Chapter 78

78.71 78.71 Motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel and alternate fuels taxes are preferred claims.

78.71(1) (1) If the property of any licensee is seized upon any mesne or final process of any court of this state, or when the business of any licensee is suspended by the action of creditors or put into the hands of any assignee, receiver or trustee, all motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuels tax moneys and penalties due the state from the licensee shall be considered preferred claims and the state shall be a preferred creditor and shall be paid in full.

78.71(2) (2) If the property of any consumer of motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuel is seized upon any mesne or final process of any court of this state, or when the business of any consumer of motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuel is suspended by the action of creditors or put into the hands of any assignee, receiver or trustee, all amounts due any licensee for motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuels taxes paid to the state by the licensee on motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuel purchased from it by the consumer shall be considered preferred claims and the licensee shall be a preferred creditor to that extent and shall be paid in full for such taxes paid.

78.71 History History: 1981 c. 20; 1993 a. 16.

78.72 78.72 Preference given actions to enforce this chapter. All proceedings and hearings, civil or criminal, arising under this chapter shall be given preference.

78.72 History History: 1983 a. 219.

78.73 78.73 Criminal penalties.

78.73(1) (1) Acts forbidden. Any person who does any of the following may be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both:

78.73(1)(a) (a) Displays, or causes or permits to be displayed, or has possession of, any license knowing the same to be fictitious, or to have been suspended, canceled, revoked or altered;

78.73(1)(b) (b) Lends to, or knowingly permits the use by, one not entitled thereto, any license issued to the person lending it or permitting it to be used;

78.73(1)(c) (c) Displays or represents as the person’s own any license not issued to the person displaying the same;

78.73(1)(d) (d) Uses a false or fictitious name or gives a false or fictitious address in any application or form required by this chapter, or otherwise commits a fraud in any application, record, report or claim for refund;

78.73(1)(dm) (dm) Presents an exemption certificate under s. 78.01 (2) (e) or obtains motor vehicle fuel tax-free under s. 78.01 (2) (f), and uses the fuel obtained tax-free on the basis of the certificate in a manner other than the manner for which the certificate was issued;

78.73(1)(dr) (dr) Uses motor vehicle fuel purchased tax-free and obtained from the storage tank of a general aviation fuel dealer, as defined in s. 78.55 (4), in a motor vehicle for highway purposes;

78.73(1)(e) (e) Uses any false or fictitious name or address when purchasing or obtaining motor vehicle fuel or general aviation fuel or alternate fuels from any source for sale or consumption in this state; or

78.73(1)(f) (f) Violates a provision of this chapter, except as provided in pars. (a) to (e) and subs. (2) to (4).

78.73(2) (2) Selling without a license. Each day in which any person acts as a licensee without a license shall constitute a separate offense, and for each such offense may be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned in the county jail for not more than one year or both.

78.73(3) (3) Attempt to assign license. Any person who assigns or attempts to assign a license issued under this chapter, or who fails to display the license conspicuously at the person’s place of business, shall be fined not more than $25 or imprisoned for not more than 10 days for each such offense.

78.73(4) (4) Failure to report or pay. Any person who fails or refuses to make a report or payment as provided in this chapter shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned in the county jail for not more than one year or both.

78.73 History History: 1981 c. 20; 1985 a. 153; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 16; 1997 a. 27, 237.

78.74 78.74 Remedies and penalties are cumulative. All of the remedies, prosecutions and penalties under this chapter shall be cumulative; no action for recovery of one penalty shall be a bar to or affect the recovery of any other penalty or be a bar to any criminal prosecution.

78.75 78.75 Refund; procedure; claim unassignable.

78.75(1) (1) In this section, “invoice” means the top copy and not a carbon copy.

