Chapter 71

71.36(1m)(a) (a) A tax-option corporation may deduct from its net income all amounts included in the Wisconsin adjusted gross income of its shareholders, the capital gain deduction under s. 71.05 (6) (b) 9. and all amounts not taxable to nonresident shareholders under ss. 71.04 (1) and (4) to (9) and 71.362.

71.36(1m)(b) (b) For purposes of this subsection, interest on any of the following obligations is not included in shareholders’ income:

71.36(1m)(b)1. 1. Interest on federal obligations.

71.36(1m)(b)2. 2. Interest on obligations issued under s. 66.0304 by a commission if the bonds or notes are used to fund multifamily affordable housing projects or elderly housing projects in this state, and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority has the authority to issue its bonds or notes for the project being funded, or if the bonds or notes are used by a health facility, as defined in s. 231.01 (5), to fund the acquisition of information technology hardware or software, in this state, and the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority has the authority to issue its bonds or notes for the project being funded, or if the bonds or notes are issued to fund a redevelopment project in this state or a housing project in this state, and the authority exists for bonds or notes to be issued by an entity described under s. 66.1201, 66.1333, or 66.1335.

71.36(1m)(b)3. 3. Interest on obligations issued under s. 66.0621 by a local professional baseball park district, a local professional football stadium district, or a local cultural arts district.

71.36(1m)(b)4. 4. Interest on obligations issued under ss. 66.1201, 66.1333, and 66.1335.

71.36(1m)(b)5. 5. Interest on obligations issued under s. 234.65 to fund an economic development loan to finance construction, renovation or development of property that would be exempt under s. 70.11 (36).

71.36(1m)(b)6. 6. Interest on obligations issued under subch. II of ch. 229.

71.36(1m)(c) (c) The proportionate share of the net loss of a tax-option corporation shall be attributed and made available to shareholders on a Wisconsin basis but subject to the limitation and carry-over rules as prescribed by section 1366 (d) of the Internal Revenue Code. Net operating losses of the corporation to the extent attributed or made available to a shareholder may not be used by the corporation for further tax benefit. For purposes of computing the Wisconsin adjusted gross income of shareholders, tax-option items shall be reported by the shareholders and those tax-option items, including capital gains and losses, shall retain the character they would have if attributed to the corporation, including their character as business income. In computing the tax liability of a shareholder, no credit against gross tax that would be available to the tax-option corporation if it were a nontax-option corporation may be claimed.

71.36(2) (2) A tax-option corporation shall separately state all tax-option items the separate treatment of which may affect the liability of any shareholder for tax under this chapter.

71.36(3) (3) 

71.36(3)(a) (a) The tax treatment of all tax-option items shall be determined at the corporate level.

71.36(3)(b) (b) All shareholders of tax-option corporations shall treat tax-option items on their returns under this chapter in a manner consistent with the manner in which those tax-option items are treated on the corporation’s Wisconsin income or franchise tax return or shall notify the department of revenue of any inconsistency and the reason for it.

71.36(4) (4) Every tax-option corporation that is required to file a return under s. 71.24 (1) shall, on or before the due date of the return, including extensions, provide a schedule to each shareholder whose share of income, deductions, credits, or other items of the tax-option corporation may affect the shareholder’s tax liability under this chapter. The schedule shall separately indicate the shareholder’s share of each item.

71.36 History History: 1987 a. 312; 1995 a. 27, 56; 1999 a. 65; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 1999 a. 167; 2001 a. 38; 2009 a. 28, 205; 2017 a. 368.

71.362 71.362 Situs of income.

71.362(1) (1) All tax-option items of nonresident individuals, nonresident estates and nonresident trusts derived from a tax-option corporation not requiring apportionment under sub. (2) shall follow the situs of the business of the corporation from which they are derived, except that all income that is realized from the sale of or purchase and subsequent sale or redemption of lottery prizes if the winning tickets were originally bought in this state shall be allocated to this state.

