Wisconsin Code § 70.11

Property exempted from taxation
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
The property
described in this section is exempted from general property taxes
if the property is exempt under sub. (1), (2), (18), (21), (27) or

(30); if it was exempt for the previous year and its use, occupancy
or ownership did not change in a way that makes it taxable; if the
property was taxable for the previous year, the use, occupancy or
ownership of the property changed in a way that makes it exempt
and its owner, on or before March 1, files with the assessor of the
taxation district where the property is located a form that the department of revenue prescribes or if the property did not exist in
the previous year and its owner, on or before March 1, files with
the assessor of the taxation district where the property is located
a form that the department of revenue prescribes. Except as provided in subs. (3m) (c), (4) (b), (4a) (f), and (4d), leasing a part of
the property described in this section does not render it taxable if
the lessor uses all of the leasehold income for maintenance of the
leased property or construction debt retirement of the leased
property, or both, and, except for residential housing, if the lessee
would be exempt from taxation under this chapter if it owned the
property. Any lessor who claims that leased property is exempt
from taxation under this chapter shall, upon request by the tax assessor, provide records relating to the lessor’s use of the income
from the leased property. Property exempted from general property taxes is:
(1) PROPERTY OF THE STATE. Property owned by this state
except land contracted to be sold by the state. This exemption
shall not apply to land conveyed after September, 1933, to this
state or for its benefit while the grantor or others for the grantor’s
benefit are permitted to occupy the land or part thereof in consideration for the conveyance; nor shall it apply to land devised to
the state or for its benefit while another person is permitted by the
will to occupy the land or part thereof. This exemption shall not
apply to any property acquired by the department of veterans affairs under s. 45.32 (5) and (7), 2017 stats., or to the property of
insurers undergoing rehabilitation or liquidation under ch. 645.
Property exempt under this subsection includes general property
owned by the state and leased to a private, nonprofit corporation
that operates a national ice training center, regardless of the use of
the leasehold income.
(2) MUNICIPAL PROPERTY AND PROPERTY OF CERTAIN DISTRICTS, EXCEPTION. Property owned by any county, city, village,
town, school district, technical college district, public inland lake
protection and rehabilitation district, metropolitan sewerage district, municipal water district created under s. 198.22, joint local
water authority created under s. 66.0823, regional planning commission created under s. 66.0309, long-term care district under s.
46.2895, or town sanitary district; lands belonging to cities of any
other state used for public parks; land tax-deeded to any county or
city before January 2; but any residence located upon property
owned by the county for park purposes that is rented out by the
county for a nonpark purpose shall not be exempt from taxation.
Except as to land acquired under s. 59.84 (2) (d), this exemption
shall not apply to land conveyed after August 17, 1961, to any
such governmental unit or for its benefit while the grantor or others for his or her benefit are permitted to occupy the land or part
thereof in consideration for the conveyance. The exemption under this subsection applies to the property of a regional planning
commission that the commission owned prior to October 1, 2021.
If a regional planning commission subsequently sells property exempt from taxation under this subsection, the exemption applies
to property purchased and owned by the commission if the total
size of all property owned by the commission is substantially
similar in size to the total property owned by the commission
prior to October 1, 2021. Any property of the regional planning
commission in excess of that size restriction is subject to taxation
under this chapter. Leasing the property exempt under this subsection, regardless of the lessee and the use of the leasehold income, does not render that property taxable.
(2m) PROPERTY LEASED OR SUBLEASED TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS. All of the property that is owned or leased by a corporation, organization or association that is exempt from federal income taxation under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue
Code if all of that property is leased or subleased to a school district for no or nominal consideration for use by an educational institution that offers regular courses for 6 months in a year.
(3) COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. (a) 1. Except as provided
in subd. 2., grounds of any incorporated college or university, not
exceeding 80 acres.
2. Grounds of any incorporated college or university, not exceeding 150 acres, if the college or university satisfies all of the
following criteria:
a. It is a nonprofit organization.
b. It was founded before January 1, 1900.
c. Its total annual undergraduate enrollment is at least 5,000
students, not including students receiving online instruction only.
(b) The fact that college or university officers, faculty members, teachers, students or employees live on the grounds does not
render them taxable. In addition to the exemption of leased property specified in the introductory phrase of this section, a university or college may also lease property for educational or charitable purposes without making it taxable if it uses the income derived from the lease for charitable purposes.
(c) All buildings, equipment and leasehold interests in lands
described in s. 36.06, 1971 stats., and s. 37.02 (3), 1971 stats.
(3a) BUILDINGS AT THE WISCONSIN VETERANS HOMES. All
buildings, equipment and leasehold interests in lands described in
s. 45.03 (5).
