Chapter Tax 2

Tax 2.39(5)(a) (a) Numerator; denominator. The numerator of the payroll factor shall include the total amount paid in Wisconsin during the tax period by the taxpayer for compensation in the production of apportionable income and the denominator shall include the total compensation paid everywhere during the tax period by the taxpayer in the production of apportionable income. Compensation is paid in Wisconsin and included in the numerator if, as provided in ss. 71.04 (6) (b) and 71.25 (8) (b), Stats., one of the following applies:

Tax 2.39(5)(a)1. 1. The individual’s service is performed entirely within Wisconsin.

Tax 2.39 Note Example: Corporation A has a manufacturing plant located in Wisconsin. The compensation of an Illinois resident who works at the Wisconsin manufacturing plant is included in the numerator of the payroll factor since the employee’s service is performed entirely in Wisconsin.

Tax 2.39(5)(a)2. 2. The individual’s service is performed within and without Wisconsin, but the service performed without Wisconsin is incidental to the individual’s service within Wisconsin.

Tax 2.39 Note Example: Corporation B has its headquarters and a manufacturing plant in Wisconsin. Corporation B also has a manufacturing plant located in Indiana. The manager of the Wisconsin manufacturing plant spends two weeks during the tax year at the manufacturing plant located in Indiana training the new plant manager. The compensation of the Wisconsin plant manager is included in the numerator of the payroll factor because the purposes performed in Indiana is incidental to the service performed in Wisconsin.

Tax 2.39(5)(a)3. 3. A portion of the service is performed in Wisconsin and the base of operations of the individual is in Wisconsin.

Tax 2.39 Note Example: Corporation C has a sales office located in Wisconsin. A salesperson working out of the Wisconsin office solicits sales in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. Since a portion of the salesperson’s service is performed in Wisconsin and the salesperson’s base of operations is in Wisconsin, the compensation of the salesperson is included in the numerator of the payroll factor.

Tax 2.39(5)(a)4. 4. A portion of the service is performed in Wisconsin and, if there is no base of operations, the place from which the individual’s service is directed or controlled is in Wisconsin.

Tax 2.39 Note Example: Corporation D has its regional sales office in Wisconsin. An Iowa resident works out of her home as a salesperson for Corporation D and solicits sales in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. The salesperson is directed from the regional sales office located in Wisconsin. The compensation of the Iowa salesperson is included in the numerator of the payroll factor since a portion of her service is performed in Wisconsin, she has no base of operations and she is directed from Wisconsin.

Tax 2.39(5)(a)5. 5. A portion of the service is performed within Wisconsin and neither the base of operations of the individual nor the place from which the service is directed or controlled is in any state in which some part of the service is performed, but the individual’s residence is in Wisconsin.

Tax 2.39 Note Example: Corporation E is headquartered in and has its sales office in Indiana and maintains inventory in Wisconsin. A Wisconsin resident salesperson solicits sales in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The compensation of the Wisconsin salesperson is included in the numerator of the payroll factor since a portion of the salesperson’s service is performed in Wisconsin, the salesperson is a resident of Wisconsin and the salesperson is directed or controlled from Indiana but performs no services in Indiana.

Tax 2.39(5)(a)6. 6. The individual is neither a resident of nor performs services in Wisconsin but is directed or controlled from an office in Wisconsin and returns to Wisconsin periodically for business purposes and the state in which the individual resides does not have jurisdiction to impose income or franchise taxes on the employer.

Tax 2.39 Note Example: Corporation F has its sales office in Wisconsin. A salesperson resides in Nebraska and solicits sales in Nebraska and Kansas. Corporation F does not have nexus in Nebraska or Kansas. The salesperson returns to the Wisconsin sales office for two weeks each year for meetings and training. The compensation of the Nebraska salesperson is included in the numerator of the payroll factor since he is directed from an office in Wisconsin, returns to Wisconsin periodically for business purposes and Corporation F does not have nexus in Nebraska.

