Chapter Tax 11

Tax 11.56(1)(b)2. 2. Using computers, scanners, proofers, typesetters, photographic equipment, film processors, and direct-to-plate equipment exclusively in performing any of the processes listed in subd. 1. “Manufacturing printed matter” does not include using the equipment described in this subdivision to design, write, or compose an original document to be printed.

Tax 11.56(1)(c) (c) “Typesetting” includes converting images into standardized letter forms of a certain style which usually are hyphenated, justified and indented automatically by means of machinery and equipment. Typesetting machinery and equipment includes fonts, video display terminals, tape and disc making equipment, computers, and typesetters which are interconnected to operate essentially as one machine. A system shall be considered to operate essentially as one machine whether or not the tape or disc is automatically fed to the typesetter.

Tax 11.56(2) (2) Printers’ taxable sales. Taxable receipts of printers include receipts from the following, unless otherwise exempt:

Tax 11.56(2)(a) (a) Charges for printing, lithography, photolithography, rotogravure, gravure, letter press, silk screen printing, imprinting, multilithing, mimeographing, photostating, steel die engraving, and similar operations for customers, whether or not the paper and other materials are furnished by the customers. A printer’s charge for printing on paper furnished by a customer to produce printed matter not to be sold is subject to the tax.

Tax 11.56(2)(b) (b) Charges for services in connection with the sale of printed matter, such as overtime and set-up charges, die cutting, embossing, folding, and binding operations, and charges for painting signs, show cards, and posters, whether the materials are furnished by the printer or by the customer.

Tax 11.56(2)(c) (c) Charges for envelopes, but not for separately stated charges for postage in the sale of prestamped envelopes.

Tax 11.56(3) (3) Taxable sales by others.

Tax 11.56(3)(a) (a) Sales of tangible personal property and items, property, and goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), and (d), Stats., by persons who are not printers, including so-called “trade shops” such as typesetters, image reproduction manufacturers, color separators and binders, or finishers are taxable unless the sales qualify for a statutory exemption, including the following:

Tax 11.56(3)(a)1. 1. Section 77.54 (2), Stats., which exempts from tax the sales price of tangible personal property or items under s. 77.52 (1) (b), Stats., that are used exclusively and directly by a manufacturer in manufacturing an article of tangible personal property or item or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c), Stats., that is destined for sale and that becomes an ingredient or component part of the article of tangible personal property or item or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c), Stats., destined for sale or is consumed or destroyed or loses its identity in manufacturing the article of tangible personal property or item or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c), Stats., destined for sale, except as provided in s. 77.54 (30) (a) 6., Stats.

Tax 11.56(3)(a)2. 2. Section 77.54 (2m), Stats., which exempts from tax the sales price of tangible personal property or services that are used exclusively and directly by a manufacturer in manufacturing shoppers guides, newspapers, or periodicals and that become an ingredient or component of shoppers guides, newspapers, or periodicals or that are consumed or lose their identity in the manufacture of shoppers guides, newspapers, or periodicals, whether or not the shoppers guides, newspapers, or periodicals are transferred without charge to the recipient. The exemption does not apply to advertising supplements that are not newspapers.

Tax 11.56(3)(b) (b) Tangible personal property and items under s. 77.52 (1) (b), Stats., include typed matter, whether or not combined with artwork, such as typeset output, a paste-up, mechanical, assembly, camera-ready copy, flat, or a photoreproduction, including film plates.

Tax 11.56(4) (4) Nontaxable sales.

Tax 11.56(4)(a) (a) Tax does not apply to charges, if stated separately on invoices and in the accounting records, for mailing services such as:

Tax 11.56(4)(a)1. 1. Addressing printed matter by hand or mechanically for the purpose of mailing.

Tax 11.56(4)(a)2. 2. Enclosing, sealing, and preparing for mailing.

Tax 11.56(4)(a)3. 3. Mailing letters or other printed matter.

Tax 11.56(4)(b) (b) Tax also does not apply to a printer’s sales of:

Tax 11.56(4)(b)1. 1. Catalogs, as defined in s. Tax 11.19 (5m) (b), and the envelopes in which the catalogs are mailed.