(3m) STUDENT HOUSING FACILITIES. (a) All real and personal property of a housing facility, not including a housing facility owned or used by a university fraternity or sorority, college
fraternity or sorority, or high school fraternity or sorority, for
which all of the following applies:
1. The facility is owned by a nonprofit organization.
2. At least 90 percent of the facility’s residents are students
enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the facility
houses no more than 300 such students.
3. The facility offers support services and outreach programs
to its residents, the public or private institution of higher education at which the student residents are enrolled, and the public.
4. The facility is in existence and meets the requirements of
this subsection on July 2, 2013, except that, if the facility is located in a municipally designated landmark, the facility is in existence and meets the requirements of this subsection on September 30, 2014.
(b) If a nonprofit organization owns more than one housing
facility, as described under par. (a), the exemption applies to only
one facility, at one location.
(c) Leasing a part of the property described in this subsection
does not render it taxable if the lessor uses the leasehold income
only for the following:
1. Maintenance of the leased property.
2. Construction debt retirement of the leased property.
3. The purposes for which the exemption under section 501
(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code is granted to the nonprofit
organization that owns the facility.
(4) EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS; WOMEN’S CLUBS; HISTORICAL SOCIETIES; FRATERNITIES;
LIBRARIES. (a) 1. Property owned and used exclusively by educational institutions offering regular courses 6 months in the year;
or by churches or religious, educational or benevolent associations, or by a nonprofit entity that is operated as a facility that is
licensed, certified, or registered under ch. 50, including benevolent nursing homes but not including an organization that is orga-

nized under s. 185.981 or ch. 611, 613 or 614 and that offers a
health maintenance organization as defined in s. 609.01 (2) or a
limited service health organization as defined in s. 609.01 (3) or
an organization that is issued a certificate of authority under ch.
618 and that offers a health maintenance organization or a limited
service health organization and not including property owned by
any nonstock, nonprofit corporation which services guaranteed
student loans for others or on its own account, and also including
property owned and used for housing for pastors and their ordained assistants, members of religious orders and communities,
and ordained teachers, whether or not contiguous to and a part of
other property owned and used by such associations or churches,
and also including property described under par. (b); or by
women’s clubs; or by domestic, incorporated historical societies;
or by domestic, incorporated, free public library associations; or
by fraternal societies operating under the lodge system (except
university, college and high school fraternities and sororities), but
not exceeding 10 acres of land necessary for location and convenience of buildings while such property is not used for profit.
Property owned by churches or religious associations necessary
for location and convenience of buildings, used for educational
purposes and not for profit, shall not be subject to the 10-acre
limitation but shall be subject to a 30-acre limitation. Property
that is exempt from taxation under this subsection and is leased
remains exempt from taxation only if, in addition to the requirements specified in the introductory phrase of this section, the
lessee does not discriminate on the basis of race.
2. For purposes of subd. 1., beginning with the property tax
assessments as of January 1, 2018, property owned by a church or
religious association necessary for location and convenience of
buildings includes property necessary for the location and convenience of a building that the church or religious association intends to construct to replace a building destroyed by fire, natural
disaster, or criminal act, regardless of whether preconstruction
planning or construction has begun. This subdivision applies
only for the first 25 years after the year in which the building is
destroyed.
(b) 1. Leasing a part of property described in par. (a) that is
owned and operated by a nonprofit organization as a facility that
is licensed, certified, or registered under ch. 50, as residential
housing, does not render the property taxable, regardless of how
the lessor uses the leasehold income.
2. Leasing a part of property described in par. (a) that is occupied by one or more individuals with permanent disabilities for
whom evidence is available that demonstrates that such individuals meet the medical definition of permanent disability used to
determine eligibility for programs administered by the federal social security administration, as residential housing, does not render the property taxable, regardless of how the lessor uses the
leasehold income.
3. Leasing all or part of property described in par. (a) that is
owned by a church or religious association or institution to an educational association or institution exempt under par. (a) does not
render the property taxable, regardless of how the lessor uses the
leasehold income.
(4a) BENEVOLENT LOW-INCOME HOUSING. (a) Property
owned by a nonprofit entity that is a benevolent association and
used as low-income housing, including all common areas of a
low-income housing project. Property used for a low-income
housing project, including other low-income housing projects under common control with such project, and exempt under this
subsection may not exceed 30 acres necessary for the location and
convenience of buildings or 10 contiguous acres in any one
municipality.
(b) For purposes of this subsection, “low-income housing”
means any housing project described in sub. (4b) or any residential unit within a low-income housing project that is occupied by
a low-income or very low-income person or is vacant and is only
available to such persons.