78.75(1m) (1m) 

78.75(1m)(a) (a)

78.75(1m)(a)1. 1. Except as provided under subds. 2. and 2m., a person who uses motor vehicle fuel or an alternate fuel upon which has been paid the tax required under this chapter, for the purpose of operating a taxicab for the transportation of passengers, for the purpose of operating a motorboat exempt from registration as a motor vehicle under s. 341.05 (20) on privately owned land or for any purpose other than operating a motor vehicle upon the public highways, shall be reimbursed and repaid the amount of the tax paid upon making and filing a claim if the claim is for the tax on 100 gallons or more.

78.75(1m)(a)2. 2. A person who uses motor vehicle fuel or an alternate fuel upon which has been paid the tax required under this chapter for the purpose of operating a snowmobile, as defined under s. 340.01 (58a), an aircraft, as defined under s. 78.55 (2), or a motorboat, as defined under s. 30.50 (6), unless the motorboat is not a recreational motorboat, may not be reimbursed or repaid the amount of tax paid.

78.75(1m)(a)2m. 2m. A person who uses motor vehicle fuel or an alternate fuel upon which has been paid the tax required under this chapter for the purpose of operating an all-terrain vehicle, as defined under s. 340.01 (2g), or a utility terrain vehicle, as defined under s. 23.33 (1) (ng), may not be reimbursed or repaid the amount of tax paid unless the all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle is registered for private use under s. 23.33 (2) (d) or (2g). A person who uses motor vehicle fuel or an alternate fuel upon which has been paid the tax required under this chapter for the purposes of operating a limited use off-highway motorcycle, as defined in s. 23.335 (1) (o), that is registered under s. 23.335 (3) may not be reimbursed or repaid the amount of tax paid unless the off-highway motorcycle is registered for private use under s. 23.335 (3) (a).

78.75(1m)(a)3. 3. Claims under subd. 1. shall be made and filed. The forms shall indicate that refunds are not available for motor vehicle fuel or alternate fuels used for motorboats, except motorboats exempt from registration as motor vehicles under s. 341.05 (20) and motorboats that are not recreational motorboats, or motor vehicle fuel or alternate fuels used for snowmobiles and that the estimated snowmobile motor vehicle fuel or alternate fuels tax payments are used for snowmobile trails and areas. The forms shall indicate that refunds are not available for motor vehicle fuel or alternate fuels used for all-terrain vehicles or utility terrain vehicles unless the vehicle is registered for private use under s. 23.33 (2) (d) or (2g) and shall indicate that estimated all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle motor vehicle fuel or alternate fuels tax payments are used for all-terrain vehicle trails and areas. The forms shall indicate that refunds are not available for motor vehicle fuel or alternate fuels used for limited use off-highway motorcycles unless the motorcycle is registered for private use under s. 23.335 (3) (a) and shall indicate that estimated off-highway motorcycle fuel or alternate fuels tax payments are used for off-highway motorcycle trails and areas. The forms shall also indicate that refunds are not available for the tax on less than 100 gallons. The department shall distribute forms in sufficient quantities to each county clerk.

78.75(1m)(b) (b) Such claim shall be filed not later than 12 months after the date of purchase of the motor vehicle fuel or alternate fuel, or the claim shall not be allowed.

78.75(1m)(c) (c) The seller, upon request, shall furnish each purchaser with an invoice prepared at the time of delivery, and the purchaser shall send that invoice or a list of purchases to the department when making a claim for refund. The invoice shall contain the following information: date of sale; name and address of seller; name of purchaser, which name must be the name of the claimant; number of gallons purchased; the type of fuel; the purchase price; and the amount of Wisconsin motor vehicle fuel or alternate fuels tax as a separate item. If the purchaser sends invoices to the department, the purchaser shall send a separate invoice for each sale and delivery, and the invoice shall be legibly written and shall comply with the foregoing requirements. If the purchaser sends a list of purchases to the department, the purchaser shall retain for 4 years the invoices that are evidence of those purchases and allow the department to inspect them. The claim shall state whether or not the applicant owns an automobile or truck or any other motor-driven machinery or appliance which consumes motor vehicle fuel or an alternate fuel; the total number of gallons of motor vehicle fuel or alternate fuel purchased; the number of gallons of such motor vehicle fuel or alternate fuel purchased on which refund is claimed; a detailed statement of the consumption of such motor vehicle fuel or alternate fuel on which a refund is claimed, describing the machinery, equipment or appliance in which consumed, giving the serial or manufacturer’s number of the motor and the approximate number of gallons consumed in each; or if such fuel were not consumed in any such machinery, equipment or appliance, then a description of the purposes for which the fuel was consumed with the approximate number of gallons consumed for each purpose; a statement whether or not deduction has been made for motor vehicle fuel or alternate fuels consumed in applicant’s automobile or truck; and such other information as the department deems necessary.