71.362(2) (2) Nonresident individuals, nonresident estates and nonresident trusts deriving income from a tax-option corporation which is engaged in business within and without this state shall be taxed only on the income of the corporation derived from business transacted and property located in this state and losses and other items of the corporation deductible by such shareholders shall be limited to their proportionate share of the Wisconsin loss or other item, except that all income that is realized from the sale of or purchase and subsequent sale or redemption of lottery prizes if the winning tickets were originally bought in this state shall be allocated to this state. For purposes of this subsection, all intangible income of tax-option corporations passed through to shareholders is business income that follows the situs of the business, except that all income that is realized from the sale of or purchase and subsequent sale or redemption of lottery prizes if the winning tickets were originally bought in this state shall be allocated to this state.

71.362 History History: 1987 a. 312; 1999 a. 9.

71.365 71.365 General provisions.

71.365(1) (1) Adjusted basis of shareholders’ stock in tax-option corporation.

71.365(1)(a) (a) For purposes of this chapter, the adjusted basis of a shareholder in the stock and indebtedness of a tax-option corporation shall be determined in the manner prescribed by the internal revenue code for a shareholder of an S corporation, except that the nature and amount of items affecting that basis shall be determined under this chapter. This paragraph does not apply to 1978 and earlier taxable years of corporations which were S corporations for federal income tax purposes or to taxable years of corporations for which an election has been made under sub. (4) (a).

71.365(1)(b) (b) The adjusted basis of a shareholder in the stock and indebtedness of a tax-option corporation that has made an election under sub. (4m) (a) is determined as if the election was not made.

71.365(1m) (1m) Tax-option corporations; depreciation. For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2014, a tax-option corporation shall compute amortization and depreciation under the federal Internal Revenue Code as amended to December 31, 2000, except that property first placed in service by the taxpayer on or after January 1, 1983, but before January 1, 1987, that, under s. 71.04 (15) (b) and (br), 1985 stats., is required to be depreciated under the Internal Revenue Code as amended to December 31, 1980, and property first placed in service in taxable year 1981 or thereafter but before January 1, 1987, that, under s. 71.04 (15) (bm), 1985 stats., is required to be depreciated under the Internal Revenue Code as amended to December 31, 1980, shall continue to be depreciated under the Internal Revenue Code as amended to December 31, 1980. Any difference between the adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes and the adjusted basis under this chapter shall be taken into account in determining net income or loss in the year or years for which the gain or loss is reportable under this chapter. If that property was placed in service by the taxpayer during taxable year 1986 and thereafter but before the property is used in the production of income subject to taxation under this chapter, the property’s adjusted basis and the depreciation or other deduction schedule are not required to be changed from the amount allowable on the owner’s federal income tax returns for any year because the property is used in the production of income subject to taxation under this chapter. If that property was acquired in a transaction in taxable year 1986 or thereafter in which the adjusted basis of the property in the hands of the transferee is the same as the adjusted basis of the property in the hands of the transferor, the Wisconsin adjusted basis of that property on the date of transfer is the adjusted basis allowable under the Internal Revenue Code as defined for Wisconsin purposes for the property in the hands of the transferor.

71.365(2) (2) Corporation business loss carry-forward prohibition. The corporation net business loss carry-forward provided by s. 71.26 (4) may not be claimed by a tax-option corporation.

71.365(3) (3) Credits not allowed. The credits under s. 71.28 (4m) may not be claimed by a tax-option corporation or shareholders of a tax-option corporation.

71.365(4) (4) Election to change from tax-option status.

71.365(4)(a) (a) If persons who hold more than 50 percent of the shares on the day on which this election is made consent, a corporation that is an S corporation for federal income tax purposes and that does not have a qualified subchapter S subsidiary may elect, on or before the due date or extended due date of its return under this chapter, not to be a tax-option corporation for that taxable year and for later taxable years until its status is again changed.

71.365(4)(b) (b) If persons who, on the day on which the election occurs, hold more than 50 percent of the shares of a corporation that has elected out under par. (a) consent, a corporation that is an S corporation for federal income tax purposes may elect, on or before the due date or extended due date of its return under this chapter, to be a tax-option corporation for that taxable year, except that no corporation electing under par. (a) and no successor of such a corporation may be a tax-option corporation for any of the next 4 taxable years after the taxable year to which its election under par. (a) first applies.

