Chapter 75

75.26(1) (1) Grantee in deed.

75.26(1)(a) (a) No action may be maintained by the grantee or anyone claiming under the grantee to recover the possession of any land or any interest in land which has been conveyed by deed for the nonpayment of taxes unless one of the following conditions is met:

75.26(1)(a)1. 1. The action is brought within 3 years next after the date of the execution of the deed.

75.26(1)(a)2. 2. The land demanded is, when conveyed, vacant and unoccupied and remains so, unless the action is brought within 3 years next after the date of the recording of the deed.

75.26(1)(a)3. 3. The grantee or those claiming under the grantee have been in actual, not constructive, possession of the land demanded for 3 successive years during the 5 years next after the recording of the deed.

75.26(1)(b) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), if the former owner takes possession of any land conveyed by deed for the nonpayment of taxes at any time within the 3 months after the expiration of 3 years from the date of the execution of the deed, the grantee in the tax deed or those claiming under the grantee may bring and maintain an action to recover possession of the land at any time within the 3 months after the expiration of 3 years from the date of the execution of the deed.

75.26(2) (2) Tax deed voided. If the original owner, or anyone claiming under the original owner, of lands that have been conveyed by deed for the nonpayment of taxes, pays the taxes assessed against the lands continuously for the 5 years after the execution of the tax deed, without actual notice of the existence of the tax deed, the tax deed is void.

75.26 History History: 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 253; 2017 a. 365 s. 111.

75.27 75.27 Limitation on former owner. No action shall be maintained by the former owner or any person claiming under the former owner to recover the possession of any land or any interest therein which shall have been conveyed by deed for the nonpayment of taxes or to avoid such deed against any person claiming under such deed unless such action shall be brought within 3 years next after the recording of such deed. Whenever any such action shall be commenced upon any tax deed heretofore or hereafter issued after the expiration of 3 years from the date of the recording of such deed, such deed, if executed substantially in the form prescribed by law for the execution of tax deeds, shall be conclusive evidence of the existence and legality of all proceedings from and including the assessment of the property for taxation up to and including the execution of such deed.

75.27 History History: 1991 a. 316.

75.28 75.28 Application of all limitations.

75.28(1) (1) The limitation for bringing actions under s. 75.27 or any other limitation in favor of a tax deed or a tax certificate, except in case of actual possession founded on a tax deed or as otherwise provided in this section, does not apply in the following cases:

75.28(1)(a) (a) If the taxes for the nonpayment of which the land was included in a tax certificate and the tax deed executed were paid prior to the inclusion of the land in the tax certificate.

75.28(1)(b) (b) If the land was redeemed as provided by law.

75.28(1)(c) (c) If the land was exempt from taxation.

75.28(1)(d) (d) If a single tax deed only has been issued and the original owner has, before the issuance of the tax deed, paid all taxes levied against the land for the 3 years after the year for which the land was returned delinquent and sold.

75.28(2) (2) 

75.28(2)(a) (a) The tax deed grantee or the assigns of the tax deed grantee may, at any time after the tax deed is issued and recorded, serve a notice on the owner of record of the original title stating that the grantee or assigns hold a tax deed on the land of the original owner and giving a description of the land so deeded and a reference to the document number of the tax deed and, if a volume and page number is assigned, the volume and page where the tax deed is recorded. The notice shall be served in the same manner as a summons in a court of record or by registered mail, addressed to the owner of record. Proof of service of the notice shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the county in which the lands are situated.

75.28(2)(b) (b) If the post-office address of the owner of record of the original title is unknown, the tax deed grantee, or the assigns of the tax deed grantee, may file in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the lands are situated an affidavit that he, she or they are unable, with due diligence, to make personal service of the notice or to ascertain the post-office address of the former owner. Upon filing the affidavit, the tax deed grantee, or the assigns of the tax deed grantee, may publish the notice as a class 3 notice, under ch. 985, in the county where the land described in the tax deed is located. Proof of publication of the notice shall be filed in the office of the county clerk.

75.28(3) (3) 

75.28(3)(a) (a) If the notice described in sub. (2) is served and filed, or if the notice is published and proof of publication is filed, 30 days or more before the expiration of 3 years from the date of recording the tax deed, the limitation provided by s. 75.27 applies. If the notice is not so served and filed, or if the notice is not published and proof of publication is not filed, the limitation under s. 75.27 is extended until the expiration of 30 days after the day on which the notice is served and filed or published and proof filed.