78.75(1m)(e) (e) On the filing of a claim under par. (a), accompanied by the invoice or list of purchases, the department shall determine the amount of refund due. The department may make such investigation of the correctness of the facts stated in such claim as it deems necessary and may require a claimant to submit records to substantiate the claim. When the department has approved such claim, it shall reimburse the claimant out of the moneys collected under this chapter to be used for carrying out this section. No refund shall be claimed by or allowed to any person on account of any motor vehicle fuel or alternate fuel carried from this state in the ordinary fuel tank of a motor vehicle.

78.75(1m)(f) (f) The penalty provided in this chapter for presenting a false or fraudulent statement shall be printed in full on the claim form.

78.75(2) (2) The right of any person to a refund under this section shall not be assignable and the application for a refund shall be made by the same person who purchased the motor vehicle fuel or alternate fuel as shown in the invoice by the person selling the same, and by no other person, and the proceeds or amount of such refund as determined by the department shall be paid to the person whose name appears on the seller’s invoice and to no other person.

78.75 History History: 1973 c. 33; 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 221; 1981 c. 390 s. 252; 1983 a. 189 s. 329 (33); 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31; 1993 a. 16, 437; 1995 a. 113, 408; 1997 a. 27, 291; 2011 a. 208; 2015 a. 170.

78.75 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. Tax 4.01, 4.02, 4.03, and 4.05, Wis. adm. code.

78.77 78.77 Registration of transporters; records to be kept.

78.77(1) (1) No person may transport motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuels by truck, trailer, semitrailer or other vehicle on any highway in this state from a point without this state to a point within this state, from a point within this state to a point without this state or for hire, as defined in s. 194.01 (4), unless that person has a valid certificate under s. 73.03 (50) and is registered with the department and unless the registration number furnished by the department for the vehicle preceded by the letters W.D.R. is prominently displayed on the vehicle by painting the registration number on each side and on the rear of the vehicle in characters not less than 5 inches in height with a stroke not less than three-fourths inch in width. The registration is valid until it is suspended, revoked for cause or canceled. A registration is not transferable to another person or place of business. Application for registration shall be upon forms prescribed by the department and shall furnish such information concerning the applicant as the department requires. The application shall show the name and address of the applicant, a description of the truck, trailer, semitrailer or other vehicle, the license number and the state in which issued, the name and address of the licensee, the capacity in gallons of the fuel tank or tanks, the serial number of the trailer, semitrailer or other vehicle, and the serial and motor number of any truck.

78.77(2) (2) Every person transporting motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuels upon the highways of this state who obtains the motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuel from a refinery, marine terminal, pipeline terminal, pipeline tank farm or place of manufacture shall, while transporting the motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuel, carry a copy of the manifest, which shall be serially numbered and shall show the date of loading, name of refinery, marine terminal, pipeline terminal, pipeline tank farm or place of manufacture where loaded, point of origin, destination state, name of shipper, kind of motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuel and number of gallons. The refiner, marine terminal, pipeline terminal, pipeline tank farm or place of manufacture where the fuel is loaded shall prepare and furnish the manifest. Each shipment of motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuel by truck, trailer, semitrailer or other vehicle shall have one manifest. Delivery of any shipment may be made to one or more unlicensed places of business at the direction of the licensee under s. 78.09 or 78.47 or general aviation fuel dealer whose name and address appear on the manifest and for whose account the shipment is made if the licensee’s or general aviation fuel dealer’s copy of the manifest is supported by delivery tickets each showing the manifest number and complete information concerning the delivery and the original or copy of the delivery ticket is at the time of delivery presented to the person to whom any part of the shipment is delivered. Every person transporting motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuel shall keep complete and accurate records of all such fuel transported.