71.365(4m) (4m) Tax-option corporation election to pay franchise or income tax at the entity level.

71.365(4m)(a) (a) If persons who hold more than 50 percent of the shares on the day on which an election under this paragraph is made consent, a corporation that is an S corporation for federal income tax purposes may elect, on or before the due date or extended due date of its return under this chapter, to be taxed at the entity level at a rate of 7.9 percent of net income reportable to this state as described in par. (d) 1. for that taxable year.

71.365(4m)(b) (b) It is the intent of the election under par. (a) that shareholders of a tax-option corporation may not include in their Wisconsin adjusted gross income their proportionate share of all items of income, gain, loss, or deduction of the tax-option corporation. It is also the intent that the tax-option corporation shall pay tax on items that would otherwise be taxed if this election was not made.

71.365(4m)(c) (c) If persons who, on the day on which the election under this paragraph is made, hold more than 50 percent of the shares of a corporation that has elected to be taxed at the entity level under par. (a) consent, a corporation that is an S corporation for federal income tax purposes may elect, on or before the due date or extended due date of its return under this chapter, to revoke for that taxable year its election under par. (a).

71.365(4m)(d) (d) If an election is made under par. (a), all of the following apply:

71.365(4m)(d)1. 1. The net income of the tax-option corporation is computed under s. 71.34 (1k), with the following modifications, and the situs of income shall be determined as if the election was not made:

71.365(4m)(d)1.a. a. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019, and before January 1, 2023, an adjustment shall be made so that the net capital loss, after netting capital gains and capital losses to arrive at total capital gain or loss, is offset against income only to the extent of $500. Losses in excess of $500 shall be carried forward to the next taxable year for which an election is made under par. (a) and offset against income up to the limit under this subd. 1. a. Losses shall be used in the order in which they accrue.

71.365(4m)(d)1.am. am. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, an adjustment shall be made so that the net capital loss, after netting capital gains and capital losses to arrive at total capital gain or loss, is offset against income only to the extent of $3,000. Losses in excess of $3,000 shall be carried forward to the next taxable year for which an election is made under par. (a) and offset against income up to the limit under this subd. 1. am. Losses shall be used in the order in which they accrue.

71.365(4m)(d)1.b. b. The subtraction under s. 71.05 (6) (b) 9. or 9m. shall be allowed.

71.365(4m)(d)1.bd. bd. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, the income exclusion under s. 71.05 (1) (i) shall be allowed.

71.365(4m)(d)2. 2. Except as provided in s. 71.07 (7) (b) 3., the tax credits under this chapter may not be claimed by the tax-option corporation.

71.365(4m)(d)3. 3. The tax-option corporation may not claim losses under ss. 71.05 (8) and 71.26 (4).

71.365(4m)(d)4. 4. The provisions of ss. 71.29 and 71.84 relating to estimated payments and underpayment interest shall apply to the tax-option corporation for the taxable year beginning in 2019 and later years.

71.365(4m)(d)5. 5. If the tax-option corporation fails to pay the amount owed to the department with respect to income as a result of the election under par. (a), the department may collect such amount from the shareholders based on their proportionate share of such income.

71.365(4m)(e) (e) The department may promulgate rules to implement this subsection.

71.365(5) (5) Federal return copy. A tax-option corporation shall file with its state franchise or income tax return an exact copy of its federal income tax return for the same year and shall file any other return or statement filed with or made to, or any document received from, the U.S. internal revenue service, and any form required of that corporation and prescribed by the department of revenue, affecting the taxation of its shareholders.

71.365(6) (6) Notice to shareholders of appeals and other proceedings. Except as provided in s. 71.745, any notice of determination by the department of any tax-option item may be contested by a tax-option corporation under subch. XIV. A tax-option corporation shall timely notify all shareholders of any administrative or judicial proceeding about the determination of any tax-option item. Each shareholder may participate in any such proceeding and shall be bound by the final determination in that proceeding.