(c) For purposes of this subsection, “low-income housing
project” means a residential housing project for which all of the
following apply:
1. At least 75 percent of the residential units are occupied by
low-income or very low-income persons or are vacant and available only to low-income or very low-income persons.
2. At least one of the following applies:
a. At least 20 percent of the residential units are rented to
persons who are very low-income persons or are vacant and are
only available to such persons.
b. At least 40 percent of the residential units are rented to
persons whose income does not exceed 120 percent of the very
low-income limit or are vacant and only available to such
persons.
(d) For purposes of this subsection, low-income persons and
very low-income persons shall be determined in accordance with
the income limits published by the federal department of housing
and urban development for low-income and very low-income
families under the National Housing Act of 1937.
(e) For purposes of this subsection, all properties included
within the same federal department of housing and urban development contract or within the same federal department of agriculture, rural development, contract are considered to be one lowincome housing project.
(f) Leasing property that is exempt from taxation under this
subsection or sub. (4b) as low-income housing does not render it
taxable, regardless of how the leasehold income is used.
(g) 1. Annually, no later than March 1, each person who owns
a low-income housing project shall file with the assessor of the
taxation district in which the project is located a statement that
specifies which units were occupied on January 1 of that year by
persons whose income satisfied the income limit requirements
under par. (b), as certified by the property owner to the appropriate federal or state agency, and a copy of the federal department
of housing and urban development contract or federal department
of agriculture, rural development, contract, if applicable.
2. The format and distribution of statements under this paragraph shall be governed by s. 70.09 (3).
3. If the statement required under this paragraph is not received on or before March 1, the taxation district assessor shall
send the property owner a notice, by certified mail to the owner’s
last-known address of record, stating that failure to file a statement is subject to the penalties under subd. 5.
4. In addition to the statement under subd. 1., the taxation
district assessor may require that a property owner submit other
information to prove that the person’s property qualifies as lowincome housing that is exempt from taxation under this
subsection.
5. A person who fails to file a statement within 30 days after
notification under subd. 3. shall forfeit $10 for each succeeding
day on which the form is not received by the taxation district assessor, but not more than $500.
(4b) HOUSING PROJECTS FINANCED BY H OUSING AND E CONOMIC D EVELOPMENT A UTHORITY. All property of a housing
project that satisfies all of the following:
(a) It is owned by a corporation, organization, or association
described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code that
is exempt from taxation under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(b) It is financed by the Housing and Economic Development
Authority under s. 234.03 (13).

(c) The Housing and Economic Development Authority holds
a first-lien mortgage security interest on it.
(d) It is in existence on January 1, 2008.
(4d) BENEVOLENT RETIREMENT HOMES FOR THE AGED.
Property that is owned by a nonprofit entity that is a benevolent
association and used as a retirement home for the aged, but not
exceeding 30 acres of land necessary for the location and convenience of buildings, while such property is not used for profit, if
the fair market value of the individual dwelling unit, as determined by the assessor for the taxation district in which the property is located, is less than 130 percent of the average equalized
value under s. 70.57 of improved parcels of residential property
located in the county in which the retirement home for the aged is
located in the previous year, as determined by the assessor of the
taxation district in which the property is located based on the sum
of the average per parcel equalized value of residential land and
the average per parcel equalized value of residential improvements, as determined by the department of revenue. For purposes of determining the fair market value of an individual
dwelling unit under this subsection, the value of any common
area is excluded. The common area of a retirement home for the
aged is exempt from general property taxes if 50 percent or more
of the home’s individual dwelling units are exempt from general
property taxes under this subsection. If less than 50 percent of
the home’s individual dwelling units are exempt from general
property taxes under this subsection, the common area of the retirement home for the aged is subject to general property taxes.
Leasing a part of property used as a retirement home for the aged,
as described in this subsection, does not render it taxable, regardless of how the leasehold income is used.
(4g) REAL PROPERTY HELD FOR REHABILITATION OR FUTURE
CONSTRUCTION AND LATER SALE TO LOW-INCOME PERSONS.
Real property owned by a nonprofit organization if all of the following requirements are fulfilled:
(a) The nonprofit organization holds the property for the purpose of rehabilitating an existing structure or constructing a new
structure on the property for sale to low-income persons for use
as a personal residence.
(b) The nonprofit organization offers low-income persons
loans to purchase the property for which no interest is charged.
(c) The nonprofit organization requires prospective purchasers to participate in the rehabilitation or construction of the
property.
(d) The nonprofit organization acquired the property within 3
years before the assessment date.
