Chapter 71

71.613(2)(bm) (bm) For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, the amount that may be claimed per qualifying acre under par. (b) shall be $10.

71.613(2)(c) (c) Except as provided in par. (cm), $5, if the qualifying acres are subject to a farmland preservation agreement that is entered into after July 1, 2009, but are not located in a farmland preservation zoning district.

71.613(2)(cm) (cm) For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, the amount that may be claimed per qualifying acre under par. (c) shall be $10.

71.613(2)(d) (d) For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, $10, if the qualifying acres are subject to sub. (1) (h) 4., but only to the extent that such acres are covered by an agricultural conservation easement purchased under s. 93.73.

71.613(3) (3) Limitations and conditions.

71.613(3)(a) (a) No credit may be allowed under this section unless all of the following apply:

71.613(3)(a)1. 1. The claimant certifies to the department that the claimant has paid, or is legally responsible for paying, the property taxes levied against the qualifying acres to which the claim relates.

71.613(3)(a)2. 2. The claimant certifies to the department that at the end of the taxable year to which the claim relates or, on the date on which the person transferred the person’s ownership interest in the farm if the transfer occurs during the taxable year to which the claim relates, there was no outstanding notice of noncompliance issued against the farm under s. 91.82 (2).

71.613(3)(a)3. 3. The claimant submits to the department a certification of compliance with soil and water conservation standards, as required by s. 91.80, issued by the county land conservation committee unless, in the last preceding year, the claimant received a tax credit under ss. 71.57 to 71.61 or this section for the same farm.

71.613(3)(b) (b) If a farm is jointly owned by 2 or more persons who file separate income or franchise tax returns, each person may claim a credit under this section based on the person’s ownership interest in the farm.

71.613(3)(c) (c) If a person acquires or transfers ownership of a farm during a taxable year for which a claim may be filed under this section, the person may file a claim under this section based on the person’s liability for the property taxes levied on the person’s qualifying acres for the taxable year to which the claim relates.

71.613(3)(d) (d) A claimant shall claim the credit under this section on a form prepared by the department and shall submit any documentation required by the department. On the claim form, the claimant shall certify all of the following:

71.613(3)(d)1. 1. The number of qualifying acres for which the credit is claimed.

71.613(3)(d)2. 2. The location and tax parcel number for each parcel on which the qualifying acres are located.

71.613(3)(d)4. 4. That the qualifying acres are covered by a farmland preservation agreement or located in a farmland preservation zoning district, or both.

71.613(3)(d)5. 5. That the qualifying acres are part of a farm that complies with applicable state soil and water conservation standards, as required by s. 91.80.

71.613(3)(e) (e) No credit may be allowed under this section unless it is claimed within the time period under s. 71.75 (2).

71.613(3)(f) (f) The maximum amount of the credits that may be claimed under this section in the 2011-2012 fiscal year and the 2012-2013 fiscal year is $27,007,200. If the total amount of eligible claims exceed this amount, the excess claims shall be paid in the next succeeding fiscal year to ensure that the limit specified in this paragraph is not exceeded.

71.613(3)(g) (g) For the 2011-2012 fiscal year, and for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, the department shall prorate the per acre amounts specified in sub. (2) based on the department’s estimated amount of eligible claims that will be filed for that fiscal year, and to account for any excess claims from the preceding fiscal year that are required to be paid under par. (f).

71.613(3)(h) (h) If the payment to which an eligible claimant is entitled under sub. (2) is delayed because the claim was an excess claim, as described in par. (f), the claimant is not entitled to any interest payment under s. 71.82 with regard to the delayed claim or with regard to any other refund to which the claimant is entitled if that other refund claim is claimed on the same income tax return as the credit under this section.

71.613(4) (4) Administration. The department may enforce the credit under this section and may take any action, conduct any proceeding, and proceed as it is authorized in respect to taxes under this chapter. The income and franchise tax provisions in this chapter relating to assessments, refunds, appeals, collection, interest, and penalties apply to the credit under this section.

