subch. VI of ch. 77 at the time of purchase, “estimated value,” for the year during which the land is purchased means the lesser of the purchase price or an amount that would result in a payment under sub. (4) that is equal to $10 per acre. “Estimated value,” for later years, means the value that was used for calculating the aid payment under this section for the prior year increased or decreased to reflect the annual percentage change in the equalized valuation of all property, excluding improvements, in the taxation district, as determined by comparing the most recent determination of equalized valuation under s. 70.57 for that property to the next preceding determination of equalized valuation under s. 70.57 for that property.

70.114(1)(c) (c) “Land” means state forests, as defined in s. 28.02 (1), that are acquired after December 31, 1991, state parks that are acquired after December 31, 1991, under s. 27.01 and other areas that are acquired after December 31, 1991, under s. 23.09 (2) (d), 23.091, 23.27, 23.29, 23.293, 23.31 or 29.749 (1).

70.114(1)(d) (d) “Purchase price” means the amount paid by the department for a fee simple interest in real property. “Purchase price” does not include administrative costs incurred by the department to acquire the land, such as legal fees, appraisal costs or recording fees. If real estate is transferred to the department by gift or is sold to the department for an amount that is less than the estimated fair market value of the property as shown on the property tax bill prepared for the prior year under s. 74.09, “purchase price” means an amount equal to the estimated fair market value of the property as shown on that tax bill. If the real estate is exempt from taxation at the time that it is transferred or sold to the department and if the property was not sold at an arm’s-length sale, “purchase price” means the fair market value of the real estate at the time that the department takes title to it.

70.114(1)(e) (e) “Taxation district” means a city, village or town, except that if a city or village lies in more than one county, the portions of that city or village that lie within each county are separate taxation districts.

70.114(1)(f) (f) “Taxing jurisdiction” means any entity, not including the state, authorized by law to levy taxes on general property, as defined in s. 70.02, that are measured by the property’s value.

70.114(2) (2) Application. For all land acquired after December 31, 1991, the department shall pay aids in lieu of taxes under this section and not under s. 70.113.

70.114(3) (3) Ascertaining rate. Each year, the department shall ascertain the aggregate net general property tax rate for taxation districts to which aids are paid under this section.

70.114(4) (4) Payment required.

70.114(4)(a) (a) Except as provided under par. (c), on or before January 31, the department shall pay to each treasurer of a taxation district, with respect to each parcel of land acquired by the department within the taxation district on or before January 1 of the preceding year, the greater of an amount determined by multiplying each parcel’s estimated value equated to the average level of assessment in the taxation district by the aggregate net general property tax rate that would apply to the parcel of land if it were taxable, as shown on property tax bills prepared for that year under s. 74.09, or three dollars and fifty cents per acre.

70.114(4)(b) (b) On or before February 15, the taxation district treasurer shall pay to the treasurer of each taxing jurisdiction, from the amount received under par. (a), the taxing jurisdiction’s proportionate share of the tax that would be levied on the parcel if it were taxable.

70.114(4)(c) (c) The department shall withhold from the payment amount determined under par. (a) the state’s proportionate share of the tax that would be levied on the parcel if it were taxable and shall deposit that amount into the conservation fund.

70.114 History History: 1989 a. 336; 1991 a. 39; 1997 a. 248; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20; 2021 a. 58.

70.115 70.115 Taxation of real estate held by investment board. All real estate owned or held by any of the funds invested by the investment board, other than the constitutional trust funds, shall be assessed and taxed in the same manner as privately owned real estate. Such taxes shall be paid out of the fund to which the lands belong or for whose benefit they are held. If such taxes are not paid, the real estate shall be subject to inclusion in a tax certificate under s. 74.57 as are privately owned lands.

70.115 History History: 1987 a. 378; 1995 a. 225.

70.119 70.119 Payments for municipal services.

70.119(1) (1) The state and the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority shall make reasonable payments at established rates for water, sewer and electrical services and all other services directly provided by a municipality to state facilities and facilities of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority described in s. 70.11 (38), including garbage and trash disposal and collection, which are financed in whole or in part by special charges or fees. Such payments for services provided to state facilities shall be made from the appropriations to state agencies for the operation of the facilities. Each state agency making such payments shall annually report the payments to the department.