75.28(3)(b) (b) In any action brought by the original owner to set aside a tax deed after the service or publication and filing of the notice described in sub. (2), the original owner, in case the original owner prevails, shall as a condition of relief pay to the tax deed claimant the sum of $5 for each description and the costs of serving or publishing the notice, in addition to all other costs and charges now provided for by law. The provisions of law regulating costs and charges for the service of a summons in a court of record apply to and govern the amount that may be charged for the service or publication of the notice.

75.28 History History: 1987 a. 378; 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 253; 2017 a. 102.

75.285 75.285 Action; condition precedent. No action or proceeding shall be maintained by the former owner or any person claiming under the former owner, based upon the invalidity of any tax certificate or tax deed due to the failure of the county treasurer to give notice under s. 74.59, unless there is deposited with the clerk of circuit court, at the time the action is commenced under s. 801.02, an amount of money equal to either the full amount of all delinquent taxes currently outstanding against the parcel of property which is the subject of the action, plus interest and penalty under s. 74.47, or if the county has taken a tax deed, the full amount payable under s. 75.36 (3) (a) and (b). The deposited funds shall be held by the clerk of circuit court and paid out as directed by the judgment in the action or proceeding.

75.285 History History: 1981 c. 390; 1987 a. 378.

75.29 75.29 Actions of ejectment, when barred.

75.29(1) (1) Subject to sub. (2), no action to quiet title, to remove a cloud on title; to cancel, to annul or to set aside any tax deed; of ejectment, of trespass, of waste or for other injury to land shall be brought as to lands purporting to be conveyed by a tax deed void on its face after the expiration of 3 years from the time of the recording of the deed.

75.29(2) (2) The limitation period under sub. (1) does not apply unless each of the following occurs:

75.29(2)(a) (a) The original owner or those claiming under the original owner have failed to pay or redeem all of the taxes levied on the lands from the time of the levy of the tax for the nonpayment of which the tax deed was issued to the time of the recording of the tax deed.

75.29(2)(b) (b) The grantee in the tax deed or those claiming under the grantee in the tax deed have paid or redeemed all of the taxes levied on the lands for the 3 years after the recording of the tax deed.

75.29 History History: 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 253.

75.30 75.30 Action by original owner if deed is void, when barred. No action may be brought by the original owner for the recovery of lands purporting to be conveyed for the nonpayment of taxes by a deed void on its face after the expiration of 5 years from the date of the recording of the tax deed, if the grantee in the tax deed has taken actual possession of the land within 2 years after the recording of the tax deed and has actually and continuously maintained possession of the lands to the end of the 5-year period from the recording of the deed.

75.30 History History: 1997 a. 253.

75.31 75.31 “Possession” defined. What shall constitute a possession of lands within the meaning of ss. 75.26 to 75.30 and the extent of such possession shall be governed by the rules prescribed for determining an adverse possession by a person claiming title founded upon a written instrument.

75.32 75.32 Taxation and sale of lands held by counties. Real property upon which the county holds a tax certificate shall continue liable to taxation, but when a tax deed shall be issued to the county such property shall thereafter be exempt from taxation until the same is sold by the county. The county clerk shall annually, before February 1, furnish to the assessors of each town a list of the lands in such town exempt under this section. Nothing in this section shall be so construed as to apply to lands owned by minors or persons adjudged mentally incompetent.

75.32 History History: 1977 c. 29 s. 1647 (6); 1977 c. 83, 203; 1987 a. 378.

75.35 75.35 Sale of tax-deeded lands; purchase of adjacent lands.

75.35(1) (1) Definition. In this section “tax-deeded lands” means lands which have been acquired by a county through enforcement of the collection of delinquent taxes by tax deed, foreclosure of tax certificate, deed in lieu of tax deed, action in rem under s. 75.521 or other means.

75.35(2) (2) County required to arrange for the sale of tax-deeded lands.

75.35(2)(ag) (ag) If a property or the county is subject to s. 66.1006, the county shall publish the notice under s. 75.69 (1) no later than 240 days after the date of approval from the department of natural resources or, beginning in 2026, no later than 180 days after the date of such approval.

75.35(2)(am) (am) Subject to this section and ss. 75.36 and 75.69, any county shall have the power to sell and convey its tax-deeded lands in such manner and upon such terms as the county board may by ordinance or resolution determine.

75.35(2)(c) (c) Any conveyance by land contract or deed or satisfaction of mortgage shall be executed by the county clerk under the clerk’s hand and the seal of the county.

