Wisconsin Code § 108.18

Contributions to the fund
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(1) TOTAL RATE. (a)
Unless a penalty applies under s. 108.16 (8) (m), each employer
shall pay contributions to the fund for each calendar year at whatever rate on the employer’s payroll for that year duly applies to the
employer pursuant to this section.
(b) An employer’s contributions shall be credited to the employer’s account in the fund, but only after any solvency contribution or special contribution paid or payable by the employer under subs. (8) to (9m) has been credited to the fund’s balancing
account.
(2) INITIAL RATES. (a) Except as provided in pars. (c) and
(d), an employer’s contribution rate shall be 2.5 percent on its
payroll for each of the first 3 calendar years with respect to which
contributions are credited to its account, except as additional contributions apply under this section.
(c) An employer engaged in the construction of roads,
bridges, highways, sewers, water mains, utilities, public buildings, factories, housing, or similar construction projects shall pay
contributions for each of the first 3 calendar years at the average
rate for construction industry employers as determined by the department on each computation date, rounded up to the next highest rate. This rate may in no case be more than the maximum rate
specified in the schedule in effect for the year of the computation
under sub. (4).
(d) No later than 90 days after the department issues an initial
determination that a person is an employer, any employer other
than an employer specified in par. (c), having a payroll exceeding
$10,000,000 in a calendar year may elect that its contribution rate
shall be one percent on its payroll for the first 3 calendar years
with respect to which contributions are credited to its account. In
such case, the department shall credit the amount collected in excess of this amount against liability of the employer for future
contributions after the close of each calendar year in which an
election applies. If an employer qualifies for and makes an election under this paragraph, the employer shall, upon notification
by the department, make a special contribution after the close of
each quarter equivalent to the amount by which its account is
overdrawn, if any, for the preceding quarter. The department
shall credit any timely payment of contributions to the employer’s
account before making a determination of liability for a special
contribution under this paragraph. An employer does not qualify
for an alternate contribution rate under this paragraph at any time
during which the employer’s special contribution payment is
delinquent. An employer that is the transferee of a business enterprise but does not qualify to be treated as a successor under s.
108.16 (8) (im) does not qualify for an alternate contribution rate
under this paragraph.
(3) REQUIREMENTS FOR REDUCED RATE. As to any calendar
year, an employer shall be permitted to pay contributions to the
fund at a rate lower than the standard rate on its payroll for that
year only when, as of the applicable computation date:
(a) Benefits have been chargeable to the employer’s account
during the 18 months preceding such date; and
(b) Such lower rate applies under this section; and
(c) Permitting the employer to pay such lower rate is consistent with the relevant conditions then applicable to additional
credit allowance for such year under 26 USC 3303 (a), any other
provision to the contrary notwithstanding.

(3m) APPLICATION OF SCHEDULES. For purposes of subs. (4)
and (9):
(a) “Schedule A” is in effect for any calendar year whenever,
as of the preceding June 30, the fund has a cash balance of less
than $300,000,000.
(b) “Schedule B” is in effect for any calendar year whenever,
as of the preceding June 30, the fund has a cash balance of at least
$300,000,000 but less than $900,000,000.
(c) “Schedule C” is in effect for any calendar year whenever,
as of the preceding June 30, the fund has a cash balance of at least
$900,000,000 but less than $1,200,000,000.
(d) “Schedule D” is in effect for any calendar year whenever,
as of the preceding June 30, the fund has a cash balance of at least
$1,200,000,000.