Tax 2.39 Note Note: Refer to ss. 71.04 (6) (a) and (b) and 71.25 (8) (a) and (b), Stats.

Tax 2.39(5)(b) (b) Services. An individual shall be considered to be performing a service in Wisconsin during the year if the individual performs services in Wisconsin for at least 5 days during the year. The compensation of any one employee may not be split between 2 or more states during the year; however, this does not apply if the employee is transferred or changes positions during the year.

Tax 2.39(5)(c) (c) Compensation. Compensation includes:

Tax 2.39(5)(c)1. 1. Wages, salaries, commissions and any other form of remuneration paid to employees for personal services including amounts contributed to a qualified cash or deferred arrangement under section 401 (k) of the Internal Revenue Code on behalf of employees who have elected to participate in the plan. However, matching contributions to the trust by an employer under section 401 (k) of the Internal Revenue Code are not included since the employees do not have a right to receive the matching contributions directly in cash.

Tax 2.39(5)(c)2. 2. The value of board, rent, housing, lodging and other benefits or services furnished to employees by the taxpayer in return for personal services, provided that these amounts constitute income to the recipient under the federal Internal Revenue Code for the year for which the payroll factor is computed. In the case of employees not subject to the federal Internal Revenue Code, such as citizens of foreign countries employed in foreign countries, the determination of whether the benefits or services constitute income to the employees shall be made as though the employees are subject to the federal Internal Revenue Code.

Tax 2.39(5)(c)3. 3. Deductible management or service fees paid, or management or service fees allocated by the department under s. 71.10 (1), 71.30 (2) or 71.80 (1) (b), Stats., to a related corporation, as defined in section 267 (f) (1) of the Internal Revenue Code, as consideration for the performance of personal services. As provided in s. 71.25 (8) (d), Stats., the recipient of these fees may not include the compensation paid to its employees with respect to the personal services in either the numerator or denominator of its payroll factor and the situs of the fees is in Wisconsin if the services fulfill one of the requirements of par. (a). Except for these management or service fees, payments made to an independent contractor or any other person not properly classifiable as an employee are excluded.

Tax 2.39 Note Examples: 1) Corporation A, headquartered in Illinois, owns 100% of the stock of Corporation B which is headquartered in Wisconsin. Employees of Corporation A perform all the accounting functions for Corporation B. For these services Corporation A charged $30,000 of office payroll as management fees to Corporation B, which paid that amount to Corporation A. If the employees of Corporation A that performed the accounting services for Corporation B were based in Illinois and spent only part of their time in Wisconsin while performing these services, no portion of the $30,000 is includable in the numerator of the payroll factor of Corporation B because the services do not meet the requirements of par. (a). The entire $30,000 is includable in the denominator of the payroll factor of Corporation B. If Corporation A files a Wisconsin return on the apportionment basis, it may not include in its computation of the payroll factor the $30,000 paid to its employees for services they performed for Corporation B.

Tax 2.39 Note 2) Corporation C, headquartered in Wisconsin, owns 100% of the stock of Corporation D which is also headquartered in Wisconsin. Employees of Corporation C prepare all tax returns for Corporation D. For these services Corporation C charged $20,000 of tax department payroll as management fees to Corporation D, which paid that amount to Corporation C. All of the services were performed in Wisconsin. The $20,000 is included in both the numerator and denominator of the payroll factor of Corporation D. Corporation C may not include the $20,000 in either the numerator or denominator of its payroll factor.

Tax 2.39 Note Note: Refer to ss. 71.04 (6) (d) and 71.25 (8) (d), Stats.

Tax 2.39(5)(d) (d) Excludable compensation. Compensation paid to produce nonapportionable income or losses or income exempt from taxation under ch. 71, Stats., may not be included in the numerator or denominator of the payroll factor.