75.35(2)(d) (d) The county board may delegate its power to manage and sell tax-deeded lands to a committee constituted of such personnel and in such manner and compensated at such rate as the county board may by ordinance determine, provided that the compensation and mileage of county board members serving on such committee shall be limited and restricted as provided in s. 59.13 (2), or the county board may delegate the power of acquisition, management and sale of tax-deeded lands or any part of such power to such officer and departments of the county as the county board may by ordinance determine. Such ordinance shall prescribe the policy to be followed in the acquisition, management and sale of tax-deeded land and shall prescribe generally the powers and duties of such committee, officers, departments, employees and agents. The county board is authorized to sell and convey its tax-deeded lands by open or closed bid or to engage licensed real estate brokers and salespersons to assist in selling such lands and pay a commission for such service and to advertise such sale in such manner as it deems proper. The county board may appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

75.35(2)(e) (e)

75.35(2)(e)1. 1. Any county acting either by its board or by delegated authority as provided in this section may sell and convey tax-deeded lands to the former owner or owners thereof before or after publication of the notice required par. (ag) and without complying with s. 75.69.

75.35(2)(e)2. 2. A conveyance under subd. 1. shall not operate to revive any tax certificate lien or any other lien whatsoever which was cut off and rendered void by the tax deed, foreclosure of tax certificate, deed in lieu of tax deed, action in rem under s. 75.521 or other means by which the county acquired title to such land, nor shall it revive the lien of any tax certificate or tax dated subsequently to the date on which the county acquired its title. The enactment into statute law of the provisions of this paragraph shall not be deemed an expression of legislative intent that the prior common law of this state was otherwise than as herein provided.

75.35(2)(f) (f) If special assessments, as defined in s. 75.36 (1), levied on the tax-deeded land have not been settled in full under s. 74.29 or otherwise paid to the taxing jurisdiction that levied the special assessments, the taxing jurisdiction may purchase the tax-deeded land by notifying the county of its intent to do so at any time within one year after the period of redemption has expired but prior to the date upon which the tax-deeded land is sold to another person by the county. The amount for which the tax-deeded land may be purchased shall be the sum of the following:

75.35(2)(f)1. 1. All expenses incurred by the county to obtain marketable title to the property, except that the time of county employees and officers may not be included in those expenses. The county may establish a reasonable estimate of the average cost to obtain marketable title to property which it may use instead of determining the actual costs for any parcel sold by the county.

75.35(2)(f)2. 2. All amounts of unpaid general property taxes, special assessments, special charges and special taxes levied against the property sold, including interest and penalties imposed under s. 74.47 previously paid to taxing jurisdictions by the county.

75.35(2)(f)3. 3. Any withdrawal tax and any withdrawal fee due under s. 77.84 (3) (b).

75.35(2)(f)4. 4. Any unpaid special assessments or special charges that were not levied by the taxing jurisdiction purchasing the tax-deeded land. The county shall pay any amounts received under this subdivision to the taxing jurisdiction which levied the special assessment or special charge.

75.35(3) (3) Right of former owner to repurchase. The county board shall, for single-family, owner-occupied properties, and may, at its option, for all other properties, by ordinance provide that prior to the sale of tax-deeded lands, the former owner who lost his or her title through delinquent tax collection enforcement procedure, or his or her beneficiaries, as defined in s. 851.03, or heirs, as defined in s. 851.09, shall have the right to purchase such lands by paying the county for all costs and expenses incurred as provided under s. 75.36 (3) (a), plus the amount of property taxes that would have been owed on the property for the year during which the purchase occurs if the county had not acquired the property and plus amounts to satisfy any other liens at the time of the foreclosure including the county’s costs associated with the repurchase. Any sale under such ordinance is exempt from any or all provisions of s. 75.69.

75.35(4) (4) Purchase of adjacent lands. A county may purchase lands adjacent to tax-deeded lands in cases where the county board determines that such purchase will improve the salability of such tax-deeded lands or will create access to streets or highways for lands lacking such access.

75.35(7) (7) Liability precluded. Absent fraud, no county is liable for acts or omissions associated with the sale of property under this section, including the process by which the property is sold.

75.35 History History: 1987 a. 27, 378; 1989 a. 104; 1993 a. 184; 1995 a. 201; 2003 a. 228; 2023 a. 207.

75.35 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 59.52 (6) for the power of a county to direct the county clerk to sell or contract for sale and conveyance of land owned by the county, whether acquired by tax deed or otherwise.

75.36 75.36 County acquisition and sale of property.

75.36(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “special assessments” means unpaid installments of special assessments which were levied on real property prior to the date that the county acquired the real property by taking of a tax deed under this chapter. “Special assessments” includes amounts delinquent when the property became subject to a tax certificate, installments which became delinquent during the time the property is subject to a tax certificate and all installments payable after the date the county takes a tax deed under this chapter. “Special assessments” does not include unpaid amounts of special assessments deferred under s. 66.0715 (2), unless the taxing jurisdiction has acted under s. 66.0715 (2) (b).