71.613 History History: 2009 a. 28; 2013 a. 20; 2017 a. 59; 2023 a. 42.

subch. X of ch. 71 SUBCHAPTER X

WITHHOLDING

71.63 71.63 Definitions. In this subchapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

71.63(1) (1) “Department” means the department of revenue.

71.63(1m) (1m) “Deposit” means mail or deliver funds to the department or, if the department prescribes another method of submitting or if the department of administration designates under s. 34.05 another destination, use that other method or submit to that other destination.

71.63(2) (2) “Employee” means a resident individual who performs or performed services for an employer anywhere or a nonresident individual who performs or performed such services within this state, and includes an officer, employee or elected official of the United States, a state, territory, or any political subdivision thereof, or the District of Columbia, or any agency or instrumentality of any one or more of these entities. The term includes an officer of a corporation, an entertainer and an entertainment corporation, but does not include a direct seller who is not treated as an employee under section 3508 of the Internal Revenue Code or a real estate broker or salesperson who is excluded under s. 452.38.

71.63(3) (3) “Employer” means a person, partnership or limited liability company, whether subject to or exempt from taxation under this chapter, for whom an individual performs or performed any service as an employee of that person, partnership or company and includes a person, partnership or company that engages the services of an entertainer or an entertainment corporation, except that:

71.63(3)(a) (a) If the person for whom the individual performs or performed the services does not have control of the payment of the wages for those services, “employer”, except for purposes of sub. (6), means the person having receipt, custody or control of the payment of those wages.

71.63(3)(b) (b) If a resident person, including but not limited to a ticket agency or box office manager, has receipt, custody or control of the proceeds of an event taking place and the proceeds are paid to an entertainer or entertainment corporation or to any nonresident person who has engaged the services of an entertainer or entertainment corporation, “employer” means the resident person, firm or nonresident person having the receipt, custody or control of the proceeds.

71.63(3)(c) (c) In regard to a single-owner entity that is disregarded as a separate entity under section 7701 of the Internal Revenue Code, the entity is the employer for purposes of this subchapter.

71.63(3)(d) (d) With regard to s. 71.65 (6), “employer” means a person described in s. 108.18 (2) (c) or a person engaged in the painting or drywall finishing of buildings or other structures.

71.63(3m) (3m) “File” means mail or deliver a document that the department prescribes to the department or, if the department prescribes another method of submitting or the department of administration designates under s. 34.05 another destination, use that other method or submit to that other destination.

71.63(3r) (3r) “Furnish” means mail or deliver a document that the department prescribes to the department or, if the department prescribes another method of submitting or another destination, use that other method or submit to that other destination.

71.63(4) (4) “Income”, “person” and all other terms not otherwise defined, have the same meaning as in the internal revenue code.

71.63(5) (5) “Payroll period” means a period for which a payment of wages is ordinarily made to the employee by his or her employer, and the term “miscellaneous payroll period” means a payroll period other than a daily, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual payroll period.

71.63(5m) (5m) “Remit” means mail or deliver funds to the department or, if the department prescribes another method of submitting or if the department of administration designates under s. 34.05 another destination, use that other method or submit to that other destination.

71.63(6) (6) “Wages” means all remuneration, other than fees paid to a public official, for services performed by an employee for an employer, including cash value of all remuneration paid in any medium other than cash and remuneration paid to an entertainer or entertainment corporation, minus the amount of remuneration not subject to tax under this chapter, but does not include remuneration paid:

71.63(6)(a) (a) For active service as a member of the armed forces of the United States for any month during any part of which such member served in a combat zone during an induction period or was hospitalized as a result of wounds, disease or injury incurred while serving in a combat zone during an induction period, but this paragraph shall not apply for any month during any part of which there are no combatant activities in any combat zone and remuneration, for purposes of this paragraph, shall not include pensions and retirement pay.