(4m) NONPROFIT HOSPITALS. (a) Real property owned and
used and personal property used exclusively for the purposes of
any hospital of 10 beds or more devoted primarily to the diagnosis, treatment or care of the sick, injured, or disabled, which hospital is owned and operated by a corporation, voluntary association, foundation or trust, except an organization that is organized
under s. 185.981 or ch. 611, 613 or 614 and that offers a health
maintenance organization as defined in s. 609.01 (2) or a limited
service health organization as defined in s. 609.01 (3) or an organization that is issued a certificate of authority under ch. 618 and
that offers a health maintenance organization or a limited service
health organization, no part of the net earnings of which inures to
the benefit of any shareholder, member, director or officer, and
which hospital is not operated principally for the benefit of or
principally as an adjunct of the private practice of a doctor or
group of doctors. This exemption does not apply to property used
for commercial purposes, as a health and fitness center or as a
doctor’s office. The exemption for residential property shall be
limited to dormitories of 12 or more units which house student
nurses enrolled in a state accredited school of nursing affiliated
with the hospital.
(b) Real property leased by and used exclusively for the purposes of any hospital that has 10 beds or more, is devoted primarily to the diagnosis, treatment or care of the sick, injured or disabled and is owned and operated by a corporation, voluntary association, foundation or trust, except an organization that is organized under s. 185.981 or ch. 611, 613 or 614 and that offers a
health maintenance organization as defined in s. 609.01 (2) or a
limited service health organization as defined in s. 609.01 (3) or
an organization that is issued a certificate of authority under ch.
618 and that offers a health maintenance organization or a limited
service health organization, no part of the net earnings of which
inures to the benefit of any shareholder, member, director or officer and is not operated principally for the benefit of or principally
as an adjunct to the private practice of a doctor or group of doctors. This exemption applies only to real property leased from a
nonprofit organization or nonprofit hospital that is exempt from
taxation under this chapter and that uses the income derived from
the lease only for maintenance of the leased property or construction debt retirement of the leased property or both. This exemption does not apply to property used for commercial purposes, as
a health and fitness center or as a doctor’s office.
(c) In this subsection, “health and fitness center” means an establishment the primary purpose of which is to provide recreational services or facilities that are purported to assist patrons in
physical exercise, in weight control or in figure development, including but not limited to a health and fitness center, studio, salon
or club. In this subsection, “health and fitness center” does not
include a facility the primary purpose of which is to provide services or facilities that are primarily a part of a course of rehabilitation or therapy prescribed by a physician or physical therapist to
treat a physical injury or dysfunction and that are aimed primarily
at patients of the hospital or an affiliated entity and not at the general public and that is located within the physical confines of a
hospital.
(4n) VACANT PARCEL OWNED BY A CHURCH OR RELIGIOUS
ASSOCIATION. Any parcel of vacant land owned by a church or
religious association that is no more than 0.8 acres and located in
a 1st class city, that is less than a quarter mile from the shoreline
of Lake Michigan, and that is adjacent or contiguous to a city incorporated in 1951 with a 2018 estimated population exceeding
9,000.
(5) AGRICULTURAL FAIRS. Property owned and used exclusively by any state or county agricultural society, or by any other
domestic corporation formed to encourage agricultural and industrial fairs and exhibitions and necessary for fairgrounds or for
exhibition and sale of agricultural and dairy property, not exceeding 80 acres. The use of such property for celebrations or as
places of amusement shall not render it taxable.
(6) FIRE COMPANIES. Property of any fire company used exclusively for its purposes.
(7) LAND OF MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS. Land owned by
military organizations and used for armories, public parks or
monument grounds but not used for private gain.
(9) MEMORIALS. All memorial halls and the real estate upon
which the same are located, owned and occupied by any organization of United States war veterans organized pursuant to act of
congress and domesticated in this state pursuant to the laws of
this state, containing permanent memorial tablets with the names
of former residents of any given town, village, city or county who
lost their lives in the military or naval service of the state or the
United States in any war inscribed thereon, and all personal property owned by such organizations, and all buildings erected, purchased or maintained by any county, city, town or village as

memorials under s. 45.72. The renting of such halls or buildings
for public purposes shall not render them taxable, provided that
all income derived therefrom be used for the upkeep and maintenance thereof. Where such hall or building is used in part for exempt purposes and in part for pecuniary profit, it shall be assessed for taxation to the extent of such use for pecuniary profit
as provided in s. 70.1105 (1).
(10m) LIONS FOUNDATION CAMPS FOR CHILDREN WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS. Lands not exceeding 40 acres and the buildings thereon owned by the Wisconsin Lions Foundation and used
as camps for children with visual impairments, so long as the
property is used for such purposes and not for pecuniary profit of
any individual.
(11) BIBLE CAMPS. All real property not exceeding 40 acres
and the personal property situated therein, of any Bible camp
conducted by a religious nonprofit corporation organized under
the laws of this state, so long as the property is used for religious
purposes and not for pecuniary profit of any individual.