Tax 2.39 Note Note: Refer to ss. 71.04 (6) (c) and 71.25 (8) (c), Stats.

Tax 2.39(6) (6) Sales factor.

Tax 2.39(6)(a) (a) Numerator; denominator. The numerator of the sales factor shall include the taxpayer’s gross receipts from sales that are in this state and the denominator shall include the taxpayer’s gross receipts from sales everywhere during the taxable year. Gross receipts that are not derived in the production of apportionable income and items described in ss. 71.04 (7) (f) and 71.25 (9) (f), Stats., may not be included in the sales factor.

Tax 2.39 Note Note: A corporation that is a combined group member must adjust its sales factor numerator and denominator as described in s. Tax 2.61 (7).

Tax 2.39(6)(b) (b) Sales of tangible personal property attributable to Wisconsin.

Tax 2.39(6)(b)1. 1. Gross receipts from the sales of tangible personal property, except sales to the federal government as described in subd. 4., are in Wisconsin if the property is delivered or shipped to a purchaser within Wisconsin regardless of the f.o.b. point or other conditions of the sales. Some situations in which property is considered to be delivered or shipped to a purchaser within Wisconsin are if:

Tax 2.39(6)(b)1.a. a. The property is picked up outside Wisconsin by a purchaser having a Wisconsin business location and the purchaser returns to Wisconsin with the property.

Tax 2.39 Note Example: Corporation B is a Minnesota brewer that sells beer to a Wisconsin purchaser to be picked up at the brewer’s shipping dock in Minnesota. The purchaser is a beer distributor which used its own vehicle to pick up the beer and haul it back to Wisconsin. Corporation B is subject to the tax by the state of Wisconsin. These dock sales are assigned to Wisconsin in Corporation B’s sales factor in its apportionment formula for Wisconsin tax purposes, since the purchaser’s location is in Wisconsin and the product is shipped to Wisconsin. Therefore, Corporation B, for Wisconsin franchise tax purposes, will include the amount of this dock sale in both the numerator and the denominator of the sales factor.

Tax 2.39 Note Note: In Pabst Brewing Co. v. Wisconsin Department of Revenue (Ct. App. Dist. IV, 1986), 130 Wis. 2d 291, the taxpayer sold beer to an Illinois distributor who picked it up in its own truck at the taxpayer’s Wisconsin shipping dock and hauled it to Illinois. The Court held that the sales were not Wisconsin sales, since the location of the purchaser, rather than the location of the pickup of the product, controlled the determination of where the sale was assigned for purposes of the sales factor. The Court noted that if the sales were assigned to Wisconsin, the method of delivery, a condition of the sale, would be the determinative, which is contrary to statute. These sales are referred to as “dock sales,” which are those sales where a purchaser uses its owned or rented vehicles or a common carrier it has made arrangements with to take delivery of the product at the seller-taxpayer’s shipping dock.

Tax 2.39(6)(b)1.b. b. The taxpayer, at the designation of the purchaser, or the purchaser delivers to or has the property shipped to a recipient other than the purchaser within Wisconsin.

Tax 2.39 Note Example: Corporation M is a Wisconsin manufacturer that sells plumbing ware to an Illinois wholesaler and retailer to be picked up at the manufacturer’s shipping dock in Wisconsin. The purchaser has its corporate headquarters in Illinois. The purchaser uses its own vehicle to pick up plumbing ware and haul it to the job site of the purchaser’s customer. The customer is a plumbing contractor that is working on a new motel being constructed in Madison, Wisconsin. These dock sales are assigned to Wisconsin in Corporation M’s sales factor in its apportionment formula for Wisconsin tax purposes, since the purchaser’s customer’s location is in Wisconsin and the product is shipped to Wisconsin. The delivery to the plumbing contractor was at the designation of the purchaser and that is where the product was delivered. Therefore, Corporation M, for Wisconsin franchise tax purposes, is required to include the amount of this dock sale in both the numerator and the denominator of the sales factor.