(4) EXPERIENCE RATES. Except as otherwise specified in this
section, an employer’s contribution rate on the employer’s payroll
for a given calendar year shall be based on the reserve percentage
of the employer’s account as of the applicable computation date,
as follows: [See Figure 108.18 (4) following]
Figure 108.18 (4):
Schedule A
Line Reserve Percentage Contribution Rate
 1. 15.0 percent or more 0.07
 2. At least 10.0 percent but under 15.0 percent 0.07
 3. At least 9.5 percent but under 10.0 percent 0.25
 4. At least 9.0 percent but under 9.5 percent 0.33
 5. At least 8.5 percent but under 9.0 percent 0.52
 6. At least 8.0 percent but under 8.5 percent 0.59
 7. At least 7.5 percent but under 8.0 percent 0.66
 8. At least 7.0 percent but under 7.5 percent 0.77
 9. At least 6.5 percent but under 7.0 percent 1.03
10. At least 6.0 percent but under 6.5 percent 1.28
11. At least 5.5 percent but under 6.0 percent 1.62
12. At least 5.0 percent but under 5.5 percent 1.96
13. At least 4.5 percent but under 5.0 percent 2.30
14. At least 4.0 percent but under 4.5 percent 2.64
15. At least 3.5 but under 4.0 percent 2.98
16. At least 0 but under 3.5 percent 3.37
17. Overdrawn by less than 1.0 percent 5.30
18. Overdrawn by at least 1.0 percent
but under 2.0 percent 5.80
19. Overdrawn by at least 2.0 percent
but under 3.0 percent 6.30
20. Overdrawn by at least 3.0 percent
but under 4.0 percent 6.80
21. Overdrawn by at least 4.0 percent
but under 5.0 percent 7.30
22. Overdrawn by at least 5.0 percent
but under 6.0 percent 7.80
23. Overdrawn by at least 6.0 percent
but under 7.0 percent 8.50
24. Overdrawn by at least 7.0 percent
but under 8.0 percent 9.25
25. Overdrawn by at least 8.0 percent
but under 9.0 percent 10.00
26. Overdrawn by 9.0 percent or more 10.70
Schedule B
Line Reserve Percentage Contribution Rate
 1. 15.0 percent or more 0.00
 2. At least 10.0 percent but under 15.0 percent 0.00
 3. At least 9.5 percent but under 10.0 percent 0.15
 4. At least 9.0 percent but under 9.5 percent 0.25
 5. At least 8.5 percent but under 9.0 percent 0.45
 6. At least 8.0 percent but under 8.5 percent 0.60
 7. At least 7.5 percent but under 8.0 percent 0.70
 8. At least 7.0 percent but under 7.5 percent 0.85
 9. At least 6.5 percent but under 7.0 percent 1.10
10. At least 6.0 percent but under 6.5 percent 1.40
11. At least 5.5 percent but under 6.0 percent 1.75
12. At least 5.0 percent but under 5.5 percent 2.10
13. At least 4.5 percent but under 5.0 percent 2.45
14. At least 4.0 percent but under 4.5 percent 2.80
15. At least 3.5 but under 4.0 percent 3.25
16. At least 0 but under 3.5 percent 3.80
17. Overdrawn by less than 1.0 percent 5.30
18. Overdrawn by at least 1.0 percent
but under 2.0 percent 5.80
19. Overdrawn by at least 2.0 percent
but under 3.0 percent 6.30
20. Overdrawn by at least 3.0 percent
but under 4.0 percent 6.80
21. Overdrawn by at least 4.0 percent
but under 5.0 percent 7.30
22. Overdrawn by at least 5.0 percent
but under 6.0 percent 7.80
23. Overdrawn by at least 6.0 percent
but under 7.0 percent 8.50
24. Overdrawn by at least 7.0 percent
but under 8.0 percent 9.25
25. Overdrawn by at least 8.0 percent
but under 9.0 percent 10.00
26. Overdrawn by 9.0 percent or more 10.70
Schedule C
Line Reserve Percentage Contribution Rate
 1. 15.0 percent or more 0.00
 2. At least 10.0 percent but under 15.0 percent 0.00
 3. At least 9.5 percent but under 10.0 percent 0.15
 4. At least 9.0 percent but under 9.5 percent 0.25
 5. At least 8.5 percent but under 9.0 percent 0.45
 6. At least 8.0 percent but under 8.5 percent 0.60
 7. At least 7.5 percent but under 8.0 percent 0.70
 8. At least 7.0 percent but under 7.5 percent 0.85
 9. At least 6.5 percent but under 7.0 percent 1.10
10. At least 6.0 percent but under 6.5 percent 1.40
11. At least 5.5 percent but under 6.0 percent 1.75
12. At least 5.0 percent but under 5.5 percent 2.10
13. At least 4.5 percent but under 5.0 percent 2.45
14. At least 4.0 percent but under 4.5 percent 2.80
15. At least 3.5 but under 4.0 percent 3.25
16. At least 0 but under 3.5 percent 3.80
17. Overdrawn by less than 1.0 percent 5.30
18. Overdrawn by at least 1.0 percent
but under 2.0 percent 5.80
19. Overdrawn by at least 2.0 percent
but under 3.0 percent 6.30
20. Overdrawn by at least 3.0 percent
but under 4.0 percent 6.80
21. Overdrawn by at least 4.0 percent