(12) CERTAIN CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. (a) Property
owned by units which are organized in this state of the following
organizations: the Salvation Army; Goodwill Industries, not exceeding 10 acres of property in any municipality; the Boy Scouts
of America; the Boys’ Clubs of America; the Girl Scouts or
Camp Fire Girls; the Young Men’s Christian Association, not exceeding 40 acres for property that is located outside the limit of
any incorporated city or village and not exceeding 10 acres for
property that is located inside the limit of any incorporated city or
village; the Young Women’s Christian Association, not exceeding
40 acres for property that is located outside the limit of any incorporated city or village and not exceeding 10 acres for property
that is located inside the limit of any incorporated city or village;
Jewish Community Centers of North America, not exceeding 40
acres for property that is located outside the limit of any incorporated city or village and not exceeding 10 acres for property that
is located inside the limit of any incorporated city or village; or
any person as trustee for them of property used for the purposes
of those organizations, provided no pecuniary profit results to
any individual owner or member.
(b) Real property not exceeding 40 acres and the personal
property located thereon owned by units which are not organized
in this state of the organizations listed in par. (a). No such unit
which is not organized in this state may claim an exemption for
more than a total of 80 rods of shoreline on lakes, rivers and
streams.
(c) All property of a resale store that is owned by a nonprofit
organization that qualifies for the income tax exemption under
section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, if at least 50
percent of the revenue generated by the resale store is given to one
other nonprofit organization located either in the same county
where the resale store is located or in a county adjacent to the
county where the resale store is located. In this paragraph, “resale store” means a store that primarily sells used tangible personal property at retail.
(13) CEMETERIES. Land owned by cemetery authorities, as
defined in s. 157.061 (2), and used exclusively as public burial
grounds and tombs and monuments therein, and privately owned
burial lots; land adjoining such burial grounds, owned and occupied exclusively by the cemetery authority for cemetery purposes; personal property owned by any cemetery authority and
necessary for the care and management of burial grounds; burial
sites and contiguous lands which are cataloged under s. 157.70.
(13m) ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES. Archaeological sites and
contiguous lands identified under s. 44.02 (23) if the property is
subject to a permanent easement, covenant or similar restriction
running with the land and if that easement, covenant or restriction
is held by the state historical society or by an entity approved by
the state historical society and protects the archaeological features of the property.
(14) ART GALLERIES. Property of any public art gallery, if
used exclusively for art exhibits and for art teaching, if public access to such gallery is free not less than 3 days in each week.
(15) MANURE STORAGE FACILITIES. Any manure storage facility used by a farmer. This exemption shall apply whether the
facility is deemed personal property or is so affixed to the realty
as to be classified as real estate.
(15m) SECONDARY CONTAINMENT STRUCTURES. Secondary
containment structures used to prevent leakage of liquid fertilizer
or pesticides.
(16) LABOR TEMPLES. Property owned and used exclusively
by any labor organization or by any domestic corporation whose
members are workmen associated according to crafts, trades or
occupations or their authorized representatives or associations
composed of members of different crafts, trades or occupations,
provided no pecuniary profit results to any member.
(17) FARMERS’ TEMPLES. Property owned and used exclusively for social and educational purposes and for meetings by
any corporation, all of whose members are farmers; provided no
pecuniary profit results to any member.
(18) HOUSING. Property of housing authorities exempt from
taxation under s. 66.1201 (22).
(19) INSTITUTIONS AND CENTERS FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN
AND PERSONS WHO HAVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. The
property of any residential care center for children and youth that
is licensed under s. 48.60 for the care of dependent or neglected
children or delinquent juveniles if that property is used for that
purpose and the property of any nonprofit institution that is subject to examination under s. 46.03 (5) and that has a full-time
population of at least 150 individuals who have developmental
disabilities, as defined in s. 51.01 (5), if that property is used for
that purpose.
(20) PROPERTY HELD IN TRUST IN PUBLIC INTEREST. Property that is owned by, or held in trust for, a nonprofit organization,
if all of the following requirements are fulfilled:
(a) The property is used to preserve native wild plant or native
wild animal life, Indian mounds or other works of ancient persons or geological or geographical formations of scientific
interest.
(b) The property is open to the public subject to reasonable
restrictions.
(c) No pecuniary profit accrues to any owner or member of
the organization or to any associate of any such owner or member
from the use or holding of the property.
(d) The county board of the county where the property is located has not determined that the property is not owned by, or
held in trust for, a nonprofit organization and has not determined
that at least one of the requirements under pars. (a) to (c) has not
been fulfilled.