Tax 11.56(4)(b)2. 2. Printed advertising materials for out-of-state use, as provided in s. Tax 11.19 (4) (a).

Tax 11.56(4)(b)3. 3. Advertising and promotional direct mail, as defined in s. Tax 11.19 (5s) (b).

Tax 11.56(5) (5) Exempt printing machinery and equipment. Section 77.54 (6) (am) 1., Stats., provides that machines and specific processing equipment and repair parts or replacements thereof, exclusively and directly used by a manufacturer in manufacturing tangible personal property or items or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c), Stats., and safety attachments for those machines and equipment are exempt from the sales or use tax. This includes machinery and equipment and repair parts or replacements of the machinery and equipment used exclusively and directly by a manufacturer in the printing process to manufacture tangible personal property or items or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c), Stats.

Tax 11.56 Note Note: Interpretations of s. 77.54 (6) (am) 1., Stats., are contained in s. Tax 11.40.

Tax 11.56(6) (6) Purchases for use in manufacturing printed matter for sale.

Tax 11.56(6)(a) (a) Persons engaged in manufacturing printed matter for sale may purchase the following property and items without tax under the statutes indicated:

Tax 11.56(6)(a)1. 1. Section 77.54 (2), Stats. Property and items, such as paper stock or printing ink, used exclusively and directly in manufacturing an article of tangible personal property or item or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c), Stats., that is destined for sale and that becomes an ingredient or component part of an article of tangible personal property or item or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c), Stats., destined for sale.

Tax 11.56(6)(a)2. 2. Section 77.54 (2), Stats. Property and items such as chemicals, emulsions, acids, raw film, lubricating oils, greases, nonoffset spray, finished art, color separations, plate-ready film, other positives and negatives, flats, and similar items, used exclusively and directly in manufacturing an article of tangible personal property or item or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c), Stats., destined for sale and which are consumed, destroyed, or lose their identity in the manufacture of tangible personal property and items and property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) and (c), Stats., destined for sale.

Tax 11.56 Note Example: A printer’s purchases of positives and negatives which are used exclusively and directly to produce catalogs and shoppers guides it sells to other persons are exempt from the tax.

Tax 11.56(6)(a)3. 3. Section 77.54 (6) (am) 2., Stats. Containers and packaging and shipping materials for use in packing, packaging, or shipping printed matter to their customers.

Tax 11.56(6)(b) (b) The exemption under s. 77.54 (2), Stats., described in par. (a) 1. and 2., applies to property and items purchased by a person who does not use the property other than to provide it to a manufacturer described in par. (a) for use by the manufacturer exclusively and directly in manufacturing tangible personal property and items and property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) and (c), Stats., to be sold. The exemption under s. 77.54 (2), Stats., does not apply if the manufactured tangible personal property or item or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c), Stats., is not to be sold by the manufacturer to its customer or by the customer.

Tax 11.56 Note Examples: 1) A paper manufacturer’s purchases of negatives which it transfers to a printer, who uses the negatives exclusively and directly to produce printing which the printer sells to the paper manufacturer are exempt from the tax.

Tax 11.56 Note 2) An advertising agency’s purchases of color separations which are furnished to a commercial printer who uses the color separations exclusively and directly to produce advertising material the printer sells to the advertising agency are exempt from the tax.

Tax 11.56(7) (7) Purchases for use in manufacturing printed matter not for sale.

Tax 11.56(7)(a) (a) The exemption under s. 77.54 (2m), Stats., applies to tangible personal property or services that are used exclusively and directly by a manufacturer in manufacturing shoppers guides, newspapers, or periodicals and that become an ingredient or component of the shoppers guides, newspapers, or periodicals or that are consumed or lose their identity in the manufacture of the shoppers guides, newspapers, or periodicals, whether or not they are transferred without charge to a recipient.

Tax 11.56 Note Examples: Examples of nontaxable purchases for use in manufacturing printed matter include:

Tax 11.56 Note 1) A shoppers guide publisher, who distributes the publication without charge, purchases paper and furnishes it to a printer who charges for the printing of the shoppers guide.