75.36(2) (2) Acquisition of property by county, effect on liabilities.

75.36(2)(a) (a) If property is acquired by a county taking a tax deed under this chapter, the county is not required to pay any special charges or special assessments until the property is sold by the county. In the case of lands designated as forest croplands or managed forest lands, the county is not required to pay any taxes under s. 77.04 until the forest crop is cut. The liens of the tax certificate and of all general property taxes, special assessments, special charges and special taxes levied against the property shall merge in the county’s title.

75.36(2)(b) (b) If the county did not settle for unpaid special assessments or special charges under s. 74.29, the county treasurer shall notify all taxing jurisdictions that the county has acquired the property under this chapter. Each taxing jurisdiction shall certify to the county treasurer the unpaid special assessments and special charges to which the property is subject.

75.36(2)(c) (c) If the county’s title to the lands taken by tax deed is adjudged to be void, the county shall reinstate any canceled taxes and any liens previously merged under par. (a).

75.36(2k) (2k) County sale of property. Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, any property acquired by a county by tax deed under this chapter shall be disposed of as provided under this section and ss. 75.35 and 75.69.

75.36(2m) (2m) Notice; proceeds.

75.36(2m)(a) (a) Upon acquisition of a tax deed under this chapter, the county treasurer shall notify the former owner, by registered mail or certified mail sent to the former owner’s mailing address on the tax bill, that the former owner may be entitled to a share of the proceeds of a future sale. The county shall send to the former owner the proceeds identified in sub. (3) (c) minus any delinquent taxes, interest, and penalties owed by the former owner to the county in regard to other property and minus the actual costs of the sale as specified under sub. (3) (a) plus all amounts disbursed under sub. (3) (b) and plus the amount of property taxes that would have been owed on the property for the year during which the sale occurs if the county had not acquired the property.

75.36(2m)(b) (b) If the payment to the former owner under par. (a) is returned to the county or otherwise not claimed by the former owner within one year following the mailing of the proceeds under par. (a), the payment shall be considered unclaimed funds and disposed of pursuant to s. 59.66 (2). Neither the former owner nor any person making a claim for any funds under this section is entitled to interest on sums owed by the county under this section.

75.36(3) (3) Distribution of proceeds of sale. If a county sells property that was acquired by taking of a tax deed under this chapter, the county treasurer shall do all of the following:

75.36(3)(a) (a) Determine the net proceeds from the sale of the property by subtracting from the sale price all of the following:

75.36(3)(a)1. 1. The following costs, including personnel costs associated with them: foreclosure costs, record-keeping costs, legal costs, advertising costs and title insurance costs. A county may establish a reasonable estimate of the average costs under this subdivision incurred with respect to property sold after the taking of a tax deed which it may use instead of determining the actual costs for any parcel sold by the county.

75.36(3)(a)1m. 1m. The following actual costs, including personnel costs associated with them: maintenance costs that are required for compliance with building codes or health orders, board-up costs, clean-up costs, demolition costs and all other costs that are reasonable and necessary to sell the property except costs under subd. 2.

75.36(3)(a)2. 2. The amount of reasonable and customary real estate agent or broker fees or other actual costs paid for selling the property.

75.36(3)(a)3. 3. All amounts of unpaid general property taxes, interest, penalties, special assessments, special charges and special taxes levied against the property sold, including interest and penalties imposed under s. 74.47 previously paid to taxing jurisdictions by the county.

75.36(3)(b) (b) From the net proceeds of the sale of the property, as determined under par. (a), first pay any withdrawal tax and withdrawal fee due under s. 77.84 (3) (b) and then pay to taxing jurisdictions all special assessments and special charges to which the property is subject, including interest and any penalties imposed under s. 74.47. If the net proceeds are not sufficient to pay all outstanding amounts due, the net proceeds shall be prorated to each taxing jurisdiction based upon the ratio that the amount of all special assessments and special charges due that taxing jurisdiction bears to the amount of all special assessments and special charges levied against the property sold, including interest and any penalties imposed under s. 74.47. Amounts payable under this paragraph shall be paid to the taxing jurisdiction within 15 days after the last day of the month in which sale proceeds become available to the county.

75.36(3)(c) (c) Distribute any remaining net proceeds to the former owner, as provided under sub. (2m).

75.36 History History: 1987 a. 378 ss. 120, 122; 1989 a. 104; 1997 a. 72, 224; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2001 a. 30 s. 108; 2003 a. 228; 2015 a. 358; 2021 a. 216; 2023 a. 207; s. 35.17 correction in (2m) (b).