(21) TREATMENT PLANT AND POLLUTION ABATEMENT EQUIPMENT. (ab) In this subsection:
1. “Air contaminants” has the meaning given in s. 285.01 (1).
2. “Industrial waste” means waste resulting from any process
of industry, trade, or business, or the development of any natural
resource, that has no monetary or market value, except as provided in subd. 3. b., and that would otherwise be considered superfluous, discarded, or fugitive material. “Industrial waste”
does not include other wastes, as defined in s. 281.01 (7).
3. “Used exclusively” means to the exclusion of all other uses
except any of the following:
a. For other use not exceeding 5 percent of total use.

b. To produce heat or steam for a manufacturing process, if
the fuel consists of either 95 percent or more industrial waste that
would otherwise be considered superfluous, discarded, or fugitive material or 50 percent or more of wood chips, sawdust, or
other wood residue from the paper and wood products manufacturing process, if the wood chips, sawdust, or other wood residue
would otherwise be considered superfluous, discarded, or fugitive material.
(am) All property purchased or constructed as a waste treatment facility used exclusively and directly to remove, store, or
cause a physical or chemical change in industrial waste or air contaminants for the purpose of abating or eliminating pollution of
surface waters, the air, or waters of the state if that property is not
used to grow agricultural products for sale and, if the property’s
owner is taxed under ch. 76, if the property is approved by the department of revenue. The department of natural resources and
department of health services shall make recommendations upon
request to the department of revenue regarding such property. All
property purchased or upon which construction began prior to
July 31, 1975, shall be subject to s. 70.11 (21), 1973 stats.
(b) The books and records of owners of property covered by
this subsection shall be open to examination by representatives of
the department of natural resources, department of health services and department of revenue.
(c) A prerequisite to exemption under this subsection for owners who are taxed under ch. 76 is the filing of a statement on
forms prescribed by the department of revenue with the department of revenue. This statement shall be filed not later than January 15 of the year in which a new exemption is requested or in
which a waste treatment facility that has been granted an exemption is retired, replaced, disposed of, moved to a new location, or
sold.
(d) The department of revenue shall allow an extension to a
date determined by the department by rule for filing the report
form required under par. (c) if a written application for an extension, stating the reason for the request, is filed with the department of revenue before January 15.
(f) If property about which a statement has been filed under
par. (c) is determined to be taxable, the owner may appeal that determination under s. 76.08.
(22) CAMPS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. Lands not exceeding 10 acres and the buildings thereon owned by the Wisconsin Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children and Adults, Incorporated, and known as Camp Wawbeek, used for camps for children and adults with orthopedic impairments and not to exceed
371 acres of wooded and meadowland adjacent thereto used in
connection therewith, excluding a caretaker’s home and 10 acres
of land in connection therewith, so long as the property is used
solely for such purposes and not for pecuniary profit of any
individual.
(25) NONPROFIT MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATIONS. Property owned and operated by a corporation, voluntary association,
foundation or trust, no part of the net earnings of which inure to
the benefit of any shareholder, member, director or officer
thereof, which property is used exclusively for the purposes of:
medical and surgical research the knowledge derived from which
is applied to the cures, prevention, relief and therapy of human
diseases; providing instruction for practicing physicians and surgeons, promoting education, training, skill and investigative ability of physicians, scientists and individuals engaged in work in
the basic sciences which bear on medicine and surgery; or providing diagnostic facilities and treatment for deserving destitute
individuals not eligible for assistance from charitable or governmental institutions. Such corporation, voluntary association,
foundation or trust must have received a certificate under section
501 (c) (3) of the internal revenue code as a nonprofit organization exempt for income tax purposes.
(26) PROPERTY OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES.
All real and personal property owned by an industrial development agency formed under s. 59.57 (2). Any such property subject to contract of sale or lease shall be taxed as personal property
to the vendee or lessee thereof.
(27) MANUFACTURING MACHINERY AND SPECIFIC PROCESSING EQUIPMENT. (a) In this subsection:
1. “Building” means any structure used for sheltering people,
machinery, animals or plants; storing property; or working, office, parking, sales or display space.
2. “Machinery” means a structure or assemblage of parts that
transmits forces, motion or energy from one part to another in a
predetermined way by electrical, mechanical or chemical means,
but “machinery” does not include a building.
3. “Manufacturing” means engaging in an activity classified
as manufacturing under s. 70.995.
4. “Power wiring” means bus duct, secondary service wiring
or other wiring that is used exclusively to provide electrical service to production machines that are exempt under par. (b).
“Power wiring” does not include transformers.