but under 5.0 percent 7.30
22. Overdrawn by at least 5.0 percent
but under 6.0 percent 7.80
23. Overdrawn by at least 6.0 percent
but under 7.0 percent 8.50
24. Overdrawn by at least 7.0 percent
but under 8.0 percent 9.25
25. Overdrawn by at least 8.0 percent
but under 9.0 percent 10.00

26. Overdrawn by 9.0 percent or more 10.70
Schedule D
Line Reserve Percentage Contribution Rate
 1. 15.0 percent or more 0.00
 2. At least 10.0 percent but under 15.0 percent 0.00
 3. At least 9.5 percent but under 10.0 percent 0.05
 4. At least 9.0 percent but under 9.5 percent 0.15
 5. At least 8.5 percent but under 9.0 percent 0.35
 6. At least 8.0 percent but under 8.5 percent 0.50
 7. At least 7.5 percent but under 8.0 percent 0.60
 8. At least 7.0 percent but under 7.5 percent 0.75
 9. At least 6.5 percent but under 7.0 percent 1.00
10. At least 6.0 percent but under 6.5 percent 1.30
11. At least 5.5 percent but under 6.0 percent 1.65
12. At least 5.0 percent but under 5.5 percent 2.00
13. At least 4.5 percent but under 5.0 percent 2.35
14. At least 4.0 percent but under 4.5 percent 2.70
15. At least 3.5 but under 4.0 percent 3.15
16. At least 0 but under 3.5 percent 3.70
17. Overdrawn by less than 1.0 percent 5.30
18. Overdrawn by at least 1.0 percent
but under 2.0 percent 5.80
19. Overdrawn by at least 2.0 percent
but under 3.0 percent 6.30
20. Overdrawn by at least 3.0 percent
but under 4.0 percent 6.80
21. Overdrawn by at least 4.0 percent
but under 5.0 percent 7.30
22. Overdrawn by at least 5.0 percent
but under 6.0 percent 7.80
23. Overdrawn by at least 6.0 percent
but under 7.0 percent 8.50
24. Overdrawn by at least 7.0 percent
but under 8.0 percent 9.25
25. Overdrawn by at least 8.0 percent
but under 9.0 percent 10.00
26. Overdrawn by 9.0 percent or more 10.70
(5) LIMITATION. Except as provided in subs. (2) and (8), the
contribution rate for any calendar year of an employer whose reserve percentage equals or exceeds zero may in no case exceed by
more than one percent on the employer’s payroll the rate which
applied to the employer at the close of the preceding calendar
year, and the contribution rate for any calendar year of an employer whose reserve percentage is less than zero may in no case
exceed by more than 2 percent on the employer’s payroll the rate
which applied to the employer at the close of the preceding calendar year.
(5m) LIMITATION, COMPUTATION. The limitation of sub. (5)
shall be computed from the employer’s experience rate assigned
to it under subs. (4), (5) and (6), rounded to the next highest rate.
(6) COMPUTATION IN SPECIAL CASES. If during the year ending on a computation date an employer has been liable for contributions but has had no payroll, the employer’s reserve percentage
as of that computation date shall be computed on the basis of the
employer’s most recent year (ending on a computation date which
applied to the employer) of some payroll; but the employer’s contribution rate for the calendar year following the computation
date shall in no case be less than one percent.
(7) VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) 1. Except as provided
in pars. (b) to (i), any employer may make payments to the fund
during the month of November in excess of those required by this
section and s. 108.19 (1), (1e), and (1f). Each payment shall be
credited to the employer’s account for the purpose of computing
the employer’s reserve percentage as of the immediately preceding computation date.
2. Each payment shall be treated as a contribution required
and irrevocably paid under this chapter with respect to payrolls
preceding the date it is credited except as a refund or credit is authorized under par. (b), (e), (h), or (i).
(b) Except as provided in par. (i), no employer may, by means
of a voluntary contribution under par. (a), reduce the employer’s
contribution rate to a rate lower than the next lower rate which
would have applied to the employer for the following calendar
year. Any contributions in excess of the amount required to reduce an employer’s rate to the extent permitted under this paragraph shall be applied against any outstanding liability of the employer, or if there is no such liability shall be refunded to the employer or established as a credit, without interest, against future
contributions payable by the employer, at the employer’s option.
