Chapter 70

70.99(13)(c) (c) The department of revenue shall determine the minimum number of staff members required for each county assessor’s office and the level of certification under sub. (3) required for each position.

70.99(13)(d) (d) In order to effect the orderly transition of local property assessment to the county assessor system, as soon as practicable after the effective date of the resolution or ordinance adopting such system, all assessment records, books, maps, aerial photographs, appraisal cards and any other data currently in the possession of any town, village or city shall be made available to and become the property of the county assessor.

70.99(14) (14) A county may discontinue a county assessor system by passage of a resolution or ordinance by an approving vote of a majority of the entire membership of the county board. The effective date of the resolution or ordinance shall be December 31. A county shall, on or before October 31 of the year when the resolution or ordinance is effective, notify all municipalities in the county of its intent to discontinue its county assessor system. As soon as practicable after the effective date of the resolution or ordinance, the county shall transfer to the proper municipality all assessment records, books, maps, aerial photographs, appraisal cards and other assessment data in its possession.

70.99 History History: 1971 c. 40 s. 93; 1973 c. 90; 1975 c. 427; 1977 c. 29 ss. 1646 (3), 1647 (15); 1977 c. 196 s. 130 (10); 1977 c. 273; 1979 c. 34 s. 2102 (58) (a); 1979 c. 177, 221; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 27 s. 2200 (15); 1983 a. 192 s. 303 (2); 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 253; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2001 a. 107; 2003 a. 33 ss. 1558, 9160; 2015 a. 55.

70.99 Annotation The constitutionality of this section is upheld. This section does not allow county boards to appoint officers of cities, towns, and villages in violation of article IV, section 23, of the Wisconsin Constitution, illegally deprive villages and cities of the right to determine their own affairs in violation of article XI, section 3, of the Wisconsin Constitution, or create a nonuniform system of town government in violation of article XIII, section 9, of the Wisconsin Constitution. Thompson v. Kenosha County, 64 Wis. 2d 673, 221 N.W.2d 845 (1974).

70.99 Annotation This section must be read in conjunction with s. 70.32 (1). State ex rel. Kaskin v. Board of Review, 91 Wis. 2d 272, 282 N.W.2d 620 (Ct. App. 1979).

70.99 Annotation The offices of county assessor and town supervisor are compatible. 63 Atty. Gen. 599.

70.995 70.995 State assessment of manufacturing property.

70.995(1) (1) 

70.995(1)(a) (a) In this section “manufacturing property” includes all real property, as defined in s. 70.03, in this state, used in manufacturing, assembling, processing, fabricating, making, or milling tangible personal property for profit. Manufacturing property also includes warehouses, storage facilities, and office structures in this state when the predominant use of the warehouses, storage facilities, or offices is in support of the manufacturing property. Establishments engaged in assembling component parts of manufactured products are considered manufacturing establishments if the new product is neither a structure nor other fixed improvement. Materials processed by a manufacturing establishment include products of agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, and quarrying. For the purposes of this section, establishments which engage in mining metalliferous minerals are considered manufacturing establishments.

70.995(1)(b) (b) Materials used by a manufacturing establishment may be purchased directly from producers, obtained through customary trade channels or secured without recourse to the market by transfer from one establishment to another under the same ownership. Manufacturing production is usually carried on for the wholesale market, for interplant transfer or to order for industrial users rather than for direct sale to a domestic consumer.

70.995(1)(c) (c) Manufacturing shall not include the following agricultural activities:

70.995(1)(c)1. 1. Processing on farms if the raw materials are grown on the farm.

70.995(1)(c)2. 2. Custom gristmilling.

70.995(1)(c)3. 3. Threshing and cotton ginning.

70.995(1)(d) (d) Except for the activities under sub. (2), activities not classified as manufacturing in the standard industrial classification manual, 1987 edition, published by the U.S. office of management and budget are not manufacturing for this section.