5. “Production process” means the manufacturing activities
beginning with conveyance of raw materials from plant inventory
to a work point of the same plant and ending with conveyance of
the finished product to the place of first storage on the plant
premises, including conveyance of work in process directly from
one manufacturing operation to another in the same plant, including the holding for 3 days or less of work in process to ensure the
uninterrupted flow of all or part of the production process and including quality control activities during the time period specified
in this subdivision but excluding storage, machine repair and
maintenance, research and development, plant communication,
advertising, marketing, plant engineering, plant housekeeping
and employee safety and fire prevention activities; and excluding
generating, transmitting, transforming and furnishing electric current for light or heat; generating and furnishing steam; supplying
hot water for heat, power or manufacturing; and generating and
furnishing gas for lighting or fuel or both.
6. “Specific processing equipment” means containers for
chemical action, mixing or temporary holding of work in process
to ensure the uninterrupted flow of all or part of the production
process, process piping, tools, implements and quality control
equipment.
6m. “Storage” means the holding or safekeeping of raw materials or components before introduction into the production
process; the holding, safekeeping or preservation of work in
process or of components outside the production process; and the
holding or safekeeping of finished products or of components after completion of the production process; whether or not any natural processes occur during that holding, safekeeping or preservation; but “storage” does not include the holding for 3 days or less
of work in process to ensure the uninterrupted flow of all or part
of the production process.
7. “Used directly” means used so as to cause a physical or
chemical change in raw materials or to cause a movement of raw
materials, work in process or finished products.
8. “Used exclusively” means to the exclusion of all other uses
except for other use not exceeding 5 percent of total use.
(b) Machinery and specific processing equipment; and repair
parts, replacement machines, safety attachments and special
foundations for that machinery and equipment; that are used exclusively and directly in the production process in manufacturing
tangible personal property, regardless of their attachment to real

property, but not including buildings. The exemption under this
paragraph shall be strictly construed.
(28) HUMANE SOCIETIES. Property owned and operated by a
humane society organized primarily for the care and shelter of
homeless, stray or abused animals, on a nonprofit basis, no part
of the net income of which inures to the benefit of any member,
officer or shareholder, if the property is used exclusively for the
primary purposes of the humane society.
(29) NONPROFIT RADIO STATIONS. Property owned by a radio station that is exempt from taxation under section 501 of the
internal revenue code as amended to December 31, 1980, if the
property is used for the purposes for which the exemption was
granted.
(29m) NONPROFIT THEATERS. All of the property owned or
leased by a corporation, organization or association exempt from
taxation under section 501 (c) (3) of the internal revenue code, if
all of the property is used for the purposes for which the exemption was granted, the property includes one or more buildings
listed on the national register of historic places, the property includes one or more theaters for performing theater arts which
have a total seating capacity of not less than 800 persons and the
corporation, organization or association operates the theater or
theaters.
(29p) NONPROFIT OUTDOOR THEATERS. All the property
owned or leased by an organization that is exempt from taxation
under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as confirmed by a determination letter issued by the Internal Revenue
Service no later than July 31, 1969, if all of the property is used
for the purposes for which the exemption was granted, the property includes one or more outdoor theaters for performing theater
arts which have a total seating capacity of not less than 400 persons, and the organization operates the theater or theaters.
(30) CROPS. All perennial plants that produce an annual
crop.
(31) SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES. Real and personal property consisting of or contained in a sports and entertainment facility, including related or auxiliary structures, constructed by a nonprofit corporation for the purpose of donation to
the state or to an instrumentality of the state, if the state indicates
by legislative or executive action that it will accept the facility.
This exemption shall apply during construction and operation if
the facility is owned by a nonprofit corporation, the state or an instrumentality of the state.
(31m) RAILROAD HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. Right-of-way and
rolling stock owned by railroad historical societies.
(32) NONPROFIT YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATIONS. Land not
exceeding 13 acres, the buildings on that land and personal property if the land is owned or leased by and the buildings and personal property are owned by, and all the property is used exclusively for the purposes of, a nonprofit youth hockey association,
except that the exemption under this subsection does not apply to
the property of a nonprofit youth hockey association if any of its
property was funded in whole or in part by industrial revenue
bonds unless that association’s facilities were placed in operation
after January 1, 1988. Leasing all or a portion of the property
does not render that property taxable if all of the leasehold income is used for maintenance of the leased property.
(33) CAMPS FOR MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY DISABLED PERSONS. Land, not exceeding 50 acres, and the buildings on that
land used as a residential campground exclusively for mentally or
physically disabled persons and their families as long as the property is used for that purpose and not for the pecuniary profit of
any individual.
