Under current law, in order to conduct an audit of a “pass-through” entity, DOR must interact with each member of the entity. A pass-through entity is an entity such as a partnership or limited liability company that passes the income of the entity on to the individual partners or members. The bill requires a pass-through entity to designate a member to act on the entity's behalf so that DOR may conduct an audit without having to interact with each individual member.

Final audit determinations

Under current law, a taxpayer who receives a final audit determination from DOR has 90 days to report to DOR any changes or corrections related to that determination. The bill increases the time for providing that report to 180 days.

Historic rehabilitation credit

The bill modifies the procedure for transferring the historic rehabilitation tax credit so that the person transferring the credit may file a claim for more than one taxable year.

Nonresident income

The bill modifies current law so that nonresidents who derive business income from services performed both in and outside this state determine the amount that is subject to state income or franchise tax by using the same apportionment formula under current law that applies to resident entities.

Sales tax

Property transferred with services

Current law provides that persons providing landscaping, printing, fabricating, processing, or photographic services or performing services to tangible personal property may purchase for resale, without paying the sales tax, items that the person will transfer to a customer in conjunction with providing a service that is subject to the sales tax. The bill provides that the exemption applies regardless of whether the service is taxable.

Nonprofit organizations

The bill modifies the sales and use tax exemption for churches, religious organizations, and certain nonprofit organizations to conform with DOR's current practice with regard to the administration of the exemption. The bill provides that the exemption applies to organizations that are exempt from federal taxation under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and have received a determination letter for the Internal Revenue Service. The bill also provides that the exemption applies to churches and religious organizations that meet the requirements of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, but are not required to apply for or obtain tax-exempt status from the IRS.

Out-of-state retailer

Under current law, an out-of-state retailer that has annual gross sales into this state in excess of $100,000 or 200 or more annual separate sales transactions into this state must register with DOR and collect the sales tax on those sales and transactions. The determination of the annual gross sales and transactions is based on the retailer's taxable year for federal income tax purposes.

Under the bill, an out-of-state retailer that has annual gross sales into this state in excess of $100,000 in the previous or current calendar year must register with DOR and collect the sales tax on those sales.

Disclosure to state auditor

The bill allows the state auditor and Legislative Audit Bureau to examine sales and use tax returns and related documents to the extent necessary for the bureau to carry out its duties.

Other

Payments from counties to towns

Under current law, during the period beginning on the third Monday of March and ending ten days after the annual town meeting, a county treasurer may not pay to a town treasurer any money that belongs to the town and that is in the hands of the county treasurer except upon a written order of the town board. The bill eliminates this restriction.

Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB720,1 Section 1. 48.561 (3) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB720,6,3 48.561 (3) (a) 3. Through a deduction of $20,101,300 from any state payment due that county under s. 79.035, 79.04, or 79.08 79.02 (1), as provided in par. (b).

SB720,2 Section 2. 48.561 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB720,6,16 48.561 (3) (b) The department of administration shall collect the amount specified in par. (a) 3. from a county having a population of 750,000 or more by deducting all or part of that amount from any state payment due that county under s. 79.035, 79.04, or 79.08 79.02 (1). The department of administration shall notify the department of revenue, by September 15 of each year, of the amount to be deducted from the state payments due under s. 79.035, 79.04, or 79.08 79.02 (1). The department of administration shall credit all amounts collected under this paragraph to the appropriation account under s. 20.437 (1) (kw) and shall notify the county from which those amounts are collected of that collection. The department may not expend any moneys from the appropriation account under s. 20.437 (1) (cx) for providing services to children and families under s. 48.48 (17) until the amounts in the appropriation account under s. 20.437 (1) (kw) are exhausted.