Tax 2.39(6)(b)1.c. c. The shipment by either the taxpayer or the purchaser terminates in Wisconsin, even though the property is subsequently transferred by the purchaser to another state.

Tax 2.39 Note Example: Corporation B has a Wisconsin manufacturing plant which makes engines for an Indiana based manufacturer. Title to the engines passes to the purchaser after the engines are tested. Corporation B, at the direction of the purchaser, ships the tested engines to a public warehouse in Wisconsin. The warehouse stores the engines until directed to ship them by the purchaser. These sales are included in the numerator of the sales factor for Corporation B since the public warehouse is considered to be a business location of the Indiana purchaser and the warehouse is located in Wisconsin.

Tax 2.39(6)(b)1.d. d. The recipient is in Wisconsin, even though the property is ordered from outside Wisconsin.

Tax 2.39 Note Example: Corporation A manufactures batteries at a location in Wisconsin. It sells batteries to an Illinois retailer which operates stores nationwide. The purchaser orders the batteries from its Illinois location and directs Corporation A to ship the batteries to its warehouse in Wisconsin. These sales are included in the numerator of the sales factor since the batteries were shipped to a Wisconsin location.

Tax 2.39(6)(b)1.e. e. The property is being shipped by a seller or purchaser from one state to a consignee in another state and is diverted while enroute to a purchaser in Wisconsin, or the designee of a purchaser who is in Wisconsin.

Tax 2.39 Note Example: Corporation X, a manufacturer located in Superior, Wisconsin, sells a portion of its manufactured product via a consignment arrangement with a retailer-consignee in Chicago, Illinois. Pursuant to an order from the Chicago consignee for additional inventory, Corporation X ships via its own trucks additional inventory of its product to Chicago. After entering Illinois but before reaching Chicago, the driver receives instructions from the consignee to deliver the entire load to a customer in Beloit, Wisconsin. Since the property was shipped to a purchaser in Wisconsin, the sale is attributable to Wisconsin and the gross receipts from the sale are included in both the numerator and denominator of Corporation X’s sales factor.

Tax 2.39(6)(b)2. 2. If the taxpayer does not have nexus in the state of destination, the sale is attributed to Wisconsin if the property is shipped from an office, store, warehouse, factory or other place of storage in Wisconsin. For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009, the amount included in the numerator of the sales factor shall be 50% of the gross receipts from the sale. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2009, the amount included in the numerator of the sales factor shall be the total gross receipts from the sale. For purposes of this subdivision:

Tax 2.39(6)(b)2.a. a. Sales are attributed to Wisconsin even though the taxpayer has a certificate of authority in the state of destination but the business activities in the destination state do not result in nexus based on the standards in s. Tax 2.82.

Tax 2.39(6)(b)2.b. b. Sales are not attributed to Wisconsin if the taxpayer is incorporated in the state of destination other than Wisconsin.

Tax 2.39(6)(b)3. 3. If a taxpayer’s salesperson located in an office in Wisconsin makes a sale to a purchaser in another state in which the taxpayer does not have nexus and the property is not shipped or delivered from Wisconsin, the following rules apply:

Tax 2.39(6)(b)3.a. a. If the taxpayer has nexus in the state from which the property is delivered or shipped, then the sale is in that state.

Tax 2.39(6)(b)3.b. b. If the taxpayer does not have nexus in the state from which the property is delivered or shipped, then the sale is in Wisconsin. For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009, the amount included in the numerator of the sales factor shall be 50% of the gross receipts from the sale. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2009, the amount included in the numerator of the sales factor shall be the total gross receipts from the sale.

