Chapter 77

77.994(3)(a) (a) Any municipality that enacted an ordinance imposing the tax under sub. (1) that became effective before January 1, 2000, may amend the ordinance to increase the tax rate under this section to 1 percent. The amended ordinance is effective on the dates provided under s. 77.9941 (1).

77.994(3)(b) (b)

77.994(3)(b)1. 1. Subject to subd. 2., any municipality that enacted an ordinance imposing the tax under sub. (1) that became effective before January 1, 2000, may amend the ordinance to increase the tax rate under this section to a maximum of 1.25 percent. The amended ordinance is effective on the dates provided under s. 77.9941 (1).

77.994(3)(b)2. 2. Before an amendment to an ordinance that is described in subd. 1. may take effect, all of the following must occur:

77.994(3)(b)2.a. a. The governing body of the municipality must adopt a resolution proclaiming its intent to increase the rate of premier resort area tax.

77.994(3)(b)2.b. b. The resolution must be approved by a majority of the electors in the municipality voting on the resolution at a referendum, to be held at the first spring primary or election or partisan primary or general election following by at least 70 days the date of adoption of the resolution.

77.994(4) (4) 

77.994(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), no seller or certified service provider, as defined in s. 77.51 (1g), is liable for the tax, interest, or penalties imposed under this subchapter on a transaction in which the seller or certified service provider charged and collected the incorrect amount of tax imposed under this subchapter on the sale of a product that was shipped to the purchaser’s location within a premier resort area, until such time as a database identifying the addresses subject to each premier resort area tax is available to all sellers and certified service providers.

77.994(4)(b) (b) The relief from liability described in par. (a) does not apply to transactions which are sourced to the seller’s place of business under s. 77.522 (1) (b) 1.

77.994 History History: 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2001 a. 30; 2005 a. 25; 2009 a. 2, 28; 2013 a. 20.

77.9941 77.9941 Administration.

77.9941(1) (1) The ordinance under s. 77.994 is effective on January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1. The municipality or county shall deliver a certified copy of that ordinance, or an amended ordinance under s. 77.994 (3), to the secretary of revenue at least 120 days before its effective date.

77.9941(3) (3) A municipality or county that imposes a tax under s. 77.994 may repeal that ordinance. A repeal is effective on December 31. The municipality or county shall deliver a certified copy of the repeal ordinance to the secretary of revenue at least 60 days before its effective date.

77.9941(3m) (3m) 

77.9941(3m)(a) (a) The department of revenue may promulgate rules interpreting the classifications under s. 77.994 (1) and specifying means of determining the classifications of business. If there is a dispute whether a business is in one of the classifications under s. 77.994 (1), the department of revenue’s decision is final.

77.9941(3m)(b) (b) The department of revenue shall provide appropriate guidance regarding the application of the tax imposed under this subchapter to all persons who hold a sales tax permit issued by the department. Any retail outlet that would have been classified as a tourism related retailer under s. 77.994 (1), but for the fact that it is a retail outlet for a manufacturer or wholesaler, shall be considered a tourism related retailer for purposes of s. 77.994 (1).

77.9941(4) (4) Sections 77.72, 77.73, 77.74, 77.75, 77.76 (1), (2), and (4), 77.77 (1), 77.785 (1), and 77.79, as they apply to the taxes under subch. V, apply to the tax under this subchapter.

77.9941(5) (5) From the appropriation under s. 20.835 (4) (gd) the department shall distribute 97 percent of the taxes under this subchapter reported, for each municipality or county that has imposed the tax, minus the municipality’s or county’s portion of the retailers’ discounts, to the municipality or county and shall indicate the taxes reported by each taxpayer, no later than the end of the 3rd month following the end of the calendar quarter in which such amounts were reported. In this subsection, the “municipality’s or county’s portion of the retailers’ discount” is the amount determined by multiplying the total retailers’ discount by a fraction the numerator of which is the gross sales and use taxes payable under this subchapter and the denominator of which is the sum of the gross state sales and use taxes and the sales taxes and use taxes payable under this subchapter. The taxes under this subchapter distributed shall be increased or decreased to reflect subsequent refunds, audit adjustments and all other adjustments of the taxes under this subchapter previously distributed. Interest paid on refunds of sales and use taxes under this subchapter shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.835 (4) (gd) at the rate paid by this state under s. 77.60 (1) (a). Any municipality or county receiving a report under this subsection is subject to the duties of confidentiality to which the department of revenue is subject under s. 77.61 (5) and (6).

