Chapter 74

74.485(4) (4) Exceptions and deferral.

74.485(4)(a) (a) A person who owns land that has been assessed as agricultural land under s. 70.32 (2r) and who converts the land’s use so that the land is not eligible to be assessed as agricultural land under s. 70.32 (2r) is not subject to a conversion charge under sub. (2) if the converted land may be assessed as undeveloped under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 5., as agricultural forest under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 5m., as productive forest land under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 6., or as other under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 7. or if the amount of the conversion charge determined under sub. (2) represents less than $25 for each acre of converted land.

74.485(4)(b) (b) If a person owes a conversion charge under sub. (2), the treasurer of the county in which the person’s land is located may defer payment of the conversion charge to the succeeding taxable year if the person demonstrates to the assessor of the taxation district in which the land is located that the person’s land will be used as agricultural land in the succeeding taxable year. A person who receives a deferral under this paragraph is not subject to the conversion charge under sub. (2) related to the deferral, if the person’s land is used as agricultural land in the succeeding taxable year. If the land of a person who receives a deferral under this paragraph is not used as agricultural land in the succeeding taxable year, the person shall pay the conversion charge with interest at the rate of 1 percent a month, or fraction of a month, from the date that the treasurer granted a deferral to the date that the conversion charge is paid.

74.485(5) (5) Payment. Except as provided in sub. (4), a person who owes a conversion charge under sub. (2) shall pay the conversion charge to the county in which the person’s land related to the conversion charge is located no later than 30 days after the date that the conversion charge is assessed. A conversion charge that is not paid on the date it is due is considered delinquent and shall be paid with interest at the rate of 1 percent a month, or fraction of a month, from the date that the conversion charge is assessed to the date that the conversion charge is paid. The county shall collect an unpaid conversion charge as a special charge against the land related to the conversion charge.

74.485(6) (6) Distribution. A county that collects a conversion charge under this section shall distribute 50 percent of the amount of the conversion charge to the taxation district in which the land related to the conversion charge is located. If the land related to the conversion charge is located in 2 or more taxation districts, the county shall distribute 50 percent of the amount of the conversion charge to the taxation districts in proportion to the equalized value of the land related to the conversion charge that is located in each taxation district. A taxation district shall distribute 50 percent of any amount it receives under this subsection to an adjoining taxation district, if the taxation district in which the land related to the conversion charge is located annexed the land related to the conversion charge from the adjoining taxation district in either of the 2 years preceding a distribution under this subsection.

74.485(7) (7) Notice. A person who owns land that has been assessed as agricultural land under s. 70.32 (2r) and who sells the land shall notify the buyer of the land of all of the following:

74.485(7)(a) (a) That the land has been assessed as agricultural land under s. 70.32 (2r).

74.485(7)(b) (b) Whether the person who owns the land and who is selling the land has been assessed a conversion charge under sub. (2) related to the land.

74.485(7)(c) (c) Whether the person who owns the land and who is selling the land has been granted a deferral under sub. (4) related to the land.

74.485(8) (8) Taxation district assessor. The assessors of the taxation districts located in the county shall inform the county treasurer and the real property lister of all sales of agricultural land located in the county. No later than 15 days after the board of review has adjourned, the assessors shall also deliver to the county treasurer all information necessary to compute the conversion charges assessed under this section.

74.485(9) (9) Administration. The county in which the land as described in sub. (1) is located shall administer the conversion charge under this section.

74.485 History History: 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 33; 2007 a. 210.

74.49 74.49 Payment of delinquent taxes in installments.

74.49(1) (1) Installments allowed. Delinquent property taxes, special assessments, special charges and special taxes may be paid to the appropriate treasurer in partial payments of not less than $20, unless the treasurer agrees to accept a lower amount.

74.49(2) (2) Principal and interest.

74.49(2)(a) (a) The treasurer shall determine that portion of a partial payment to be applied as principal by dividing the amount of the partial payment by a figure which is the sum of one plus a figure which is the product of the number of months of delinquency, as determined under s. 74.11, 74.12 or 74.87:

74.49(2)(a)1. 1. Times 0.01, if no penalty under s. 74.47 (2) applies; or

74.49(2)(a)2. 2. Times a decimal which reflects the applicable percentage, if a penalty under s. 74.47 (2) applies.