Tax 2.39(6)(b)4. 4. With respect to sales to the federal government:

Tax 2.39(6)(b)4.a. a. Gross receipts from the sales of tangible personal property are in Wisconsin if the property is shipped from an office, store, warehouse, factory or other place of storage in Wisconsin and delivered to the federal government, including its agencies and instrumentalities, in Wisconsin regardless of the f.o.b. point or other conditions of sale. For purposes of this section, only sales for which the federal government makes direct payment to the seller pursuant to the terms of its contract constitute sales to the federal government. Thus, sales by a subcontractor to the prime contractor, the party to the contract with the federal government, do not constitute sales to the federal government.

Tax 2.39(6)(b)4.b. b. Gross receipts from the sales of tangible personal property are in Wisconsin if the property is shipped from an office, store, warehouse, factory or other place of storage in Wisconsin and delivered to the federal government, including its agencies and instrumentalities, outside Wisconsin and the taxpayer does not have nexus in the destination state. For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009, the amount included in the numerator of the sales factor shall be 50% of the gross receipts from the sale. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2009, the amount included in the numerator of the sales factor shall be the total gross receipts from the sale.

Tax 2.39(6)(b)5. 5. For purposes of applying subds. 2. to 4., whether the taxpayer has nexus in the destination state is determined using the same standards as set forth in s. Tax 2.82.

Tax 2.39(6)(c) (c) Leases, rentals, or licensing of tangible personal property attributable to Wisconsin.

Tax 2.39(6)(c)1. 1. Except as described in subd. 2., the numerator of the sales factor includes gross receipts from the lease, rental, licensing, or other use of tangible personal property owned by the taxpayer and the sublease of tangible personal property if the property is located in this state during the entire period of lease, rental, licensing, sublease, or other use. If the property is used in and outside this state during the period of lease, rental, licensing, or sublease, gross receipts are included in the numerator of the sales factor to the extent that the property is used in this state. The proportion of use in this state is determined by multiplying the gross receipts from the lease, rental, licensing, sublease, or other use of the property by a fraction having as a numerator the number of days the property is in this state while leased, rented, licensed, or subleased in the taxable year and having as a denominator the total number of days that the property is leased, rented, licensed, or subleased in all states having jurisdiction to tax the taxpayer during the taxable year.

Tax 2.39(6)(c)2. 2. Gross receipts from the lease, rental, or licensing of moving property, including motor vehicles, rolling stock, aircraft, vessels, or mobile equipment, owned by the taxpayer and the sublease of moving property are included in the numerator of the sales factor to the extent that the property is used in this state. The proportion of use of moving property in this state is determined as follows:

Tax 2.39(6)(c)2.a. a. The proportion of use of a motor vehicle or rolling stock in this state is determined by multiplying the gross receipts from the lease, rental, licensing, or sublease of the motor vehicle or rolling stock by a fraction having as a numerator the number of miles traveled within this state by the motor vehicle or rolling stock while leased, rented, licensed, or subleased in the taxable year and having as a denominator the total number of miles traveled by the motor vehicle or rolling stock while leased, rented, licensed, or subleased in the taxable year.

Tax 2.39(6)(c)2.b. b. The proportion of use of an aircraft in this state is determined by multiplying the gross receipts from the lease, rental, licensing, or sublease of the aircraft by a fraction having as a numerator the number of takeoffs and landings of the aircraft in this state while leased, rented, licensed, or subleased in the taxable year and having as a denominator the total number of takeoffs and landings of the aircraft while leased, rented, licensed, or subleased in the taxable year.

Tax 2.39(6)(c)2.c. c. The proportion of a vessel or mobile equipment in this state is determined by multiplying the gross receipts from the lease, rental, licensing, or sublease of the vessel or mobile equipment by a fraction having as a numerator the number of days that the vessel or mobile equipment is in this state while leased, rented, licensed, or subleased in the taxable year and having as a denominator the total number of days that the vessel or mobile equipment is leased, rented, licensed, or subleased in the taxable year.