Tax 11.56 Note 2) A shoppers guide publisher purchases paper it uses to print a shoppers guide which it distributes without charge to recipients.

Tax 11.56(7)(b) (b) Section 77.54 (43), Stats., provides that Wisconsin sales or use tax is not imposed on raw materials if both of the following conditions are met:

Tax 11.56(7)(b)1. 1. The raw materials are processed, fabricated, or manufactured into, attached to, or incorporated into printed materials.

Tax 11.56(7)(b)2. 2. The resulting printed materials will be transported and used solely outside Wisconsin.

Tax 11.56 Note Examples: 1) Company A, a Wisconsin company, publishes catalogs to promote the sale of its products. Company A purchases paper from a company that does not have nexus in Wisconsin. The paper is delivered to a Wisconsin printer that prints the catalogs for Company A. The catalogs are shipped outside Wisconsin for use solely outside Wisconsin.

Tax 11.56 Note The paper purchased by Company A for the catalogs is not subject to Wisconsin use tax.

Tax 11.56 Note 2) Assume the same facts as 1) above, except that the company selling the paper is located in Wisconsin.

Tax 11.56 Note The paper purchased by Company A for the catalogs is not subject to Wisconsin sales tax.

Tax 11.56 Note 3) Company B purchases finished artwork from an advertising agency. The artwork and paper are provided to a printer who will print catalogs for Company B. The catalogs are provided without charge to customers outside Wisconsin. The charge by the advertising agency to Company B is exempt from Wisconsin sales and use tax even though the printer is not selling tangible personal property because the finished artwork is used for processing, fabricating or manufacturing printed material that is transported and used solely outside Wisconsin.

Tax 11.56(7)(bm) (bm) Section 77.52 (2) (a) 11., Stats., provides that the tax does not apply to the service of printing or imprinting tangible personal property or items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., that results in printed material, catalogs, or envelopes that are exempt under s. 77.54 (25), (25m), or (59), Stats.

Tax 11.56 Note Example: Company Z purchases paper that is used to print catalogs that are designed to advertise and promote the sale of Company Z’s merchandise. The paper is delivered to Company X, a Wisconsin printer, that prints the catalogs for Company Z. The catalogs are shipped both in and outside Wisconsin. The charge by Company X to Company Z for the printing of the catalogs is not taxable. However, Company Z owes tax on its purchase of the paper that it provides to Company X for those catalogs that are not shipped outside Wisconsin for use solely outside Wisconsin. Company Z’s purchase of the paper for those catalogs that are shipped outside Wisconsin is exempt as provided in par. (b).

Tax 11.56(7)(c) (c) The tax applies to purchases of artwork, single color or multicolor separations, negatives, flats, and similar items if those purchases are used in the manufacture of tangible personal property or items or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c), Stats., not to be sold, other than items exempt under par. (a) or (b). A printer who does not supply paper used in printing tangible personal property is not selling tangible personal property but rather, is selling a service.

Tax 11.56 Note Example: 1) A retailer purchases color separations which are used in its own printing plant to produce advertising material it distributes to its customers in Wisconsin. The sale of the color separations is subject to Wisconsin sales or use tax because the advertising materials manufactured are not destined for sale.

Tax 11.56 Note 2) Company B purchases finished artwork from an advertising agency. The artwork and paper are provided to a printer who will print flyers that are not catalogs for Company B. The flyers are provided without charge to customers in Wisconsin. The charge by the advertising agency to Company B is subject to Wisconsin sales and use tax. The exemption under s. 77.54 (2), Stats., does not apply because the printer is not selling tangible personal property or an item, or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c), Stats., and the exemption under s. 77.54 (43), Stats., does not apply because the flyers are used in Wisconsin.

Tax 11.56(8) (8) Purchases of fuel and electricity for use in manufacturing printed matter. Section 77.54 (30) (a) 6., Stats., provides an exemption for fuel and electricity consumed in manufacturing tangible personal property, or items or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c), Stats., in this state. “Manufacturing” is defined in s. 77.51 (7h), Stats.