(c) No employer whose overdrafts have been charged to the
fund’s balancing account under s. 108.16 (7) (c) may make a voluntary contribution under par. (a) prior to the 5th calendar year
commencing after the date of the most recent such charge. Any
voluntary contribution made prior to that year shall be treated as
an excess contribution under par. (b).
(d) A payment under this subsection is timely if it is received
by the department no later than November 30 following the computation date for the calendar year to which it applies.
(e) The department may refund a voluntary contribution
made under par. (a) if, due to an error of the department or an employer, the department makes an adjustment after the computation date or the November voluntary contribution period to the
employer’s account or payroll used to calculate the employer’s reserve percentage that nullifies the rate reduction obtained by the
voluntary payment. No refund may be authorized after the close
of the calendar year for which the rate changed by the voluntary
contribution applied.
(f) Notwithstanding par. (a), the department shall authorize
an employer to make a voluntary contribution for the purpose of
computing the employer’s reserve percentage as of the immediately preceding computation date after the month of November,
but in no case later than 120 days after the beginning of the calendar year to which the reserve percentage applies, in an amount
sufficient to obtain a contribution rate that was:
1. Nullified by an erroneous charge or credit to the employer’s account made by the department; or
2. Increased to a higher contribution rate by an erroneous
charge or credit to the employer’s account made by the
department.
(g) Any payment under par. (f) must be received by the department within 30 days after the date of notice of the rate change
caused by the adjustment and within 120 days after the beginning
of the year to which the rate applies.
(h) The department shall establish contributions other than
those required by this section and s. 108.19 (1), (1e), and (1f) and
contributions other than those submitted during the month of November or authorized under par. (f) or (i) 2. as a credit, without
interest, against future contributions payable by the employer or
shall refund the contributions at the employer’s option.
(i) 1. An employer that suffers physical damage to its business
caused by a catastrophic event for which the employer is not primarily responsible, and incurs benefit charges to its account for
layoffs due to that damage may, by means of a voluntary contribution under par. (a), increase the employer’s reserve percentage
to no greater than the reserve percentage that would have applied
to the employer as of the next computation date had that damage
not caused the employer to lay off its employees. An employer
that makes a voluntary contribution under this subdivision shall
notify the department of its election to have its contribution
treated in the manner provided in this paragraph and shall submit

proof, in the form and manner prescribed by the department, to
establish that its employees were laid off due to the catastrophic
event.
2. If an employer makes a payment under subd. 1. after November 30 and before November 1 of the succeeding year, the department shall establish the payment as a credit and apply the
payment as a voluntary contribution to the employer’s account
when the next rate computation occurs. Any amount paid to the
department in excess of the amount that may be applied under
subd. 1 in any year may continue to be held as a credit, without
interest, against future required or voluntary contributions for a
calendar year or refunded to the employer, at the employer’s
option.
(8) SOLVENCY CONTRIBUTIONS. Each employer’s solvency
contribution for each calendar quarter of any year shall be figured
by applying the solvency rate determined for that year under sub.
(9) to the employer’s payroll for that quarter, and shall be payable