74.49(2)(b) (b) The amount of the payment that is in excess of the amount of principal determined under par. (a) is the interest and penalty accrued from the date of the delinquency on the amount of the partial payment which is principal. After any partial payment is made, subsequent determinations of interest and penalty shall be computed only on the unpaid balance of the principal, from the date of the delinquency as determined under s. 74.11, 74.12 or 74.87.

74.49 History History: 1987 a. 378; 1991 a. 39.

74.51 74.51 Discharge of delinquent taxes.

74.51(1) (1) Payment to discharge delinquency. Any person may, at any time before issuance of a tax certificate under s. 74.57, discharge delinquent real property taxes, special assessments, special charges or special taxes on real property by paying the delinquent amounts, together with interest and any penalty provided under s. 74.47 (2).

74.51(2) (2) Receipts for taxes paid. After a payment is made under sub. (1), the treasurer shall execute duplicate receipts showing the name of the person making the payment, the date of the payment, the description of the property upon which the payment was made and the amount paid. One copy of the receipt shall be delivered to the person making the payment and the other copy filed in the treasurer’s office.

74.51 History History: 1987 a. 378.

74.53 74.53 Personal liability for delinquent taxes and other costs.

74.53(1) (1) Recovery of taxes and costs against persons. Except as provided in subs. (3) and (5), a county or a municipality may bring a civil action against a person to recover any of the following amounts that are included in the tax roll for collection and any of the amounts under pars. (b) and (c) that are not included in the tax roll for collection:

74.53(1)(a) (a) Delinquent real property taxes, special charges, special assessments and special taxes, not including amounts under pars. (b) and (c), that were delinquent during the period that the person owned the property.

74.53(1)(b) (b) The cost of razing and removing property and restoring the site to a dust-free and erosion-free condition incurred under s. 66.0413 (1) (br) 2., (f), (g) or (i), (2) (d) or (4) or of filling an excavation incurred under s. 66.0427 if the person owned the property when the property was razed and removed and the site restored or the excavation was filled, or if the person owned the property while the order to raze the property was recorded in the register of deeds office.

74.53(1)(c) (c) The cost of abating a public nuisance under s. 254.595 or 823.04 if the person owned the property when the public nuisance was abated.

74.53(2) (2) Co-owner liability. Co-owners of property are jointly and severally liable for the payment of real property taxes, assessments or costs collectible under sub. (1).

74.53(3) (3) Limitation. A county or a city authorized to act under s. 74.87 may not proceed against any person under sub. (1) for amounts under sub. (1) (a) unless the property against which the amounts are levied in the tax roll is included in a tax certificate issued under s. 74.57.

74.53(4) (4) Recovery limited. A county or a municipality that proceeds against a property owner under this section may not recover more than the amount owed plus interest and penalties.

74.53(5) (5) Prior approval; notice. No action may be commenced under sub. (1) for the amounts under sub. (1) (a) unless it is approved by the county board or the governing body of the municipality. The clerk shall mail, to the last-known address of the person against whom an action is proposed to be commenced, advance written notice of the time and place the county board will meet to consider approval of legal action. A county board or the governing body of the municipality may abrogate its duty to approve and notice each action to be commenced under sub. (1) by adopting an ordinance waiving the duty and specifying procedures by which an action under sub. (1) may be commenced.

74.53(6) (6) Action by taxing jurisdiction. A taxing jurisdiction may bring a civil action under this section against a person to recover special assessments as defined in s. 75.36 (1) and special charges levied by it for which the county or municipality did not settle in full or which were not fully paid by proceeds distributed under s. 75.05 or 75.36. Any amount recovered in an action under this subsection shall be reported to the county or city treasurer, who shall subtract it from the amount owed for purposes of sub. (4).