70.995(2) (2) In addition to the criteria set forth in sub. (1), property shall be deemed prima facie manufacturing property and eligible for assessment under this section if it is included in one of the following major group classifications set forth in the standard industrial classification manual, 1987 edition, published by the U.S. office of management and budget. For the purposes of this section, any other property described in this subsection shall also be deemed manufacturing property and eligible for assessment under this section:

70.995(2)(a) (a) 10 — Metal mining.

70.995(2)(b) (b) 14 — Mining and quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels.

70.995(2)(c) (c) 20 — Food and kindred products.

70.995(2)(d) (d) 21 — Tobacco manufacturers.

70.995(2)(e) (e) 22 — Textile mill products.

70.995(2)(f) (f) 23 — Apparel and other finished products made from fabrics and similar materials.

70.995(2)(g) (g) 24 — Lumber and wood products, except furniture.

70.995(2)(h) (h) 25 — Furniture and fixtures.

70.995(2)(i) (i) 26 — Paper and allied products.

70.995(2)(j) (j) 27 — Printing, publishing and allied industries.

70.995(2)(k) (k) 28 — Chemicals and allied products.

70.995(2)(L) (L) 29 — Petroleum refining and related industries.

70.995(2)(m) (m) 30 — Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products.

70.995(2)(n) (n) 31 — Leather and leather products.

70.995(2)(o) (o) 32 — Stone, clay, glass and concrete products.

70.995(2)(p) (p) 33 — Primary metal industries.

70.995(2)(q) (q) 34 — Fabricated metal products, machinery and transportation equipment.

70.995(2)(r) (r) 35 — Machinery, except electrical.

70.995(2)(s) (s) 36 — Electrical and electronic machinery, equipment and supplies.

70.995(2)(t) (t) 37 — Transportation equipment.

70.995(2)(u) (u) 38 — Measuring, analyzing and controlling instruments; photographic, medical and optical goods; watches and clocks.

70.995(2)(v) (v) 39 — Miscellaneous manufacturing industries.

70.995(2)(w) (w) 7384 — Photofinishing laboratories.

70.995(2)(x) (x) Scrap processors using large machines processing iron, steel or nonferrous scrap metal and whose principal product is scrap iron and steel or nonferrous scrap metal for sale for remelting purposes.

70.995(2)(y) (y) Processors of waste paper, fibers or plastics using large machines for recycling purposes.

70.995(2)(z) (z) Hazardous waste treatment facility, as defined in s. 291.01 (22), unless exempt under s. 70.11 (21).

70.995(3) (3) For purposes of subs. (1) and (2) “manufacturing, assembling, processing, fabricating, making or milling” includes the entire productive process and includes such activities as the storage of raw materials, the movement thereof to the first operation thereon, and the packaging, bottling, crating or similar preparation of products for shipment.

70.995(4) (4) Whenever real property is used for one, or some combination, of the processes mentioned in sub. (3) and also for other purposes, the department of revenue, if satisfied that there is substantial use in one or some combination of such processes, may assess the property under this section. For all purposes of this section the department of revenue shall have sole discretion for the determination of what is substantial use and what description of real property shall constitute “the property” to be included for assessment purposes, and, in connection herewith, the department may include in a real property unit, real property owned by different persons. Vacant property designed for use in manufacturing, assembling, processing, fabricating, making, or milling tangible property for profit may be assessed under this section or under s. 70.32 (1), and the period of vacancy may not be the sole ground for making that determination. In those specific instances where a portion of a description of real property includes manufacturing property rented or leased and operated by a separate person which does not satisfy the substantial use qualification for the entire property, the local assessor shall assess the entire real property description).

70.995(5) (5) The department of revenue shall assess all property of manufacturing establishments included under subs. (1) and (2), except property not contiguous with or located within 1,000 feet of the parcel on which the production process, as defined in s. 70.11 (27) (a) 5., occurs, as of the close of January 1 of each year, if on or before March 1 of that year the department has classified the property as manufacturing or the owner of the property has requested, in writing, that the department make such a classification and the department later does so. A change in ownership or name of the manufacturing establishment does not necessitate a new request. In assessing lands from which metalliferous minerals are being extracted and valued for purposes of the tax under s. 70.375, the value of the metalliferous mineral content of such lands shall be excluded.