Tax 11.56(9) (9) Additional exemptions for printing industry.

Tax 11.56(9)(a) (a) Definitions. In s. 77.54 (61), Stats., and this subsection:

Tax 11.56(9)(a)1g. 1g. “Book printing” means activities described under 323117 of the North American Industry Classification System.

Tax 11.56(9)(a)1r. 1r. “Commercial printing, except screen printing and book printing, without publishing, except grey goods printing” means activities described in 2012 North American Industry Classification 323111.

Tax 11.56(9)(a)2. 2. “Copies of the product” means finished artwork in a digital form that is generated, furnished, and used for the purpose of printing; represents the object, such as a book, catalog, pamphlet, or magazine, as it is to appear in a printed form; and includes files containing instructions or other information required by the printer for printing the product, such as instructions for plate-making or setting ink-levels at the printing press, whether these instructions or other information are furnished to the printer or derived by the printer from the finished art files.

Tax 11.56(9)(a)3. 3. “Finished artwork” has the meaning given in s. 77.51 (3rm), Stats.

Tax 11.56(9)(a)5. 5. “Primarily” means more than 50 percent.

Tax 11.56(9)(a)8. 8. “Stored” has the meaning of the term “storage” as defined in s. 77.51 (18), Stats.

Tax 11.56(9)(a)8m. 8m. “Support activities for printing” means activities described under 323120 of the North American Industry Classification System.

Tax 11.56(9)(a)9. 9. “Used” has the meaning of the term “use” as defined in s. 77.51 (22), Stats.

Tax 11.56(9)(b) (b) Exemptions. Section 77.54 (61), Stats., provides exemptions for purchases of tangible personal property described under s. 77.54 (61) (a) and (b), Stats., by a person primarily engaged in commercial printing, book printing, or support activities for printing, as determined by the department.

Tax 11.56(9)(b)1. 1. Commercial printing, except screen printing and book printing, without publishing, except gray goods printing.

Tax 11.56(9)(b)2. 2. Printing or printing and binding books and pamphlets without publishing.

Tax 11.56(9)(b)3. 3. Performing prepress and postpress services in support of printing activities.

Tax 11.56 Note Examples: (1) Newspaper publishes a daily edition of a newspaper. Newspaper operates its own printing plant. The printing plant prints Newspaper’s publications as well as printing under contract for third parties. More than 50 percent of Newspaper’s sales are from sales of its newspaper and advertising revenues associated with sales of its newspaper. Newspaper’s primary activity is described by NAICS code 511110: Newspaper Publishers. Newspaper does not qualify for the exemptions under s. 77.54 (61), Stats.

Tax 11.56 Note (2) Insurance Company operates its own printing plant. Insurance Company’s primary source of revenues is insurance premiums. Insurance Company’s primary NAICS code is described within NAICS subsector code 524: Insurance Carriers and Related Activities. Insurance Company does not qualify for the exemptions under s. 77.54 (61), Stats.

Tax 11.56 Note (3) Business is engaged in screen printing of T-shirts, caps, and jackets. This is Business’ only activity and source of revenue. Business’ primary activity is described by NAICS code 323113: Commercial Screen Printing. Business does not qualify for the exemptions under s. 77.54 (61), Stats.

Tax 11.56 Note (4) Company is primarily engaged in the business of printing on fabric grey goods. Company’s primary activity is described by NAICS code 313310: Textile and Finishing Mills. Company does not qualify for the exemptions under s. 77.54 (61), Stats.

Tax 11.56 Note (5) Printer is primarily engaged in commercial printing as described in NAICS code 323111. Company B contracts with Advertising Agency to produce finished artwork that represents Company B’s holiday catalog and to furnish the finished artwork to Printer in the formats specified by Printer. Company B contracts with Printer to print and mail the catalogs to addresses Company B furnishes to Printer. Printer uses the finished artwork in the printing of the catalog. Printer owns servers that it uses primarily to store the finished artwork it receives from its customers. The servers are exempt under s. 77.54 (61), Stats.