78.77(3) (3) Any person who transports motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or an alternate fuel upon the highways of this state by truck, tractor, trailer, semitrailer or any vehicle which is not required to be registered under sub. (1) shall have his or her name and address painted on each side of the vehicle not less than 5 inches in height; if the vehicle is operated by a licensee duly licensed in this state, the trade insignia or trade name regularly used by such licensee for tank vehicle identification together with the name of the city, village or town from which the vehicle is customarily operated may be substituted for the name and address of the licensee. Each such person shall keep complete and accurate records of all motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuel purchased, consumed, sold or otherwise distributed.

78.77(4) (4) No person transporting motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or an alternate fuel upon the highways of this state or any person who has custody of the records of motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuels transported upon the highways of this state may refuse at any time to divulge to the department, its agents or employees any information demanded by the department, its agents or employees concerning motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuel transported or being transported.

78.77(5) (5) Book records, sales tickets, invoices, delivery tickets, bills of lading, loading tickets or manifests, and other papers pertaining to the transportation, purchase, sale or distribution of motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel and alternate fuels shall be retained and shall be subject to inspection by the department.

78.77 History History: 1977 c. 29; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 189 s. 329 (29); 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16, 246; 1997 a. 27.

78.78 78.78 Reports by transporters; exceptions.

78.78(1) (1) Every agent or employee of every railroad company, pipeline company, motor truck or motor tank car company, water transportation company, and every other common carrier transporting motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuels, either in interstate or intrastate commerce, which originates at or is destined to a point in this state, and every person transporting motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuels interstate, which transportation originates at or is destined to a point in this state, who has the custody of books and records showing the transportation, shall report all the transportation to the department on forms prescribed and furnished by it. A supplier or terminal operator may rely on information about the destination of fuel provided under this subsection by an exporter. Only the exporter is liable for the tax due as a result of diverting the fuel from the represented destination state.

78.78(2) (2) The reports under sub. (1) shall cover monthly periods, and shall be filed with the department on or before the 30th day after the close of the month covered by the report, and shall contain the following information: the name and address of the transporter, the month and year covered by the report, the date of unloading, the initials and number of the car if shipped by rail, the loading ticket or manifest number and the registration number required by s. 78.77 if shipped by truck transport, the name of the consignor, the point of origin, the name of the consignee, the name of the person to whom delivery has in fact been made if other than the original named consignee, the point of unloading, and the quantity of each shipment in gallons.

78.78(3) (3) Any transporter who fails to file timely a report required under this section shall pay to the department a late filing fee of $10. A report that is mailed is timely if it is mailed in a properly addressed envelope with 1st class postage, if the envelope is postmarked on or before the due date and if the report is received by the department or at the destination that the department prescribes within 5 days after the due date. A report that is not mailed is timely if it is received on or before the due date by the department or at the destination that the department prescribes.

78.78 History History: 1981 c. 20; 1985 a. 187; 1993 a. 16, 437; 1997 a. 27.

78.79 78.79 Duty of department to enforce fuel tax provisions; promulgate rules. The department shall enforce this chapter and see that all violations thereof are promptly prosecuted, and that all moneys received by licensees and other persons and in their hands as trust funds and due the state are recovered and collected. The department may promulgate reasonable rules relating to the administration and enforcement of this chapter, and rules to govern its proceedings and to regulate the mode and manner of all investigations and hearings.