Tax 2.39(6)(c)2.d. d. If the taxpayer is unable to determine the use of moving property under subd. 2. a., b., or c. while the property is leased, rented, licensed, or subleased in the taxable year, the moving property is conclusively deemed to be used in the state in which the property is located at the time that the lessee, licensee, or sublessee takes possession of the property.

Tax 2.39(6)(d) (d) Sales, leases, rentals, or licensing of real property attributable to Wisconsin. The numerator of the sales factor includes gross receipts from the sale, lease, rental, licensing, or other use of real property owned by the taxpayer if the real property is located in this state and gross receipts from the sublease of real property if the real property is located in this state.

Tax 2.39(6)(e) (e) Receipts attributable to Wisconsin from the use of computer software. Receipts attributable to Wisconsin from providing the use of computer software are determined as provided in ss. 71.04 (7) (df) and 71.25 (9) (df), Stats.

Tax 2.39 Note Note: For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2004 and before January 1, 2009, subd. 3. of ss. 71.04 (7) (df) and 71.25 (9) (df), Stats., provided that if the taxpayer is not subject to income tax in the state in which the gross receipts are considered received but the taxpayer’s commercial domicile is in Wisconsin, 50 percent of the taxpayer’s receipts from the transaction are included in the numerator of the sales factor. This provision was repealed by 2009 Wis. Act 28.

Tax 2.39(6)(f) (f) Sales of services attributable to Wisconsin. Sales of services are attributable to Wisconsin as provided in ss. 71.04 (7) (dh) and 71.25 (9) (dh), Stats.

Tax 2.39 Note Note: For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2004 and before January 1, 2009, subd. 4. of ss. 71.04 (7) (dh) and 71.25 (9) (dh), Stats., provided that if the taxpayer is not subject to income tax in the state in which the benefit of the service is received, 50 percent of the taxpayer’s receipts from the transaction are included in the numerator of the sales factor to the extent the taxpayer’s employees or representatives performed the service from a location in Wisconsin. This provision was repealed by 2009 Wis. Act 28.

Tax 2.39(6)(g) (g) Receipts from intangible property for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009. For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009, the numerator of the sales factor includes gross receipts from the sale, licensing the use of, or other use of intangible property, if the income producing activity occurs in this state during the taxable year. If the income producing activity occurs in and outside this state, the gross receipts shall be allocated between those states having jurisdiction to tax the taxpayer based on the direct costs of performance. For purposes of this paragraph, “income producing activity” means the act or acts engaged in by the taxpayer, or persons acting on behalf of the taxpayer, for the ultimate purpose of obtaining gains or profit, and “costs of performance” means direct costs determined in a manner consistent with generally accepted accounting principles and in accordance with accepted conditions or practices in the trade or business of the taxpayer.

Tax 2.39 Note Note: Refer to ss. 71.04 (7) (d), (df), and (dh) and 71.25 (9) (d), (df), and (dh), 2007-08 Stats., as affected by 2005 Wis. Act 25.

Tax 2.39(6)(h) (h) Receipts from intangible property for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2009. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2009, the amount includable in the numerator of the sales factor for gross receipts from the sale of, license of, or allowing use of intangible property in this state is determined as provided in ss. 71.04 (7) (dj) and (dk) and 71.25 (9) (dj) and (dk), Stats. For purposes of applying these paragraphs, excluding ss. 71.04 (7) (dj) 2. and 71.25 (9) (dj) 2m., the following rules apply:

Tax 2.39(6)(h)1. 1. To determine the purchaser’s or licensee’s use of intangible property in this state, factors that may be considered include the number of licensed sites in each state, the volume of property manufactured, produced, or sold pursuant to the arrangement at locations in this state, or other data that reflects the relative usage of the intangible property in this state.

Tax 2.39(6)(h)2. 2. If the purchaser’s or licensee’s billing address or commercial domicile is in this state, that billing address or commercial domicile may not conclusively determine that the transaction is in this state except in cases where the location of use of the intangible property cannot be determined. If the location of use of the intangible property cannot be determined, subds. 3. and 4. apply.