70.995(5n) (5n) 

70.995(5n)(a) (a) If the department of revenue determines that an establishment is engaged in manufacturing, as described in subs. (1), (2), and (3), the department may classify the establishment as manufacturing. The establishment shall submit a written request on or before July 1 of the year for which classification is desired, as provided under s. 71.07 (5n) (a) 9. c. or 71.28 (5n) (a) 9. c. Any establishment classified as manufacturing prior to January 1, 2024, is presumed to be engaged in manufacturing, as described in subs. (1), (2), and (3), and need not submit a request as provided in this paragraph.

70.995(5n)(b) (b) The department may at any time investigate or audit requests submitted under par. (a) and may revoke a classification. A revocation under this paragraph may not apply retroactively, but shall take effect on the first day of the establishment’s taxable year following the year in which the department issues a revocation. An establishment that submits a request under par. (a) shall notify the department within 60 days of any termination of manufacturing activity.

70.995(5n)(c) (c) On or before December 31 of the year in which a request is timely submitted under par. (a), the department shall issue a notice of determination responding to the timely request. The department may, in its sole discretion, issue a notice of determination by December 31 for requests received after July 1 of the year in which classification is desired. The notice shall be in writing and shall be sent by 1st class mail or electronic mail. In addition, the notice shall specify that objections to the decision shall be filed with the state board of assessors no later than 60 days after the date of the notice, that a fee of $200 shall be paid when the objection is filed, and that the objection is not filed until the fee is paid.

70.995(5n)(d) (d) For purposes of this subsection, an objection is considered timely filed if received by the state board of assessors no later than 60 days after the date of the notice or sent to the state board of assessors by U.S. postal service certified mail in a properly addressed envelope, with postage paid, that is postmarked before midnight of the last day for filing. Neither the board nor the tax appeals commission may waive the requirement that objections be in writing.

70.995(5n)(e) (e) The state board of assessors shall investigate any objection timely filed under par. (d) if the fee specified under par. (c) is paid. The board shall notify the person objecting or the person’s agent of its determination by 1st class mail or electronic mail.

70.995(5n)(f) (f) If a determination of the state board of assessors under par. (e) results in an establishment not being classified as manufacturing, the person having been notified of the determination shall be deemed to have accepted the determination unless the person files a petition for review with the clerk of the tax appeals commission, as provided under s. 73.01 (5) and the rules of practice of the tax appeals commission.

70.995(6) (6) Prior to February 15 of each year the department of revenue shall notify each municipal assessor of the manufacturing property within the taxation district that, as of that date, will be assessed by the department during the current assessment year.

70.995(7) (7) 

70.995(7)(a) (a) Each manufacturing property assessed by the department of revenue shall be entered on a state manufacturing property assessment roll for each municipality that has manufacturing property as set forth in subs. (1) and (2). Notification of the individual manufacturing property assessments contained in the roll shall be furnished by the department to the municipal clerk.

70.995(7)(b) (b) Each 5 years, or more frequently if the department of revenue’s workload permits and if in the department’s judgment it is desirable, the department of revenue shall complete a field investigation or on-site appraisal at full value under s. 70.32 (1) of all manufacturing real property in this state.

70.995(8) (8) 

70.995(8)(a) (a) The secretary of revenue shall establish a state board of assessors, which shall be comprised of the members of the department of revenue whom the secretary designates. The state board of assessors shall investigate any timely objection filed under par. (c) or (d) if the fee under that paragraph is paid. The state board of assessors, after having made the investigation, shall notify the person assessed or the person’s agent and the appropriate municipality of its determination by 1st class mail or electronic mail. Beginning with objections filed in 1989, the state board of assessors shall make its determination on or before April 1 of the year after the filing. If the determination results in a refund of property taxes paid, the state board of assessors shall include in the determination a finding of whether the refund is due to false or incomplete information supplied by the person assessed. The person assessed or the municipality having been notified of the determination of the state board of assessors shall be deemed to have accepted the determination unless the person or municipality files a petition for review with the clerk of the tax appeals commission as provided in s. 73.01 (5) and the rules of practice promulgated by the commission. If an assessment is reduced by the state board of assessors, the municipality affected may file an appeal seeking review of the reduction, or may, within 30 days after the person assessed files a petition for review, file a cross-appeal, before the tax appeals commission even though the municipality did not file an objection to the assessment with the board. If the board does not overrule a change from assessment under this section to assessment under s. 70.32 (1), the affected municipality may file an appeal before the tax appeals commission. If an assessment is increased by the board, the person assessed may file an appeal seeking review of the increase, or may, within 30 days after the municipality files a petition for review, file a cross-appeal, before the commission even though the person did not file an objection to the assessment with the board.