Tax 11.56 Note (6) Printer is primarily engaged in commercial printing and binding of books, as described in NAICS code 323117. Publisher enters into a contract with Printer to print and bind one of Publisher’s books. Publisher provides Printer with the finished artwork files in the formats specified by Printer. Printer has computer programs that translate the finished artwork files into files that are sent to and used by a plate-making machine to make the plates for printing the book, and into files that are sent to and used by the printing press to print the pages in the book. The computers and server used by Printer to store Publisher’s finished artwork are primarily used by Printer to store copies of products printed or to be printed by Printer. The computers and servers used to store the finished art furnished to Printer by Publisher are exempt under s. 77.54 (61), Stats.

Tax 11.56 Note (7) Printer has printing plants in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Printer places an order for office supplies from an out-of-state seller. The office supplies are delivered to Printer’s location in Wisconsin. The office supplies are to be used in Printer’s offices in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Printer sets aside the office supplies it will deliver to its Minnesota office, and delivers these supplies to that office one week later. During the week the office supplies being sent to Minnesota are in Wisconsin and prior to being delivered to Minnesota, the office supplies were only stored, remained idle, and were not used by Printer. Printer’s purchase of the office supplies delivered to it in Wisconsin and then delivered by Printer to its office in Minnesota are exempt under s. 77.54 (61), Stats.

Tax 11.56 Note (8) Printer has printing plants in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Indiana. Printer is primarily engaged in activities described by NAICS code 323111. Printer is moving a printing press from its Indiana plant to its Iowa plant. The printing press was originally purchased by Printer in Indiana. The printing press is used exclusively and directly by Printer in manufacturing. Printer has the printing press shipped to its Wisconsin facility. The press is in Wisconsin for not more than 180 days before it is transported to Iowa. While in Wisconsin, Printer performs repairs to the press. Printer’s purchase of the printing press is not subject to Wisconsin use tax. Repair of the printing press while in Wisconsin is a use of the printing press in Wisconsin by the printer. However, Printer is not liable for Wisconsin use tax on its purchase of the printing press as the printing press is an exempt manufacturing machine under s. 77.54 (6) (am) 1., Stats.

Tax 11.56 Note Note: Section Tax 11.56 interprets ss. 77.51 (7h), (8), (11), and (14) (h), 77.52 (1) and (2) (a) 11., and 77.54 (2), (2m), (6) (am) 1. and 2., (25), (25m), (30) (a) 6., (43), (59), and (61), Stats.

Tax 11.56 Note Note: The interpretations in s. Tax 11.56 are effective under the general sales and use tax law on and after September 1, 1969, except: (a) Sales of typeset material shall first be considered sales of tangible personal property on April 1, 1983; (b) The exemption in sub. (3) (b) 2. for ingredients of publications became effective July 2, 1983, pursuant to 1983 Wis. Act 27; (c) The definition of storage and use for purposes of imposing use tax does not include storing or using raw materials becoming printed materials to be shipped outside Wisconsin effective October 1, 1993, pursuant to 1993 Wis. Act 16; (d) The sales and use tax exemption for raw materials transported and used solely outside Wisconsin became effective December 1, 1997, pursuant to 1997 Wis. Act 27; (e) The exemption for fuel and electricity consumed in manufacturing became effective January 1, 2006, pursuant to 2003 Wis. Act 99; (f) The exemption for catalogs and the envelopes in which they are mailed became effective April 1, 2009 pursuant to 2007 Wis. Act 20; (g) The requirement that property and items which qualify for exemption under s. 77.54 (2) and (2m), Stats., be consumed exclusively and directly by a manufacturer in manufacturing property and items destined for sale became effective August 1, 2009 pursuant to 2009 Wis. Act 28; (h) The change of the term “gross receipts” to “sales price” and the separate impositions of tax on coins and stamps sold above face value under s. 77.52 (1) (b), Stats., certain leased property affixed to real property under s. 77.52 (1) (c), Stats., and digital goods under s. 77.52 (1) (d), Stats., became effective October 1, 2009, pursuant to 2009 Wis. Act 2; (i) The sales and use tax exemption for advertising and promotional direct mail became effective July 1, 2013, pursuant to 2011 Wis. Act 32; (j) Services resulting in advertising and promotional direct mail were excluded from taxable services effective July 1, 2013, pursuant to 2013 Wis. Act 20; (k) The additional printing exemptions under s. 77.54 (61), Stats., became effective October 1, 2013, pursuant to 2013 Wis. Act 20; and (L) Amendments to the additional printing exemptions under s. 77.54 (61), Stats., became effective retroactively to October 1, 2013, pursuant to 2013 Wis. Act 145.