71.63(6)(b) (b) For agricultural labor, including all service performed:

71.63(6)(b)1. 1. On a farm, in the employ of any person, in connection with cultivating the soil, or in connection with raising or harvesting any agricultural or horticultural commodity, including the raising, shearing, feeding, caring for, training and management of livestock, bees, poultry and fur-bearing animals and wildlife;

71.63(6)(b)2. 2. In the employ of the owner or tenant or other operator of a farm, in connection with the operation, management, conservation, improvement or maintenance of such farm and its tools and equipment, or in salvaging timber or clearing land of brush and other debris left by a hurricane, if the major part of such service is performed on a farm;

71.63(6)(b)3. 3. In connection with the production or harvesting of crude gum, gum spirits of turpentine or gum rosin, in connection with the ginning of cotton, or in connection with the operation or maintenance of ditches, canals, reservoirs or waterways, not owned or operated for profit, used exclusively for supplying and storing water for farm purposes;

71.63(6)(b)4. 4. In the employ of the operator of a farm in handling, planting, drying, packaging, processing, freezing, grading, storing or delivering to storage or to market or to a carrier for transportation to market, in its unmanufactured state, any agricultural or horticultural commodity, but only if such operator produced more than one-half of the commodity with respect to which such service was performed, or in the employ of a group of operators of farms, other than a cooperative organization or an unincorporated cooperative association, in the performance of such services, but only if such operators produced all of the commodity with respect to which such service is performed, but the provisions of this subdivision shall not be deemed to be applicable with respect to service performed in connection with commercial canning or commercial freezing or in connection with any agricultural or horticultural commodity after its delivery to a terminal market for distribution or consumption;

71.63(6)(b)5. 5. On a farm operated for profit if such service is not in the course of the employer’s trade or business;

71.63(6)(b)6. 6. In this paragraph, “farm” includes stock, dairy, poultry, fruit, fur-bearing animals and truck farms, plantations, ranches, nurseries, ranges, greenhouses, or other similar structures used primarily for the raising of agricultural or horticultural commodities, and orchards.

71.63(6)(c) (c) For domestic service in a private home, local college club or local chapter of a college fraternity or sorority.

71.63(6)(d) (d) For service not in the course of the employer’s trade or business performed in any calendar quarter by an employee, unless the cash remuneration paid for such service is $50 or more and such service is performed by an individual who is regularly employed by such employer to perform such service. An individual shall be deemed to be regularly employed by an employer during a calendar quarter only if on each of some 24 days during such quarter such individual performs, for such employer, for some portion of the day, service not in the course of the employer’s trade or business, or such individual was regularly employed (as defined in this paragraph) by such employer in the performance of such service during the preceding calendar quarter.

71.63(6)(e) (e) For services by a citizen or resident of the United States for a foreign government or an international organization.

71.63(6)(f) (f) For services performed by a duly ordained, commissioned or licensed minister of a church in the exercise of his or her ministry or by a member of a religious order in the exercise of duties required by such order.

71.63(6)(g) (g) For services performed by an individual under the age of 18 in the delivery or distribution of newspapers or shopping news, not including delivery or distribution to any point for subsequent delivery or distribution.

71.63(6)(h) (h) For services performed by an individual in, and at the time of, the sale of newspapers or magazines to ultimate consumers, under an arrangement under which the newspapers or magazines are to be sold by him or her at a fixed price, his or her compensation being based on the retention of the excess of such price over the amount at which newspapers or magazines are charged to him or her, whether or not he or she is guaranteed a minimum amount of compensation for such services, or is entitled to be credited with the unsold newspapers or magazines turned back.

71.63(6)(i) (i) For services not in the course of the employer’s trade or business to the extent paid in any medium other than cash.

71.63(6)(j) (j) To, or on behalf of, an employee or his or her beneficiary from a trust created or organized in the United States and forming part of a stock bonus, pension or profit sharing plan of an employer for the exclusive benefit of his or her employees or their beneficiaries and which trust is exempt from taxation, unless such payment is made to an employee of the trust as remuneration for services rendered as such employee and not as a beneficiary of the trust.