70.995(8)(b) (b)

70.995(8)(b)1. 1. The department of revenue shall annually notify each manufacturer assessed under this section and the municipality in which the manufacturing property is located of the full value of all real property owned by the manufacturer. The notice shall be in writing and shall be sent by 1st class mail or electronic mail. In addition, the notice shall specify that objections to valuation, amount, or taxability must be filed with the state board of assessors no later than 60 days after the date of the notice of assessment, that objections to a change from assessment under this section to assessment under s. 70.32 (1) must be filed no later than 60 days after the date of the notice, that the fee under par. (c) 1. or (d) must be paid and that the objection is not filed until the fee is paid. For purposes of this subdivision, an objection is considered timely filed if received by the state board of assessors no later than 60 days after the date of the notice or sent to the state board of assessors by certified mail in a properly addressed envelope, with postage paid, that is postmarked before midnight of the last day for filing. A statement shall be attached to the assessment roll indicating that the notices required by this section have been mailed and failure to receive the notice does not affect the validity of the assessments, the resulting tax on real property, the procedures of the tax appeals commission or of the state board of assessors, or the enforcement of delinquent taxes by statutory means.

70.995(8)(b)2. 2. If a municipality files an objection to the amount, valuation, taxability, or change from assessment under this section and the person assessed does not file an objection, the person assessed may file an appeal within 15 days after the municipality’s objection is filed.

70.995(8)(c) (c)

70.995(8)(c)1. 1. All objections to the amount, valuation, taxability, or change from assessment under this section to assessment under s. 70.32 (1) of property shall be first made in writing on a form prescribed by the department of revenue that specifies that the objector shall set forth the reasons for the objection, the objector’s estimate of the correct assessment, and the basis under s. 70.32 (1) for the objector’s estimate of the correct assessment. An objection shall be filed with the state board of assessors within the time prescribed in par. (b) 1. A $200 fee shall be paid when the objection is filed unless a fee has been paid in respect to the same piece of property and that appeal has not been finally adjudicated. The objection is not filed until the fee is paid. Neither the state board of assessors nor the tax appeals commission may waive the requirement that objections be in writing. Persons who own land and improvements to that land may object to the aggregate value of that land and improvements to that land, but no person who owns land and improvements to that land may object only to the valuation of that land or only to the valuation of improvements to that land.

70.995(8)(c)2. 2. A manufacturer who files an objection under subd. 1. may file supplemental information to support the manufacturer’s objection no later than 60 days from the date the objection is filed. The state board of assessors shall notify the municipality in which the manufacturer’s property is located of supplemental information filed by the manufacturer under this subdivision, if the municipality has filed an appeal related to the objection.

70.995(8)(d) (d) A municipality may file an objection with the state board of assessors to the amount, valuation, or taxability under this section or to the change from assessment under this section to assessment under s. 70.32 (1) of a specific property having a situs in the municipality, whether or not the owner of the specific property in question has filed an objection. Objection shall be made on a form prescribed by the department and filed with the board within the time prescribed in par. (b) 1. If the person assessed files an objection and the municipality affected does not file an objection, the municipality affected may file an appeal to that objection within 15 days after the person’s objection is filed. A $200 filing fee shall be paid when the objection is filed unless a fee has been paid in respect to the same piece of property and that appeal has not been finally adjudicated. The objection is not filed until the fee is paid. The board shall forthwith notify the person assessed of the objection filed by the municipality.