to the fund’s balancing account by the due date for payment of
contributions by the employer for that quarter.
(9) SOLVENCY RATES. Except as provided in subs. (9c) and
(9e), an employer’s solvency rate on its payroll for a given calendar year shall be based solely on the contribution rate of its account for the calendar year under this section. For purposes of
rate determination under this subsection, an employer’s payroll
shall be calculated for the 12-month period ending with the computation date preceding the calendar year to which the rate applies. [See Figure 108.18 (9) following]
Figure 108.18 (9):
Schedule A
Employers
with
payroll
under
$500,000
Employers
with
payroll of
$500,000
or more
Line
Contribution
Rate
Solvency
Rate
Solvency
Rate
 1 0.07 0.20 0.63
 2 0.07 0.20 0.63
 3 0.25 0.20 0.80
 4 0.33 0.20 0.90
 5 0.52 0.40 0.90
 6 0.59 0.50 1.00
 7 0.66 0.60 1.10
 8 0.77 0.70 1.20
 9 1.03 0.80 1.20
10 1.28 0.90 1.30
11 1.62 1.00 1.40
12 1.96 1.10 1.50
13 2.30 1.10 1.60
14 2.50 1.10 1.60
15 2.64 1.20 1.70
16 2.98 1.30 1.80
17 3.37 1.40 1.90
18 5.30 1.30 1.30
19 5.80 1.30 1.30
20 6.30 1.30 1.30
21 6.80 1.30 1.30
22 7.30 1.30 1.30
23 7.80 1.30 1.30
24 8.50 1.30 1.30
25 9.25 1.30 1.30
26 10.00 1.30 1.30
27 10.70 1.30 1.30
Schedule B
Employers
with
payroll
under
$500,000
Employers
with
payroll of
$500,000
or more
Line
Contribution
Rate
Solvency
Rate
Solvency
Rate
 1 0.00 0.05 0.10
 2 0.00 0.25 0.30
 3 0.15 0.25 0.35
 4 0.25 0.25 0.40
 5 0.45 0.40 0.50
 6 0.60 0.40 0.55
 7 0.70 0.40 0.60
 8 0.85 0.45 0.65
 9 1.10 0.50 0.70
10 1.40 0.55 0.75
11 1.75 0.65 0.80
12 2.10 0.70 0.85
13 2.45 0.75 0.90
14 2.50 0.75 0.90
15 2.80 0.80 0.90
16 3.25 0.85 0.90
17 3.80 0.85 0.90
18 5.30 1.30 1.30
19 5.80 1.30 1.30
20 6.30 1.30 1.30
21 6.80 1.30 1.30
22 7.30 1.30 1.30
23 7.80 1.30 1.30
24 8.50 1.30 1.30
25 9.25 1.30 1.30
26 10.00 1.30 1.30
27 10.70 1.30 1.30
Schedule C
Employers
with
payroll
under
$500,000
Employers
with
payroll of
$500,000
or more
Line
Contribution
Rate
Solvency
Rate
Solvency
Rate
 1 0.00 0.00 0.05
 2 0.00 0.22 0.25
 3 0.15 0.22 0.25
 4 0.25 0.22 0.25
 5 0.45 0.30 0.35
 6 0.60 0.30 0.40
 7 0.70 0.30 0.45
 8 0.85 0.35 0.50
 9 1.10 0.35 0.55
10 1.40 0.40 0.60
11 1.75 0.45 0.65
12 2.10 0.50 0.70
13 2.45 0.55 0.75
14 2.50 0.55 0.75
15 2.80 0.60 0.75
16 3.25 0.60 0.75
17 3.80 0.60 0.75
18 5.30 1.10 1.10
19 5.80 1.10 1.10
20 6.30 1.10 1.10

22 7.30 1.20 1.20
23 7.80 1.25 1.25
24 8.50 1.30 1.30
25 9.25 1.30 1.30
26 10.00 1.30 1.30
27 10.70 1.30 1.30
Schedule D
Employers
with
payroll
under
$500,000
Employers
with
payroll of
$500,000
or more
Line
Contribution
Rate
Solvency
Rate
Solvency
Rate
 1 0.00 0.00 0.05
 2 0.00 0.12 0.15
 3 0.05 0.22 0.25
 4 0.15 0.22 0.25
 5 0.35 0.30 0.35
 6 0.50 0.30 0.40
 7 0.60 0.30 0.45
 8 0.75 0.35 0.50
 9 1.00 0.35 0.55
10 1.30 0.40 0.60
11 1.65 0.45 0.65
12 2.00 0.50 0.70
13 2.35 0.55 0.75
14 2.50 0.55 0.75
15 2.70 0.60 0.75
16 3.15 0.60 0.75
17 3.70 0.60 0.75
18 5.30 1.10 1.10
19 5.80 1.10 1.10
20 6.30 1.10 1.10
21 6.80 1.10 1.10
22 7.30 1.20 1.20
23 7.80 1.25 1.25
24 8.50 1.25 1.25
25 9.25 1.30 1.30
26 10.00 1.30 1.30
27 10.70 1.30 1.30
(9c) REDUCTION OF SOLVENCY RATE. The department shall
reduce the solvency rate payable under sub. (9) by each employer
for each year by the rates payable by that employer under s.
108.19 (1e) (a) and (1f) (a) for that year.
(9e) SEASONAL EMPLOYER SOLVENCY RATE. A seasonal employer shall pay an additional solvency contribution of 2 percent
on its payroll for each calendar year unless that rate would result
in the employer paying more than the maximum total contribution and solvency rate applicable to any employer in the same
year in which the rate applies, in which case the employer shall
pay that solvency rate which, when combined with its contribution rate, equals that maximum total rate.
(9m) SOLVENCY CONTRIBUTION EXEMPTION. No solvency
contribution is required of any employer which qualifies for and
elects an alternate contribution rate under sub. (2) (d).

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