Tax 2.39(6)(h)3. 3. If the location of use of the intangible property cannot be determined, the gross receipts from the sale of, license of, or other receipts from allowing use of intangible property are in this state if the purchaser’s or licensee’s commercial domicile is in this state.

Tax 2.39(6)(h)4. 4. If subd. 3. would otherwise apply except that the state of the purchaser’s or licensee’s commercial domicile cannot be determined, the gross receipts from the sale of, license of, or allowing use of intangible property are in this state if the purchaser or licensee is billed for the purchase, license, or use of the intangible property at a location in this state.

Tax 2.39(6)(i) (i) The provisions of pars. (c) to (h) shall also apply to sales to the federal government.

Tax 2.39 Note Note: Section Tax 2.39 interprets ss. 71.04 (4), (4m), (5), (6), (7), (10), and (11), 71.25 (5), (6), (6m), (7), (8), (9), (11), and (15), and 71.255 (5), Stats.

Tax 2.39 Note Note: The provisions of s. Tax 2.39 first apply for taxable years beginning on January 1, 2005. For returns required under combined reporting, the provisions of s. Tax 2.39 first apply for taxable years beginning on January 1, 2009.

Tax 2.39 History History: Cr. Register, August, 1973, No. 212, eff. 9-1-73; cr. (1m); r. and recr. (5) (f) 5., Register, November, 1973, No. 215; eff. 12-1-73; cr. (intro.), Register, January, 1978, No. 265, eff. 2-1-78; r. and recr. Register, June, 1991, No. 426, eff. 7-1-91; am. (2) (f), (4) (c), (cm) 2. a. and (f), r. (6) (b) 2. b., renum. (6) (b) 2. c. to be (6) (b) 2. b., Register, May, 1995, No. 473, eff. 6-1-95; emerg. am. (3) (a) (intro.), eff. 9-19-98; am. (3) (a) (intro.), Register, March, 1999, No. 519, eff. 4-1-99; CR 06-063: am. (1) and (2) (a), (b) and (e), (6) (a) and (b) 4. a., r. and recr. (3) and (6) (c), r. (6) (b) 4. b. and (7), renum. (6) (b) 4. c. to be (6) (b) 4. b. and am., Register November 2006 No. 611, eff. 12-1-06; EmR0943: eff. 12-31-09 and CR 10-001: am. (1), (2) (b), (d), (3) (d), (e), (6) (b) 1. d., 2. (intro.), 3. b., 4. b., and (6) (c) (title), cr. (2) (ag), (ar), (cm), (6) (b) 5., and (d) to (i), r. (6) (c) 1. to 4., 7. and 8., renum. (6) (c) 5. and 6. to be (6) (c) 1. and 2. and am. (6) (c) 1. and 2. d. Register June 2010 No. 654, eff. 7-1-10; correction in (2) (cm) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 4., Stats., Register June 2010 No. 654; CR 17-019: am. (3) (a) 1., (b) 1., (c) 1., (d), Register June 2018 No. 750 eff. 7-1-18; CR 19-141: am. (6) (f), (h) (intro.) Register September 2020 No. 777, eff. 10-1-20.

Tax 2.41 Tax 2.41 Separate accounting method.

Tax 2.41(1) (1) When the separate accounting method is used, separate records must be kept of sales, cost of sales and expenses for the Wisconsin business as distinct from the remainder of the business. Overhead items of income and expense must then be allocated to the business within and without Wisconsin upon a basis or combination of bases justified by the facts and conditions. For example: the ratio of Wisconsin sales to total sales usually represents a satisfactory basis for a merchandising business, while the ratio of direct cost of material and labor in Wisconsin to the total gives a more accurate result for a construction business.