70.995(8)(dm) (dm) The department shall refund filing fees paid under par. (c) 1. or (d) if the appeal in respect to the fee is denied because of lack of jurisdiction.

70.995(8)(e) (e) Upon completion of and review by the tax appeals commission and receipt of the statement of assessments required under s. 70.53, the department of revenue shall be responsible for equating all full-value manufacturing property assessments entered in the manufacturing property assessment roll to the general level of assessment of all other property within the individual taxation district. Thereafter, the manufacturing property assessment roll shall be delivered to the municipal clerk and annexed to the municipal assessment roll containing all other property.

70.995(8)(f) (f) No manufacturing property assessment may be reviewed in a proceeding under s. 70.75 or 70.85, but such assessment may be reviewed in reassessment proceedings under s. 70.75 (1).

70.995 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. TA 1, Wis. adm. code.

70.995(9) (9) Any aggrieved party may appeal a determination by the tax appeals commission under sub. (8) to the circuit court for Dane County under s. 73.015 or to the circuit court for the county where the taxpayer’s commercial domicile, as defined in s. 71.01 (1b), is located, where the taxpayer owns other property, or where the taxpayer transacts business in this state.

70.995(10) (10) Municipalities, and counties with a county assessor system, shall have access to all manufacturing property for the purpose of making appraisals of valuation of such property and may employ appraisal personnel, who need not be certified under s. 70.05 (4), for such purpose.

70.995(11) (11) If any county appoints a county assessor under s. 70.99, the department of revenue shall nevertheless assess the property described in subs. (1) and (2) and shall continue to assess such property when required by this section, and the notice to the municipal assessor required by sub. (6) shall, in such case be made directly to the county assessor.

70.995(12) (12) 

70.995(12)(a) (a) The department of revenue shall prescribe a standard manufacturing property report form that shall be submitted annually for each real estate parcel on or before March 1 by all manufacturers whose property is assessed under this section. The report form shall contain all information considered necessary by the department and shall include, without limitation, income and operating statements, fixed asset schedules, and a report of new construction or demolition. Failure to submit the report shall result in denial of any right of redetermination by the state board of assessors or the tax appeals commission. If any property is omitted or understated in the manufacturing real estate assessment roll in any of the next 5 previous years, or in a manufacturing personal property assessment roll made before January 1, 2024, the assessor shall enter the value of the omitted or understated property once for each previous year of the omission or understatement. The assessor shall affix a just valuation to each entry for a former year as it should have been assessed according to the assessor’s best judgment. Taxes shall be apportioned and collected on the tax roll for each entry, on the basis of the net tax rate for the year of the omission, taking into account credits under s. 79.10. In the case of omitted property, interest shall be added at the rate of 0.0267 percent per day for the period of time between the date when the form is required to be submitted and the date when the assessor affixes the just valuation. In the case of underpayments determined after an objection under sub. (8) (d), interest shall be added at the average annual discount interest rate determined by the last auction of 6-month U.S. treasury bills before the objection per day for the period of time between the date when the tax was due and the date when it is paid.

70.995(12)(b) (b) The department of revenue shall allow an extension to April 1 of the due date for filing the report forms required under par. (a) if a written application for an extension, stating the reason for the request, is filed with the department on or before March 1.

70.995(12)(c) (c) Unless the taxpayer shows that the failure is due to reasonable cause, if a taxpayer fails to file any form required under par. (a) for property that the department of revenue assessed during the previous year by the due date or by any extension of the due date that has been granted, the taxpayer shall pay to the department of revenue a penalty of $25 if the form is filed 1 to 10 days late; $50 or 0.05 percent of the previous year’s assessment, whichever is greater, but not more than $250, if the form is filed 11 to 30 days late; and $100 or 0.1 percent of the previous year’s assessment, whichever is greater, but not more than $750, if the form is filed more than 30 days late. Penalties are due 30 days after they are assessed and are delinquent if not paid on or before that date. The department may refund all or part of any penalty it assesses under this paragraph if it finds reasonable grounds for late filing.