77.9941 History History: 1997 a. 27; 2005 a. 25; 2009 a. 2, 28; 2011 a. 68.

subch. XI of ch. 77 SUBCHAPTER XI

STATE RENTAL VEHICLE FEE

77.995 77.995 Imposition.

77.995(1) (1) In this section:

77.995(1)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), “limousine” means a passenger automobile that has a capacity of 10 or fewer persons, excluding the driver; that has a minimum of 5 seats behind the driver; and that is operated for hire on an hourly basis under a prearranged contract for the transportation of passengers on public roads and highways along a route under the control of the person who hires the vehicle and not over a defined regular route.

77.995(1)(b) (b) “Limousine” does not include taxicabs, hotel or airport shuttles or buses, buses employed solely in transporting school children or teachers, vehicles owned and operated without charge or remuneration by a business entity for its own purposes, vehicles used in car pools or van pools, public agency vehicles that are not operated as a commercial venture, vehicles operated as part of the employment transit assistance program under s. 106.26, ambulances or any vehicle that is used exclusively in the business of funeral directing.

77.995(2) (2) There is imposed a fee at the rate of 5 percent of the sales price on the rental, but not for rerental and not for rental as a service or repair replacement vehicle of Type 1 automobiles, as defined in s. 340.01 (4) (a); of recreational vehicles, as defined in s. 340.01 (48r); of motor homes, as defined in s. 340.01 (33m); and of camping trailers, as defined in s. 340.01 (6m) by establishments primarily engaged in short-term rental of vehicles without drivers, for a period of 30 days or less, unless the sale is exempt from the sales tax under s. 77.54 (1), (4), (7) (a), (7m) or (9a). There is also imposed a fee at the rate of 5 percent of the sales price on the rental of limousines.

77.995 History History: 1997 a. 27, 237; 1999 a. 80, 83, 186; 2001 a. 105; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 11; 2009 a. 2.

77.9951 77.9951 Administration.

77.9951(1) (1) The department of revenue shall administer the fee under this subchapter and may take any action, conduct any proceeding and impose interest and penalties.

77.9951(2) (2) Sections 77.51 (3r), (12m), (13), (14), (14g), (15a), (15b), and (17), 77.52 (1b), (3), (5), (13), (14), (18), and (19), 77.522, 77.523, 77.58 (1) to (5), (6m), and (7), 77.585, 77.59, 77.60, 77.61 (2), (3m), (5), (6), (8), (9), (12) to (15), and (19m), and 77.62, as they apply to the taxes under subch. III, apply to the fee under this subchapter. The renter shall collect the fee under this subchapter from the person to whom the vehicle is rented.

77.9951(3) (3) Persons who are subject to the fee under this subchapter shall register with the department of revenue. Any person who is required to register; including any person authorized to act on behalf of a corporation, partnership or other person who is required to register; who fails to do so is guilty of a misdemeanor.

77.9951 History History: 1997 a. 27; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 2, 28, 330; 2011 a. 18, 68; 2013 a. 20; 2019 a. 10; 2021 a. 238 s. 45.

subch. XII of ch. 77 SUBCHAPTER XII

DRY CLEANING FEES

77.996 77.996 Definitions. In this subchapter:

77.996(1) (1) “Department” means the department of revenue.