Tax 2.41(1)(a) (a) Federal income taxes are based upon income and should, therefore, be allocated to Wisconsin business on the basis of income. Federal income taxes are deductible for income years through 1974 only on the cash basis, and the allocation to Wisconsin business for any year, therefore, must be based upon the ratio of income within Wisconsin to the total income of the year on which the federal income taxes are assessed, even though that ratio differs from the ratio of the year in which the taxes are actually paid. Federal income taxes are not deductible for income years 1975 and thereafter.

Tax 2.41(1)(b) (b) The relationship of the general overhead items to Wisconsin operations will determine whether the home office income and expense should be allocated to the Wisconsin business. Miscellaneous income, such as income from intangibles and income from tangible property used in the business, and such overhead items as officers’ salaries, office salaries, office rent and sundry office expenses should ordinarily be included in the allocation.

Tax 2.41(2) (2) Net rentals received from real estate held purely for investment purposes and not used in the operation of the business are not subject to allocation but are taxable in full if the property is located in Wisconsin. Gross rentals must be reduced by all expenses related to such investment property.

Tax 2.41 Note Note: Section Tax 2.41 interprets ss. 71.04 (4) and 71.25 (6), Stats.

Tax 2.41 History History: 1-2-56; am. Register, February, 1958, No. 26, eff. 3-1-58; am. Register, November, 1977, No. 263, eff. 12-1-77.

Tax 2.44 Tax 2.44 Permission to change basis of allocation. Except when income must be reported on the apportionment basis, permission to make a change either from separate accounting to apportionment, or vice versa shall be obtained in writing from the department upon written application setting forth in detail the reasons why the desired change will more clearly reflect the taxpayer’s Wisconsin income. Such application shall be mailed to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 8906, Madison, WI 53708-8906 before the end of the tax year for which the change is desired.

Tax 2.44 Note Note: Section Tax 2.44 interprets ss. 71.04 (4) and 71.25 (6), Stats.

Tax 2.44 History History: 1-2-56, am. Register, September, 1964, No. 105, eff. 10-1-64; am. Register, February, 1975, No. 230, eff. 3-1-75; am. Register, September, 1983, No. 333, eff. 10-1-83; corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 6., Stats., Register, March, 1999, No. 519.

Tax 2.45 Tax 2.45 Apportionment in special cases. When the business of any person, other than an interstate professional sports club or “financial organization” or“public utility,” as defined in s. 71.25 (10), Stats., within Wisconsin is an integral part of a unitary business conducted within and without Wisconsin, but because of unusual or unique circumstances the portion of the income of the person derived from business transacted in Wisconsin cannot be ascertained with reasonable certainty by use of the apportionment formula provided in s. 71.25 (6), Stats., or by separate accounting in view of the unitary nature of the business, the department will substitute in the place of some or all of the statutory apportionment factors another factor or other factors as will reasonably apportion to Wisconsin the business income properly assignable to Wisconsin. In any case in which an apportionment of business income is made pursuant to this regulation the taxpayer, at the time of the assessment, will be apprised of the factors used in the formula adopted.

Tax 2.45 Note Note: Section Tax 2.45 interprets s. 71.25 (12), Stats.

Tax 2.45 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1956, No. 12, eff. 1-1-57; am. Register, August, 1973, No. 212, eff. 9-1-73; am. Register, September, 1983, No. 333, eff. 10-1-83; am. Register, July, 1989, No. 403, eff. 8-1-89.

Tax 2.46 Tax 2.46 Apportionment of apportionable income of interstate air carriers.

Tax 2.46(1) (1) General. The apportionable income of an air carrier engaged in business in and outside this state shall be apportioned to Wisconsin as described in this section, except if the air carrier is in a combined group, its Wisconsin share of the combined group’s apportionable income is computed as provided in s. 71.255 (5), Stats., and further detailed in s. Tax 2.61 (7).

Tax 2.46 Note Note: An air carrier that is a corporation may be in a combined group for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2009. See s. Tax 2.61 (2) for a description of corporations required to use combined reporting.