70.119(2) (2) The department shall make reasonable payments for municipal services pursuant to the procedures specified in subs. (4), (5), (6), and (6m), except as provided in sub. (9).

70.119(3) (3) In this section:

70.119(3)(a) (a) “Committee” means the joint committee on finance.

70.119(3)(b) (b) “Department” means the department of administration.

70.119(3)(c) (c) “Municipality” means cities, villages, towns, counties, and metropolitan sewerage districts with general taxing authority, except that for distributions after December 31, 2023, “municipality” does not include counties and metropolitan sewerage districts.

70.119(3)(d) (d) “Municipal services” means police and fire protection, garbage and trash disposal and collection not paid for under sub. (1) and, subject to approval by the committee, any other direct general government service provided by municipalities to state facilities and facilities of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority described in s. 70.11 (38).

70.119(3)(dm) (dm) “State agency” has the meaning given under s. 20.001 (1).

70.119(3)(e) (e) “State facilities” means all property owned and operated by the state for the purpose of carrying out usual state functions, including the branch campuses of the university of Wisconsin system but not including land held for highway right-of-way purposes or acquired and held for purposes under s. 85.08 or 85.09.

70.119(4) (4) The department shall be responsible for negotiating with municipalities on payments for municipal services and may delegate certain responsibilities of negotiation to other state agencies or to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. Prior to negotiating with municipalities the department shall submit guidelines for negotiation to the committee for approval.

70.119(5) (5) Upon approval of guidelines by the committee, the department shall proceed with negotiations. In no case may a municipality withhold services to the state or to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority during negotiations.

70.119(6) (6) No later than November 15 annually, the department shall report to the cochairpersons of the committee the results of its negotiations and the total payments proposed to be made in the subsequent calendar year. In computing the proposed payments to a municipality, the department shall base its calculations on the values of state facilities and facilities of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority described in s. 70.11 (38), as determined by the department for January 1 of the year preceding the year of the report, and the values of improvements to property in the municipality as determined under s. 70.57 (1) for January 1 of the year preceding the year of the report, and shall also base its calculations on revenues and expenditures of the municipality as reported under s. 73.10 (2) for the year preceding the year of the report.

70.119(6m) (6m) In negotiating and computing the proposed payments to a municipality, the department cannot consider the municipality’s receipt of a grant under s. 45.58 to be a payment for municipal services.

70.119(7) (7) 

70.119(7)(a) (a) The department shall make payment from the appropriation under s. 20.835 (5) (r) for municipal services provided by municipalities to state facilities. If the appropriation under s. 20.835 (5) (r) is insufficient to pay the full amount under sub. (6) in any one year, the department shall prorate payments among the municipalities entitled thereto. The University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority shall make payment for municipal services provided by municipalities to facilities of the authority described in s. 70.11 (38).

70.119(7)(b) (b) The department shall determine the proportionate cost of payments for municipal services provided by a municipality for each program financed from revenues other than general purpose revenues and revenues derived from academic student fees levied by the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, and for each appropriation made from such revenues which finances the cost of such a program.

70.119(7)(c) (c) The department shall assess to the appropriate program revenue and program revenue-service accounts and segregated funds the costs of providing payments for municipal services for the administration of programs financed from program revenues or segregated revenues, except program revenues derived from academic student fees levied by the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System. If payments are prorated under par. (a) in any year, the department shall assess costs under this paragraph as affected by the proration. The department shall transfer to the general fund an amount equal to the assessments in each year from the appropriate program revenue, program revenue-service and segregated revenue appropriations.

70.119(8) (8) This section supersedes other statutes relating to payments for municipal services. Extraordinary police services provided to state facilities are subject to reimbursement under s. 16.008.

70.119(9) (9) The department shall not make payments for municipal services at the parking ramp located at 1 West Wilson Street in the city of Madison.

70.119 History History: 1971 c. 328; 1973 c. 90; 1975 c. 39; 1977 c. 29; 1977 c. 418 ss. 470 to 473, 929 (1); 1979 c. 34 s. 2102 (58) (a); 1981 c. 20; 1987 a. 27, 399; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 269; 1995 a. 27; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55; 2023 a. 12, 19.