77.996(2) (2) “Dry cleaning facility” means a facility that cleans apparel or household fabrics for the general public using a dry cleaning product, other than the following facilities:

77.996(2)(a) (a) Coin-operated facilities.

77.996(2)(b) (b) Facilities that are located on U.S. military installations.

77.996(2)(c) (c) Industrial laundries.

77.996(2)(d) (d) Commercial laundries.

77.996(2)(e) (e) Linen supply facilities.

77.996(2)(f) (f) Facilities that are located at a prison or other penal institution.

77.996(2)(g) (g) Facilities that are located at a nonprofit hospital or at a nonprofit health care institution.

77.996(2)(h) (h) Facilities that are located on property that is owned by the U.S. government or by this state.

77.996(2)(i) (i) Formal wear rental firms.

77.996(3) (3) “Dry cleaning product” means a hazardous substance used to clean apparel or household fabrics, except a hazardous substance used to launder apparel or household products.

77.996(4) (4) “Formal wear” includes tuxedos, suits and dresses, but does not include costumes, table linens or household fabrics.

77.996(5) (5) “Formal wear rental firm” means a facility that rents formal wear to the general public and dry cleans only the formal wear that it rents to the general public.

77.996(6) (6) “Gross receipts” means the sales price, as defined in s. 77.51 (15b), except as provided in s. 77.585 (7), of tangible personal property and taxable services sold by a dry cleaning facility. “Gross receipts” does not include the license fee imposed under s. 77.9961 (1m) that is passed on to customers.

77.996(7) (7) “Launder” means to use water and detergent as the main process for cleaning apparel or household fabrics.

77.996 History History: 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 312; 2005 a. 253; 2009 a. 2; 2013 a. 20.

77.9961 77.9961 License and fee.

77.9961(1) (1) 

77.9961(1)(a) (a) No person may operate a dry cleaning facility in this state unless the person completes and submits to the department an application for a license on a form that the department prescribes.

77.9961(1)(b) (b) The department may require, before or after the license is issued, that any person who submits an application for a license under par. (a) provide a security deposit to the department. For purposes of this paragraph, s. 77.61 (2), as it applies to a security deposit related to a seller’s permit, applies to the security deposit required under this subsection.

77.9961(1)(c) (c) Subject to par. (b), the department shall issue a license to each person who completes and submits an application for a license under par. (a). If a dry cleaning facility is sold, the seller may transfer the license to the buyer. A license is valid until the license is surrendered by the person to whom the license was issued or transferred or until the license is revoked by the department as provided in par. (e). A license is valid only for the facility designated by the license and the license holder shall display the license prominently in the facility to which the license applies.

77.9961(1)(d) (d) Section 77.52 (12), as it applies to a person who operates as a seller without a seller’s permit, applies to a person who operates a dry cleaning facility without a license issued under this subsection.

77.9961(1)(e) (e) The department may revoke a license issued under this subsection if the person who holds the license fails to comply with any provision of this subchapter related to the fees imposed under this subchapter or any rule promulgated by the department related to the fees imposed under this subchapter, is delinquent with respect to taxes imposed by the department, or fails to timely file a return or report with respect to taxes imposed under chs. 71, 72, 76, 77, 78, or 139 after having been requested to file the return or report. Section 77.52 (11), as it applies to revoking a seller’s permit, applies to revoking a license issued under this subsection.

77.9961(1m) (1m) Every person operating a dry cleaning facility shall pay to the department a fee for each dry cleaning facility that the person operates. The fee shall be paid in installments, as provided in sub. (2), and each installment is equal to 2.8 percent of the gross receipts from the previous 3 months from dry cleaning apparel and household fabrics, but not from formal wear the facility rents to the general public.

77.9961(2) (2) Persons who owe a fee under this section shall pay it in installments on or before April 25, July 25, October 25 and January 25.

77.9961(3) (3) The department shall send to each dry cleaning facility of which the department is aware a form on which to apply for a license under this section.

77.9961 History History: 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2003 a. 312, 326; 2007 a. 20, 96; 2017 a. 324.