71.365(7) (7) Qualified subchapter S subsidiaries. If a tax-option corporation elects to treat a subsidiary as a qualified subchapter S subsidiary for federal purposes, that election also applies for this chapter. If this state has jurisdiction to impose the taxes under this chapter on the qualified subchapter S subsidiary, this state has the jurisdiction to impose the taxes under this chapter on the tax-option corporation.

71.365(9) (9) Adjustment under rules. A corporation that elects under sub. (4) (a) not to be a tax-option corporation and a corporation that elects to become a tax-option corporation shall adjust its income, under rules promulgated by the department of revenue, for the taxable year for which that election is first effective to avoid the omission or double inclusion of any item of income, loss or deduction.

71.365 History History: 1987 a. 312; 1987 a. 411 ss. 40, 50, 147; 1989 a. 31, 336; 1991 a. 39, 269; 1993 a. 16, 437; 1995 a. 27, 380; 1997 a. 27, 37, 237; 1999 a. 9, 194; 2001 a. 109; 2005 a. 362; 2009 a. 28; 2013 a. 20; 2017 a. 368; 2021 a. 2, 157, 262; 2023 a. 146.

71.365 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. Tax 2.03, Wis. adm. code.

subch. VI of ch. 71 SUBCHAPTER VI

URBAN TRANSIT COMPANIES

71.37 71.37 Conformity. Unless otherwise provided in this subchapter or the context requires otherwise, urban transit companies are subject to this chapter.

71.37 History History: 1987 a. 312.

71.38 71.38 Definition. In this subchapter, “urban mass transportation of passengers” means the transportation of passengers by means of vehicles having a passenger-carrying capacity of 10 or more persons including the operator, such capacity to be determined by dividing by 20 the total seating space measured in inches, when such transportation takes place entirely within contiguous cities, villages or towns and in cities, villages or towns contiguous to that in which the carrier has its principal place of business, or within or between cities, villages or towns located within a radius of 10 miles of the city, village or town in which the carrier has its principal place of business, or entirely within one city, village or town contiguous thereto, or within a county having a population of 750,000 or more or within such county and the counties contiguous thereto, or suburban operations classified as such by the department of transportation.

71.38 History History: 1987 a. 312; 1993 a. 16, 246; 2017 a. 207 s. 5.

71.385 71.385 Determination of cost. The cost of property used and useful in providing urban mass transportation of passengers and the depreciation accrued on such property shall be determined on the basis of the reports and orders on file with the department of transportation.

71.385 History History: 1987 a. 312; 1993 a. 16.

71.39 71.39 Imposition of tax.

71.39(1) (1) Special tax; computation. In lieu of the income and franchise tax rates prescribed in s. 71.27, there shall be assessed, levied and collected upon the taxable income of every corporation whose principal source (defined for purposes of this subchapter as being 50 percent or more) of gross income is the urban mass transportation of passengers a special income tax of 50 percent determined in accordance with this chapter, except that:

71.39(1)(a) (a) United States income, excess or war profits and defense taxes shall be allowed as a deduction from gross income to the extent of the total payment actually made during the tax year.

71.39(1)(b) (b) A deduction shall be allowed from such taxable income before the imposition of the special tax levied by this section, in an amount equivalent to 8 percent of the amount by which the cost of the property of such corporation used and useful in providing its urban mass transportation of passengers exceeds the cumulated amount of the depreciation accrued against such property as of the end of the fiscal year for which the income or franchise tax return is filed.

71.39(1)(c) (c) An amount shall be added to such taxable income, before imposition of the special tax levied by this section, which amount shall be equivalent to the interest paid during the year in the operation of the business from which its income is derived.

71.39(2) (2) Determination of net business loss. The addition to and deductions from income of urban transit companies under sub. (1) shall be used in determining the Wisconsin net business loss of such companies to be offset against the Wisconsin net business income as determined under this section for purposes of s. 71.26 (4).

71.39 History History: 1987 a. 312; 1991 a. 39.

71.40 71.40 Filing of returns. The special income tax assessed under this subchapter shall be reported in an income or franchise tax return filed in accordance with this chapter, except as modified by this subchapter. The tax so reported and assessed shall be payable to the department of revenue.