70.12 70.12 Real property, where assessed. All real property not expressly exempt from taxation shall be entered upon the assessment roll in the assessment district where it lies.

70.12 History History: 1981 c. 190.

70.13 70.13 Where personal property assessed.

70.13(1) (1) For assessments made before January 1, 2024, all personal property shall be assessed in the assessment district where the same is located or customarily kept except as otherwise specifically provided. Personal property in transit within the state on the first day of January shall be assessed in the district in which the same is intended to be kept or located, and personal property having no fixed location shall be assessed in the district where the owner or the person in charge or possession thereof resides, except as provided in sub. (5).

70.13(2) (2) For assessments made before January 1, 2024, saw logs or timber in transit, which are to be sawed or manufactured in any mill in this state, shall be deemed located and shall be assessed in the district in which such mill is located. Saw logs or timber shall be deemed in transit when the same are being transported either by water or rail, but when such logs or timber are banked, decked, piled or otherwise temporarily stored for transportation in any district, they shall be deemed located, and shall be assessed in such district.

70.13(3) (3) For assessments made before January 1, 2024, on or before the tenth day of January in each year the owner of logs or timber in transit shall furnish the assessor of the district in which the mill at which the logs or timber will be sawed or manufactured is located a verified statement of the amount, character and value of all the logs and timber in transit on the first day of January preceding, and the owner of the logs or timber shall furnish to the assessor of the district in which the logs and timber were located on the first day of January preceding, a like verified statement of the amount, character and value thereof. Any assessment made in accordance with the owner’s statement shall be valid and binding on the owner notwithstanding any subsequent change as to the place where the same may be sawed or manufactured. If the owner of the logs or timber shall fail or refuse to furnish the statement herein provided for, or shall intentionally make a false statement, that owner shall be subject to the penalties prescribed by s. 70.36.

70.13(5) (5) As between school districts, the location of personal property for taxation shall be determined by the same rules as between assessment districts; provided, that whenever the owner or occupant shall reside upon any contiguous tracts or parcels of land which shall lie in 2 or more assessment districts, then the farm implements, livestock, and farm products of the owner or occupant used, kept, or being upon the contiguous tracts or parcels of land, shall be assessed in the assessment district where that personal property is customarily kept.

70.13(6) (6) No change of location or sale of any personal property after the first day of January in any year shall affect the assessment made in such year.

70.13(7) (7) For assessments made before January 1, 2024, saw logs or timber removed from public lands during the year next preceding the first day of January or having been removed from such lands and in transit therefrom on the first day of January, shall be deemed located and assessed in the assessment district wherein such public lands are located and shall be assessed in no other assessment district. Saw logs or timber shall be deemed in transit when the same are being transported. On or before January 10 in each year the owner of such logs or timber shall furnish the assessor of the assessment district wherein they are assessable a verified statement of the amount, character and value of all such logs and timber. If the owner of any such logs or timber shall fail or refuse to furnish such statement or shall intentionally make a false statement, he or she is subject to the penalties prescribed by s. 70.36. This subsection shall supersede any provision of law in conflict therewith. The term “owner” as used in this subsection is deemed to mean the person owning the logs or timber at the time of severing. “Public lands” as used in this subsection shall mean lands owned by the United States of America, the state of Wisconsin or any political subdivision of this state.

70.13 History History: 1977 c. 29 s. 1646 (3); 1977 c. 273; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 213; 1995 a. 225; 2023 a. 12.

70.13 Annotation The situs for taxation assessment purposes of a movable bituminous plant was not in the town where the plant was physically present during most of the tax year because the property was neither “located” in the town nor “customarily kept” there. Wm. J. Kennedy & Son, Inc. v. Town of Albany, 66 Wis. 2d 447, 225 N.W.2d 624 (1975).

70.13 Note NOTE: The above annotation relates to personal property taxation under this chapter prior to the sunset of the personal property tax under 2023 Wis. Act 12.

70.14 70.14 Incorporated companies. The residence of an incorporated company, for the purposes of s. 70.13, shall be held to be in the assessment district where the principal office or place of business of such company shall be.