74.53(7) (7) Appointment of receiver. A court may appoint a receiver to take charge of property included in a tax certificate under s. 74.57 if a county or a city authorized to act under s. 74.87 proceeds against the owner of the property under this section. The receiver shall manage the property, collect rents and apply income to the payment of delinquent real property taxes.

74.53 History History: 1987 a. 378; 1989 a. 104, 347, 359; 1993 a. 27, 382, 453, 491; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 68, 150; 2001 a. 38.

74.53 Annotation A land contract vendor is not an owner of real estate under this section. City of Milwaukee v. Greenberg, 163 Wis. 2d 28, 471 N.W.2d 33 (1991).

74.55 74.55 Action to collect delinquent personal property taxes.

74.55(1) (1) Civil action. Delinquent personal property taxes, together with any interest and penalty under s. 74.47, may be recovered by the taxation district in a civil action, including an action under ch. 799, if the action is brought within 6 years after the January 1 of the year in which the taxes are required to be paid.

74.55(2) (2) Certain property not exempt from execution. In a proceeding to enforce a judgment rendered in an action under this section to recover delinquent personal property taxes, the personal property on which the taxes were delinquent is not exempt from execution under s. 815.18.

74.55 History History: 1987 a. 378.

subch. VII of ch. 74 SUBCHAPTER VII

ISSUANCE OF TAX CERTIFICATE

74.57 74.57 Issuance of tax certificate.

74.57(1) (1) Issuance. Annually, on September 1, the county treasurer shall issue to the county a tax certificate which includes all parcels of real property included in the tax roll for which real property taxes, special charges, special taxes or special assessments remain unpaid at the close of business on August 31.

74.57(2) (2) Effect.

74.57(2)(a) (a) Issuance of a tax certificate commences the redemption period on all real property included in the tax certificate unless s. 74.59 (2) applies.

74.57(2)(b) (b) Two years after the issuance of the tax certificate, unless s. 74.59 (2) or 75.03 applies, the county is entitled, as to any property included in the tax certificate which has not been redeemed, to do any of the following:

74.57(2)(b)1. 1. Take a tax deed under s. 75.14.

74.57(2)(b)2. 2. Commence an action to foreclose the certificate under s. 75.19.

74.57(2)(b)3. 3. Commence an action to foreclose the tax lien represented by the certificate under s. 75.521.

74.57(3) (3) Certificate not transferable. Except as provided under s. 74.635, the county may not sell, assign, or otherwise transfer a tax certificate. However, if a city authorized to act under s. 74.87 pays delinquent taxes under an agreement entered into under s. 74.83, the county treasurer shall issue or reissue tax certificates to the city on all property for which the delinquent taxes have been paid.

74.57(4) (4) Form.

74.57(4)(a) (a) The tax certificate shall group by taxation district all parcels for which real property taxes, special assessments, special charges or special taxes remain unpaid.

74.57(4)(b) (b) Unless it is issued by a city authorized to act under s. 74.87, the tax certificate shall:

74.57(4)(b)1. 1. Contain a legal description of each parcel of property.

74.57(4)(b)2. 2. For each parcel, state the amount of the unpaid real estate taxes, special assessments, special charges or special taxes and the date from which the interest and any penalty accrue.

74.57(4)(b)3. 3. State the earliest date upon which the county may be entitled to a tax deed or equivalent evidence of title.

74.57(4)(c) (c) The format of the tax certificate shall be prescribed by the department of revenue under s. 70.09 (3).

74.57(4)(d) (d) If a parcel of property is redeemed after the tax certificate is issued, the date on which the property was redeemed shall be noted on the certificate, together with the amount for which the property was redeemed.

74.57(5) (5) Certain lands exempt. This section does not apply to public lands held on contract, lands mortgaged to the state or lands subject to s. 74.65.

74.57 History History: 1987 a. 378; 1989 a. 104; 1991 a. 39; 2003 a. 33.

74.59 74.59 Notice of issuance of tax certificate.

74.59(1) (1) Notice of issuance of tax certificate.