71.40 History History: 1987 a. 312; 1991 a. 39.

subch. VII of ch. 71 SUBCHAPTER VII

TAXATION OF INSURANCE COMPANIES

71.42 71.42 Definitions. In this subchapter:

71.42(1b) (1b) “Aggregate effective tax rate” means the sum of the effective tax rates imposed by a state, U.S. possession, foreign country, or any combination thereof, on the person or entity.

71.42(1g) (1g) “Corporation” means insurance corporations, insurance joint stock companies, insurance associations and insurance common law trusts, unless the context requires otherwise.

71.42(1m) (1m) “Department” means the department of revenue.

71.42(1s) (1s) “Effective tax rate” means the maximum tax rate imposed by the state, U.S. possession, or foreign country, multiplied by the apportionment percentage, if any, applicable to the person or entity under the laws of that state, U.S. possession, or foreign country.

71.42(1sg) (1sg) For purposes of ss. 71.45 (2) (a) 16. and 18. and 71.255 (2) (d) 1., “intangible expenses” include the following, to the extent that the amounts would otherwise be deductible in computing net income under the Internal Revenue Code, as adjusted under s. 71.45 (2):

71.42(1sg)(a) (a) Expenses, losses, and costs for, related to, or directly or indirectly in connection with the acquisition, use, maintenance, management, ownership, sale, exchange, or any other disposition of intangible property.

71.42(1sg)(b) (b) Losses related to, or incurred in connection directly or indirectly with, factoring transactions or discounting transactions.

71.42(1sg)(c) (c) Royalty, patent, technical, and copyright fees.

71.42(1sg)(d) (d) Licensing fees.

71.42(1sg)(e) (e) Other similar expenses, losses, and costs.

71.42(1sh) (1sh) “Intangible property” includes stocks, bonds, financial instruments, patents, patent applications, trade names, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, mask works, trade secrets, and similar types of intangible assets.

71.42(1t) (1t) For purposes of ss. 71.45 (2) (a) 16. and 18. and 71.255 (2) (d) 1., “interest expenses” means interest that would otherwise be deductible under section 163 of the Internal Revenue Code, as adjusted under s. 71.45 (2).

71.42(2) (2) 

71.42(2)(j) (j)

71.42(2)(j)1. 1. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013, and before January 1, 2017, “Internal Revenue Code” means the federal Internal Revenue Code as amended to December 31, 2013, except as provided in subds. 2. to 4. and subject to subd. 5.

71.42(2)(j)2. 2. For purposes of this paragraph, “Internal Revenue Code” does not include the following provisions of federal public laws for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013: section 13113 of P.L 103-66; sections 1, 3, 4, and 5 of P.L. 106-519; sections 101, 102, and 422 of P.L 108-357; sections 1310 and 1351 of P.L. 109-58; section 11146 of P.L. 109-59; section 403 (q) of P.L. 109-135; section 513 of P.L. 109-222; sections 104 and 307 of P.L. 109-432; sections 8233 and 8235 of P.L. 110-28; section 11 (e) and (g) of P.L. 110-172; section 301 of P.L. 110-245; sections 15303 and 15351 of P.L. 110-246; section 302 of division A, section 401 of division B, and sections 312, 322, 502 (c), 707, and 801 of division C of P.L. 110-343; sections 1232, 1241, 1251, 1501, and 1502 of division B of P.L. 111-5; sections 211, 212, 213, 214, and 216 of P.L. 111-226; sections 2011 and 2122 of P.L. 111-240; sections 753, 754, and 760 of P.L. 111-312; section 1106 of P.L. 112-95; and sections 104, 318, 322, 323, 324, 326, 327, and 411 of P.L. 112-240.

71.42(2)(j)3. 3. For purposes of this paragraph, “Internal Revenue Code” does not include amendments to the federal Internal Revenue Code enacted after December 31, 2013, except that “Internal Revenue Code” includes the provisions of the following federal public laws:

71.42(2)(j)3.a. a. P.L. 113-97.

71.42(2)(j)3.b. b. P.L. 113-159.