77.9962 77.9962 Dry cleaning products fee. There is imposed on each person who sells a dry cleaning product to a dry cleaning facility a fee equal to $5 per gallon of perchloroethylene sold and 75 cents per gallon of any dry cleaning product sold, other than perchloroethylene. The fees for the previous 3 months are due on January 25, April 25, July 25, and October 25.

77.9962 History History: 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 16.

77.9964 77.9964 Administration.

77.9964(1) (1) The department shall administer the fees under this subchapter.

77.9964(2) (2) Except as provided in s. 77.9961 (1) (b), (d), and (e), ss. 71.74 (1) to (3), (7), (9), and (10) to (12), 71.75 (1), (2), (6), (7), (9), and (10), 71.77 (1) and (4) to (8), 71.78 (1) to (4) and (5) to (8), 71.80 (1) (a) and (b), (4) to (6), (8) to (12), (14), (17), and (18), 71.82 (1) and (2) (a) and (b), 71.83 (1) (a) 1. and 2. and (b) 1., 2., and 6., (2) (a) 1. to 3m. and (b) 1. to 3., and (3), 71.87, 71.88, 71.89, 71.90, 71.91 (1) (a), (2), (3), and (4) to (7), 71.92, and 71.93 as they apply to the taxes under ch. 71 apply to the fees under this subchapter.

77.9964(3) (3) The department shall deposit all of the revenue that it collects under this subchapter in the fund under s. 25.48.

77.9964(4) (4) The department shall reimburse the owner or operator of a formal wear rental firm an amount equal to the sum of any fees paid by the owner or operator under s. 77.9961 (1) prior to October 29, 1999.

77.9964 History History: 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2003 a. 312; 2011 a. 68.

77.9965 77.9965 Sunset. This subchapter does not apply after June 30, 2032.

77.9965 History History: 1997 a. 27.

SUBCHAPTER XIII
ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING TAX

77.997 77.997 Definitions. In this subchapter:

77.997(1) (1) “Electric vehicle charging station” means a charging station for electric vehicles containing a Level 3 charger or containing a Level 1 charger, as defined in s. 16.9565 (1) (a), or a Level 2 charger, as defined in s. 16.9565 (1) (b), installed on or after March 22, 2024.

77.997(4) (4) “Level 3 charger” has the meaning given in s. 16.9565 (1) (c).

77.997(4m) (4m) “Person” includes local governmental units, as defined in s. 66.0442 (1) (d), the state of Wisconsin, and state agencies, as defined in s. 16.9565 (1) (d).

77.997(5) (5) “Residence” means a place where a person resides permanently or temporarily, except for a hotel, as defined in s. 97.01 (7).

77.997 History History: 2023 a. 121.

77.9971 77.9971 Electric vehicle charging station registration.

77.9971(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), no person may deliver or place, or offer to deliver or place, electricity from an electric vehicle charging station owned, operated, managed, or leased by the person into the battery or other energy storage device of an electric vehicle unless the person files with the department an application for a registration. Every application for a registration shall be made upon a form prescribed by the department and shall set forth the name under which the applicant intends to operate, the location of the applicant’s electric vehicle charging stations, and the other information that the department requires.

77.9971(2) (2) No registration under this section is required for an electric vehicle charging station located at a residence.

77.9971(3) (3) At the time that the department approves a registration under this section, the department shall notify the electric provider, as defined in s. 16.957 (1) (f), serving the area in which the electric vehicle charging station is located of the approved registration for the electric vehicle charging station.

77.9971 History History: 2023 a. 121.

77.9972 77.9972 Electric vehicle charging tax.

77.9972(1) (1) 

77.9972(1)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a tax is imposed at the rate of 3 cents per kilowatt-hour on the electricity delivered or placed by a Level 3 charger of an electric vehicle charging station into the battery or other energy storage device of an electric vehicle.

77.9972(1)(am) (am)