78.79 History History: 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31.

78.80 78.80 Departmental examinations; information; penalty.

78.80(1) (1) The department, or any deputy, employee or agent appointed in writing, is authorized at any time during the business day to examine the books, records, papers, receipts, invoices, storage tanks and any equipment of any licensee under s. 78.09 or 78.47, broker, dealer, general aviation fuel licensee or other person, purchaser or common carrier, pertaining to motor vehicle fuel, crude petroleum or general aviation fuel or alternate fuels to verify the truth and accuracy of any statement, report or return, or to ascertain whether or not the taxes imposed by this chapter have been paid or to determine the financial responsibility of any licensee for the payment of motor vehicle fuel or general aviation fuel or alternate fuels taxes. The department may redetermine taxes and may allow credits for overpayments due to error. The department may determine any person’s liability for a tax under this chapter on the basis of sampling, whether or not the person being audited has complete records of transactions and whether or not the person being audited consents.

78.80(1m) (1m) Sections 71.74 (1), (2), (10) and (11) and 71.75 (4) as they apply to the taxes under ch. 71 apply to the taxes under this chapter. Section 71.74 (13) as it applies to the collection of taxes under ch. 71 applies to the collection of taxes under this chapter.

78.80(2) (2) The department may hold hearings, issue subpoenas, administer oaths to witnesses, take the sworn testimony of any person and cause it to be transcribed into writing and conduct such investigations as it may deem necessary. If any broker, dealer, general aviation fuel licensee, licensee under s. 78.09 or 78.47, purchaser or common carrier, or any other person refuses access to the books, records, papers, receipts, invoices, storage tanks and other equipment, and if any witness fails or refuses to obey any subpoena or fails or refuses to testify before the department, then the department shall certify the names and facts to any court of competent jurisdiction and the court shall enter such order as the enforcement of this chapter and justice shall require.

78.80(3) (3) Sections 71.78 (1), (1g), and (4) to (9) and 71.83 (2) (a) 3., relating to confidentiality of income and franchise tax returns, apply to any information obtained from any person on a motor vehicle fuel, general aviation fuel or alternate fuels tax return, report, schedule, exhibit, or other document or from an audit report pertaining to the same.

78.80(4) (4) The department of revenue shall inform each requester of the amount paid or payable under ss. 78.01, 78.40 and 78.555 and reported on a return filed by any city, village, town, county, school district, special purpose district or technical college district; whether that amount was paid by the statutory due date; the amount of any tax, fees, penalties or interest assessed by the department; and the total amount due or assessed under ss. 78.01, 78.40 and 78.555 but unpaid by the filer, except that the department may not divulge tax return information that in the department’s opinion violates the confidentiality of that information with respect to any person other than the units of government and districts specified in this subsection. The department shall provide to the requester a written explanation if it fails to divulge information on grounds of confidentiality. The department shall collect from the person requesting the information a fee of $4 for each return.

78.80 History History: 1977 c. 289 ss. 2, 11m; 1979 c. 110; 1981 c. 20; 1987 a. 246, 312; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16, 399; 1995 a. 428; 2015 a. 216; 2023 a. 73.

78.81 78.81 Attorney general and district attorney to prosecute; place of trial.

78.81(1) (1) Upon request of the department, the attorney general or proper district attorney shall prosecute any action to enforce this chapter.

78.81(2) (2) Any action brought under this chapter may be brought either in the circuit court for Dane County or in the proper court in the county wherein the defendant resides or has its principal place of business.

78.82 78.82 Municipalities not to tax motor vehicle fuel or alternate fuels. No county, city, village, town or other political subdivision shall levy or collect any excise, license, privilege or occupational tax upon motor vehicle fuel or alternate fuels or upon the buying, selling, handling or consuming of motor vehicle fuel or alternate fuels.

78.82 History History: 1993 a. 16.