Tax 11.56 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1983, No. 327, eff. 4-1-83; am. (3) (a), renum. (3) (b) to be (3) (b) 1., cr. (3) (b) 2., r. and recr. (7), Register, September, 1984, No. 345, eff. 10-1-84; am. (3) (a) and (c), (5) and (6) (a) 1., (b) (intro.) 1. and 2. and (7) (b), r. (6) (b) 3., cr. (6) (c), Register, April, 1994, No. 460, eff. 5-1-94; r. (1) (a) and (6) (b) 1. and 2., renum. (1) (b) and (c) to be (1) (c) and (a) and am. (c), (3) (a), (b) 1. and 2. and (c) to be (3) (a) (intro.), 1. and 2. and (b) and am. (a) (intro.) 1. and 2., (6) (b) (intro.) to be (6) (b) and am., (6) (c) and (7) (b) to be (7) (b) and (c) and am., cr. (1) (b), am. (2) (a), (5), (6) (a) 2., Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99; EmR0924: emerg. am. (1) (a), (b) 2., (c), (2) (intro.), (b), (3), (5), (6), (7) (a), (b) (intro.), 1., and (c), r. and recr. (4), cr. (7) (bm) and (8), eff. 10-1-09; CR 09-090: am. (1) (a), (b) 2., (c), (2) (intro.), (b), (3), (5), (6), (7) (a), (b) (intro.), 1., and (c), r. and recr. (4), cr. (7) (bm) and (8) Register May 2010 No. 653, eff. 6-1-10; CR 13-011: cr. (4) (b) 3. Register August 2013 No. 692, eff. 9-1-13; CR 14-006: am. (7) (bm), cr. (9) Register August 2014 No. 704, eff. 9-1-14; corrections in (5), (6) (a) 3. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register August 2014 No. 704; CR 16-053: cr. (9) (a) 1g., renum. (9) (a) 1. to 1r., r. (9) (a) 4., 6., 7., cr. (9) (a) 8m., r. and recr. (9) (b) (intro.) Register June 2018 No. 750, eff. 7-1-18; correction in (9) (b) (intro.) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2018 No. 750.

Tax 11.57 Tax 11.57 Utilities.

Tax 11.57(1) (1) Taxable sales. Sales of the following tangible personal property, items, property, and goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), and (d), Stats., and services provided by utilities are taxable:

Tax 11.57(1)(a) (a) Utility services billed to household, industrial, or commercial customers, with any adjustments for discounts taken by customers in the utility’s next reporting period.

Tax 11.57 Note Example: An early payment discount is adjusted for in the next reporting period.

Tax 11.57(1)(b) (b) Excess use charges and minimum or idle service charges.

Tax 11.57(1)(c) (c) The gross amounts received for contacts on poles and excess pole height contributions.

Tax 11.57(1)(d) (d) Parking space rentals.

Tax 11.57(1)(e) (e) Rentals of transformers located on a customer’s property.

Tax 11.57(1)(f) (f) Labor and materials to install or repair conversion burners.

Tax 11.57(1)(g) (g) The rental of water heaters.

Tax 11.57(1)(h) (h) Sales of scrap, gravel, or timber sold for removal.

Tax 11.57(1)(i) (i) Sales of tools, used equipment, and other tangible personal property and items, property, and goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), and (d), Stats., to employees or other purchasers.

Tax 11.57(1)(j) (j) Pilot relights for furnaces, such as “no heat” calls, or replacing appliance fuses.

Tax 11.57(1)(k) (k) Sale of a utility overhead transmission or distribution line in place, if installed under easement or license on land owned by others.