75.365 75.365 Agreements as to delinquent taxes.

75.365(1) (1) Counties may enter. Written agreements may be entered into and be operative between a county and any town, city, village, metropolitan sewerage district or area, drainage district, or any other territory, area or district for the benefit of which any taxes may be levied, therein, upon prior authorization and approval thereof by the governing bodies thereof, providing for the disposition of liabilities of the county to such municipality upon or arising out of the return to said county of delinquent taxes; the disposition of tax certificates of which the county may be the holder or owner; the liabilities of the county arising by virtue of its acquiring such tax certificates, and the disposition of such liabilities; the taking of tax deeds by the county; the liabilities of the county arising out of the taking of such tax deeds and the disposition of such liabilities; the sale of the lands upon which such tax deeds are so taken, or both; and the determination and disposition of any and all liabilities of the county in respect to any of the foregoing.

75.365(2) (2) Liability of county limited. Such agreements may include provisions that the county upon acting pursuant to such agreement and the provisions thereof shall not be accountable or liable for any amount greater than that realized by it upon the sale of said lands to which it takes tax deed thereunder or the amounts set forth in said agreement, and that in acting pursuant to such agreement the county shall not incur or be subjected to any liability to anyone except as therein set forth and that if such county should by reason of acting thereunder incur or be subjected to any other or different liability to pay or account in respect to such delinquent taxes, then such local municipality will reimburse the county for such excess liability and indemnify it against any loss or damage that the county may sustain by reason of acting pursuant to such agreement; provided, that the city, town or village entering into such agreement may make payment, settlement or compromise of special assessment bonds to preclude or relieve the county from being subjected to liability thereon.

75.365(3) (3) Sale under agreement. In the event of such agreement the county may sell any of the land to which it takes tax deed pursuant thereto, and that the title conveyed by the county upon such sale shall be in fee simple and free and clear from all tax liens or claims arising out of delinquent special assessments, delinquent general taxes, or both, except delinquent special assessments, delinquent or unpaid general taxes, or both, returned to the county after such sale by the county. Such agreement may provide that the county may sell any land, to which it has taken tax deed thereunder, at private or public sale. The county or the local municipality in which the land is situated may purchase such land when sold by the county pursuant to such agreement.

75.365(4) (4) Applicability. This section shall be controlling and operative in respect to delinquent taxes authorized by the proper governing body to be imposed against lands, whether heretofore or hereafter returned delinquent, and the provisions hereof shall be applicable to such taxes, except that it does not repeal any of the provisions of the general statutes nor affect the applicability thereof to situations not covered herein.

75.365 History History: 1987 a. 378.

75.37 75.37 Waste on land subject to a tax certificate.

75.37(1) (1) It shall be unlawful for any person or corporation to cut, destroy or remove any logs, wood or timber or any buildings, fixtures and other improvements assessed as real property from any land included in a tax certificate for the nonpayment of taxes while such taxes remain unpaid; and if any person shall cut, destroy or remove the same from such lands during the time aforesaid the county treasurer of the county in which such lands are situated shall issue a warrant under the treasurer’s hand and seal to the sheriff, giving therein a description of such lands, the amount of such taxes, with interest and charges thereon then remaining unpaid and the years for which the same are unpaid, commanding such sheriff forthwith to seize such logs, wood, timber, buildings, fixtures and improvements, or materials salvaged therefrom, wherever the same may be found and to sell the same or a sufficient amount thereof to satisfy such taxes, with the interest and charges thereon and the costs of such seizure and sale.

75.37(2) (2) The sheriff shall receive such warrant and execute the same as therein directed, as in case of levy and sale on execution, and make return thereof with his or her doings thereon to the county treasurer within 60 days after the receipt of the same and pay over all money collected thereon to such treasurer.

75.37 History History: 1987 a. 378.

75.375 75.375 Waste on lands subject to a tax certificate; penalty. Any person who shall willfully, maliciously or wantonly injure, destroy or commit waste upon any lands, tenements, or anything appertaining thereto which has been included in a tax certificate for the nonpayment of taxes while such taxes remain unpaid may be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 90 days or both.

75.375 History History: 1987 a. 378.

75.377 75.377 Inspection of property subject to tax certificate. A county may enter any real property for which a tax certificate has been issued under s. 74.57, or may authorize another person to enter the real property, to determine the nature and extent of environmental pollution, as defined in s. 299.01 (4).

75.377 History History: 1993 a. 453; 1995 a. 227; 1999 a. 150 s. 286; Stats. 1999 s. 75.377.