71.63(6)(k) (k) For personal services performed in Wisconsin in the form of retirement, pension and profit-sharing benefits, received by nonresidents after retirement from the employ of the employer for whom such personal services were performed.

71.63(6)(L) (L) To, or on behalf of, an employee or beneficiary from a plan or contract described in s. 815.18 (3) (j) under which the benefits are fully funded by life insurance or annuities.

71.63(6)(m) (m) If the remuneration paid by an employer to an employee for services performed during one-half or more of any payroll period of not more than 31 consecutive days constitutes wages, all the remuneration paid by such employer to such employee for such period shall be deemed to be wages; but if the remuneration paid by an employer to an employee for services performed during more than one-half of any such payroll period does not constitute wages, then none of the remuneration paid by such employer to such employee for such period shall be deemed to be wages.

71.63(6)(n) (n) In the form of tips paid to employees if:

71.63(6)(n)1. 1. The tips are paid in a medium other than cash; or

71.63(6)(n)2. 2. The cash tips received by an employee in any calendar month in the course of employment by an employer are less than $20. However, if such cash tips received in a calendar month amount to $20 or more none of such cash tips are excepted from wages under this section.

71.63 History History: 1987 a. 312; 1989 a. 278; 1993 a. 112; 1997 a. 27; 2005 a. 49, 441; 2009 a. 28, 288; 2011 a. 259; 2015 a. 216, 258.

71.63 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. Tax 2.90, Wis. adm. code.

71.64 71.64 Employers required to withhold.

71.64(1) (1) Withholding from wages.

71.64(1)(a) (a) Every employer at the time of payment of wages to an employee shall deduct and withhold from such wages, without regard for federal insurance contributions act deductions therefrom, an amount determined in accordance with tables to be prepared by the department under sub. (9). The secretary may grant permission to employers who do not desire to use the withholding tax tables provided by the department to determine the amount of tax to be withheld by use of a method of withholding other than the withholding tax tables, provided such method will withhold from each employee substantially the same amount as would be withheld by use of the withholding tax tables. Employers who desire to determine the amount of tax to be withheld by a method other than by use of the withholding tax tables shall obtain permission from the secretary before the beginning of a payroll period for which the employer desires to withhold the tax by such other method. Applications for use of such other method must be accompanied by evidence establishing the need for the use of such method.

71.64(1)(b) (b) An employer may, at his or her discretion, deduct and withhold from any one payment of wages in a month, in the case of an employee paid more often than once during any month, the total amount which the employer reasonably estimates he or she will be required to withhold under this section from such employee during that month. Permission from the secretary under par. (a) is not needed by any employer acting under this paragraph.

71.64(1)(c) (c) Withholding from marital income shall be allocated between taxpayers in the same manner that income is allocated or would be allocated.

71.64(2) (2) Changing amount of withholding by written agreement between employer and employee.

71.64(2)(a) (a) Additional amount. In addition to the amount required to be deducted and withheld, an employer and employee may agree in writing that an additional amount shall be withheld from the employee’s wages. The amount deducted and withheld pursuant to such an agreement shall be considered as an amount required to be deducted and withheld for all purposes of this subchapter.

71.64(2)(b) (b) Lesser amount. In lieu of the amount required to be deducted and withheld under this section, an employer and employee may agree in writing on a form prescribed and provided by the department that a lesser amount be withheld from the employee’s wages if:

71.64(2)(b)1. 1. The employee determines that the lesser amount approximates the employee’s anticipated income tax liability for the year.

71.64(2)(b)2. 2. The employee sends a copy of the completed agreement form to the department within 10 days after it is filed with the employer.

71.64(2)(b)3. 3. The agreement expires on April 30 of the following year, for calendar year taxpayers, or 4 months following the close of their fiscal year, for fiscal year taxpayers.

71.64(2)(c) (c) Department may void agreement. If the department determines that an agreement under par. (b) would result in an insufficient amount of tax being withheld, the department may void the agreement by notification to the employer and employee.