70.995(12)(d) (d) Sections 71.82 (2) (a) and 71.91 (4) to (6), as they apply to the taxes under ch. 71, apply to the penalties under par. (c).

70.995(12m) (12m) Any property assessment increased by the reviewing authority under s. 70.511 shall be entered in the assessment roll as prescribed under sub. (12).

70.995(12r) (12r) The department of revenue shall calculate the value of property that is used in manufacturing, as defined in this section, and that is exempt under s. 70.11 (39) and (39m).

70.995(13) (13) In the sections of this chapter relating to assessment of property, when the property involved is a manufacturing property subject to assessment under this section, the terms “local assessor” or “assessor” shall be deemed to refer also to the department of revenue except as provided in sub. (10).

70.995(14) (14) 

70.995(14)(a) (a) Beginning with the property tax assessments as of January 1, 2003, the department of revenue shall annually impose on each municipality in which manufacturing property is located a fee in an amount that is equal to the equalized value of the manufacturing property located in the municipality multiplied by a rate that is determined annually by the department so that the total amount collected under this paragraph is sufficient to pay for 50 percent of the budgeted costs to the department in the current state fiscal year associated with the assessment of manufacturing property under this section. Except as provided in par. (b), each municipality that is assessed a fee under this paragraph shall collect the amount of the fee as a special charge against the taxable property located in the municipality, except that no municipality may apply the special charge disproportionately to owners of manufacturing property relative to owners of other property.

70.995(14)(b) (b) If the department of revenue does not receive the fee imposed on a municipality under par. (a) by March 31 of each year, the department shall reduce the distribution made to the municipality under s. 79.02 (1) by the amount of the fee.

70.995 History History: 1973 c. 90, 283, 333; 1975 c. 39, 144, 199, 200, 213, 224; 1977 c. 29 ss. 776 to 782, 1646 (3), 1647 (5m), 1656 (38); 1977 c. 31, 142, 272; 1977 c. 300 ss. 7, 8; 1977 c. 328, 377, 418, 447; 1979 c. 34 ss. 883m, 2102 (39) (g); 1979 c. 221; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 27; 1983 a. 275 s. 15 (8); 1985 a. 29; 1985 a. 120 s. 3202 (46); 1987 a. 27, 196, 399; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39, 269; 1993 a. 307, 391; 1995 a. 227, 408; 1997 a. 35, 237, 250; 1999 a. 32; 2001 a. 16, 109; 2003 a. 33, 170; 2013 a. 20, 54; 2021 a. 1, 239; 2023 a. 12; s. 35.17 correction in (12) (a).

70.995 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. Tax 12.10, Wis. adm. code.

70.995 Annotation The board of assessors committed jurisdictional error by disregarding market adjustments that were not disputed during assessment review proceedings. This section does not contravene either the uniform taxation or equal protection clauses. State ex rel. Fort Howard Paper Co. v. Wisconsin Lake District Board of Review, 82 Wis. 2d 491, 263 N.W.2d 178 (1978).

70.995 Annotation If a business does not fit within a category listed in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual under sub. (1) or is not listed under sub. (2), the Property Assessment Manual may be looked to, to determine if property is manufacturing property. The manual provides that the general definition under sub. (1) (a) and (b) is to be considered and supplies three questions to be used in applying the definition. Zip Sort, Inc. v. DOR, 2001 WI App 185, 247 Wis. 2d 295, 634 N.W.2d 99, 00-2824.

70.995 Annotation That the taxpayer was a wholesaler of fresh fruits and vegetables did not mean that its ripening chambers could not qualify as manufacturing property under this section. The 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Manual, and not subsequently revised versions of the manual, must be followed under sub. (2) until the legislature directs otherwise. When the taxpayer’s activities did not fit squarely into a particular SIC Manual category, the commission then reasonably looked to the general definition of manufacturing in the SIC Manual to assist it in classifying the facility. DOR v. A. Gagliano Co., 2005 WI App 170, 284 Wis. 2d 741, 702 N.W.2d 834, 03-3538.