74.59(1)(a) (a) Within 90 days after issuance of the tax certificate under s. 74.57, the county treasurer shall mail a notice to each owner of record, as shown in the tax roll, of property included in the certificate for which real property taxes, special assessments, special charges or special taxes remain unpaid as of the date the notice is mailed. Unless it is issued by a city authorized to act under s. 74.87, the notice shall state all of the following:

74.59(1)(a)1. 1. That real property taxes, special assessments, special charges or special taxes remain unpaid as of the date of mailing on property which the tax roll shows is owned by the addressee.

74.59(1)(a)2. 2. That the records showing the delinquency under subd. 1. are available for inspection in the treasurer’s office.

74.59(1)(a)3. 3. That, on the previous September 1, a tax certificate was issued to the county for all property for which real property taxes, special assessments, special charges or special taxes remained unpaid at the close of business on August 31.

74.59(1)(a)4. 4. That failure to pay the delinquent real property taxes, special charges, special taxes or special assessments will result in eventual transfer, no earlier than 2 years after issuance of the tax certificate, of the ownership of the property to the county.

74.59(1)(b) (b) The format of the notice under this subsection shall be prescribed by the department of revenue under s. 70.09 (3).

74.59(2) (2) Notice not timely mailed. If a treasurer fails to mail the notice required under sub. (1), the notice may be mailed later and the 2-year period of redemption commences on the date of the mailing.

74.59(3) (3) Affidavit of mailing. After completing the mailing under sub. (1) or (2), the treasurer, except the treasurer of a city authorized to proceed under s. 74.87, shall sign an affidavit attesting that the treasurer has complied with the mailing requirements under this section. The affidavit shall do all of the following:

74.59(3)(a) (a) Identify the property owners and the addresses to which the notice was mailed.

74.59(3)(b) (b) Contain a description of each parcel of property, as shown on the tax certificate, for which a notice was mailed.

74.59(3)(c) (c) State the amount of unpaid real property taxes, special assessments, special charges or special taxes for each description of property included under par. (b).

74.59(4) (4) Effect of not receiving notice. Failure of a person to receive a notice under this section does not affect the ability of a county or city to acquire ownership of property for which a tax certificate has been issued.

74.59 History History: 1987 a. 378; 1991 a. 39.

74.61 74.61 Correction of description on tax certificate.

74.61(1) (1) Error discovered. If the treasurer determines that the description of any property in a tax certificate is erroneous, the treasurer shall direct the assessor of the taxation district in which the property is located to prepare and deliver to the county treasurer an affidavit that provides a correct description of the property.

74.61(2) (2) Notice to interested persons. After the treasurer receives the affidavit, he or she shall notify any person with a recorded interest in the property that the description of the property is to be corrected as shown in the assessor’s affidavit. The format of the notice shall be prescribed by the department under s. 70.09 (3). Notice shall be given as provided in s. 801.11 (4).

74.61(3) (3) Objection; court resolution. Not more than 20 days after notice is given under sub. (2), any person with a recorded interest in the property may file with the treasurer a written objection to the proposed correction of the description of the property. If an objection is filed and cannot be resolved, the treasurer shall bring an action in circuit court to correct the property description.

74.61(4) (4) No objection; description corrected. If no objection is made under sub. (3), the treasurer shall correct the description as prescribed in the affidavit of the assessor. The treasurer shall verify in writing on the tax certificate that the correction was made and shall sign the verification. Any tax certificate corrected under this section is valid as of the date the tax certificate was originally issued, and any tax deed or equivalent evidence of title issued on the corrected tax certificate is valid.

74.61 History History: 1987 a. 378.

74.63 74.63 Retention of tax certificate and other information. Following issuance of a tax certificate under s. 74.57 and notice of issuance under s. 74.59, the treasurer shall retain all of the following:

74.63(1) (1) The tax certificate.

74.63(2) (2) The affidavit of mailing, executed under s. 74.59 (3).

74.63(3) (3) The tax roll upon which were included the real property taxes, special charges, special taxes or special assessments for which the tax certificate was issued.

74.63 History History: 1987 a. 378.

74.635 74.635 Sale of tax certificate revenues.