71.64(3) (3) Withholding from pension or sick pay plan. If a payee furnishes written notification to a payor of any pension or to a 3rd-party payor of any sick pay plan that the payee desires to have Wisconsin income tax withheld from the pension or sick pay plan, the payor shall withhold from each pension payment or sick pay payment an amount in accordance with the withholding tables or the amount that the payee designates to the payor. The amount withheld from each payment may not be less than $5. For purposes of this subsection, “pension” includes any retirement payment plan, and “sick pay” includes any amount paid to an employee as remuneration or paid instead of remuneration for any period when the employee is temporarily absent from work because of sickness or personal injuries. Payors withholding under this subsection are employers for all purposes of this section and shall withhold, remit and be subject to the other requirements of an employer in withholding Wisconsin income tax from employees.

71.64(4) (4) Withholding from payments made to entertainers. For purposes of this section, all payments made to entertainers and entertainment corporations, except payments made as provided under s. 71.80 (15) (b) 2., are presumed subject to withholding unless the recipient provides to the person making the payment a written statement, on a form prescribed by the department, certifying that the payment is exempt under sub. (6) (b) or s. 71.05 (2).

71.64(5) (5) Withholding from entertainer in absence of bond or cash deposit. If no bond or cash deposit is made under s. 71.80 (15) (b) by an entertainer or entertainment corporation at the time of payment of wages to an entertainer, the employer shall either withhold the amount for which a bond should have been provided under s. 71.80 (15) (b) or deduct and withhold the tax reflected by the proper withholding table. If the entertainer establishes to the department’s satisfaction that a lower rate is more appropriate, the department shall notify the employer to withhold at the lower rate. The department may notify the employer that it waives the withholding requirement on the amount specified. Payments to an entertainment corporation shall be withheld at the rate of 6 percent unless the payee establishes to the satisfaction of the department that a lower rate is appropriate, in which case the department may notify the employer to withhold at a lower rate.

71.64(6) (6) Withholding from payments made to nonresidents.

71.64(6)(a) (a) At the time of payment of wages to a nonresident employee which wages were derived from the performance of services both within and without the state, the employer shall deduct and withhold from the wages derived from the performance of services within the state the amount as reflected by the proper withholding table.

71.64(6)(b) (b) No amount shall be withheld from the wages paid to a nonresident employee for services performed in this state if the employer reasonably estimates that during that calendar year the employee will earn less than $2,000; but whenever it appears that the employee will earn more than $2,000 in this state during the calendar year, the employer shall withhold, from wages paid thereafter, such additional amounts as the employer reasonably estimates will be required to offset the amounts not withheld from previous payments.

71.64(6)(c) (c) No amount shall be withheld from wages paid to an out-of-state employee, as defined in s. 323.12 (5) (a) 7., for disaster relief work, as defined in s. 323.12 (5) (a) 3.

71.64(7) (7) Special withholding arrangements. The secretary of revenue, acting within his or her discretion, may authorize special withholding arrangements in hardship cases resulting from situations in which persons, domiciled in Wisconsin, are subjected to withholding in some other state by reason of the performance of substantial personal services in such other state, pursuant to s. 71.07 (7).

71.64(8) (8) Exceptions.

71.64(8)(a) (a) The employer of any employee domiciled in a state with which Wisconsin has reciprocity under s. 71.05 (2) is not required to withhold under this subchapter from the wages earned by such employee in this state.

71.64 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. Tax 2.02, Wis. adm. code.

71.64(8)(b) (b) This subchapter shall not apply to any county fair association in regard to any employee receiving less than $500 annually in wages or salary from the association.

71.64(8)(c) (c) The department of corrections is not required to withhold under sub. (1) from wages paid to an inmate working in a prison listed in s. 302.01, and if the inmate’s wages do not exceed $2,000 per year the department of corrections is not required under s. 71.65 (3) to file reports relating to those wages.

71.64(9) (9) Withholding tables.