(34) HISTORIC PROPERTIES. (a) Real property all of which
fulfills all of the following requirements:
1. Is listed on the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places.
2. Is a public building, as defined in s. 101.01 (12).
3. Is owned or leased by an organization that is exempt from
taxation under section 501 of the internal revenue code as
amended to December 31, 1986.
4. Is used for civic, governmental, cultural or educational
purposes.
5. Is subject to an easement, covenant or similar restriction
running with the land that is held by or approved by the state historical society or by an entity approved by the state historical society, that protects the historic features of the property and that
will remain effective for at least 20 years after January 1, 1989.
(35) CULTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARKS. Property described in s. 234.935 (1), 1997 stats.
(36) PROFESSIONAL SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT HOME
STADIUMS. (a) Property consisting of or contained in a sports
and entertainment home stadium, except a football stadium as defined in s. 229.821 (6); including but not limited to parking lots,
garages, restaurants, parks, concession facilities, entertainment
facilities, transportation facilities, and other functionally related
or auxiliary facilities and structures; including those facilities and
structures while they are being built; constructed by, leased to or
primarily used by a professional athletic team that is a member of
a league that includes teams that have home stadiums in other
states, and the land on which that stadium and those structures
and facilities are located. Leasing or subleasing the property; regardless of the lessee, the sublessee and the use of the leasehold
income; does not render the property taxable.
(b) Property consisting of or contained in a football stadium,
as defined in s. 229.821 (6), and related facilities and structures,
including those facilities and structures while they are being built
or constructed, primarily used by a professional football team described in s. 229.823, and the land, including parking lots, on
which that stadium and those facilities and structures are located.
Related facilities and structures are limited to improvements that
share common structural supports with the stadium or are physically attached to the stadium. Using the property for garages,
restaurants, parks, concession facilities, entertainment facilities,
transportation facilities, or other functionally related or auxiliary
facilities does not render the property taxable. Leasing or subleasing the property; regardless of the lessee, the sublessee and
the use of the leasehold income; does not render the property
taxable.
(37) LOCAL EXPOSITION DISTRICT. The property of a local
exposition district under subch. II of ch. 229, including sports and
entertainment arena facilities, as defined in s. 229.41 (11g), except that any portion of the sports and entertainment arena facilities, excluding the outdoor plaza area, that is used, leased, or subleased for use as a restaurant or for any use licensed under ch.
125, and is regularly open to the general public at times when the
sports and entertainment arena, as defined in s. 229.41 (11e), is
not being used for events that involve the arena floor and seating
bowl, is not exempt under this subsection.
(38) UNIVERSITY OF W ISCONSIN H OSPITALS AND C LINICS
AUTHORITY. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 70.11 (intro.)
that relate to leased property, all property owned by the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority and all property leased to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics
Authority that is owned by the state, provided that use of the
property is primarily related to the purposes of the authority.
(38m) WISCONSIN AEROSPACE AUTHORITY. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 70.11 (intro.) that relate to leased property
or that impose other limitations, all property owned or leased by

the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, provided that use of the
property is primarily related to the purposes of the authority.
(38r) ECONOMIC D EVELOPMENT C ORPORATION. All property owned by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, provided that use of the property is primarily related to the
purposes of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
(39) COMPUTERS. Mainframe computers, minicomputers,
personal computers, networked personal computers, servers, terminals, monitors, disk drives, electronic peripheral equipment,
tape drives, printers, basic operational programs, systems software, and prewritten software. The exemption under this subsection does not apply to custom software, fax machines, copiers,
equipment with embedded computerized components or telephone systems, including equipment that is used to provide
telecommunications services, as defined in s. 76.80 (3). For the
purposes of s. 79.095, the exemption under this subsection does
not apply to property that is otherwise exempt under this chapter.
(39m) CASH REGISTERS AND FAX MACHINES. Cash registers
and fax machines, excluding fax machines that are also copiers.
(40) LOCAL CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT. Property of a local
cultural arts district under subch. V of ch. 229, except any of the
following:
(a) Property that is not a part of the physical structure of a cultural arts facility, as defined under s. 229.841 (5), if that property
is used for a retail business or a restaurant, unless the retail business or restaurant is operated by the local cultural arts district or
by a corporation, organization or association described in section
501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code that is exempt from taxation under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(b) A parking lot or parking structure that is not used to support the operation of a cultural arts facility, as defined under s.
229.841 (5).
(41) FOX R IVER N AVIGATIONAL S YSTEM A UTHORITY. All
property owned by the Fox River Navigational System Authority,
provided that use of the property is primarily related to the purposes of the authority.
(43) ART AND ARTS EDUCATION CENTERS. All of the property owned or leased by a corporation, organization, or association that is exempt from taxation under section 501 (c) (3) of the
Internal Revenue Code, if the property satisfies the following
conditions:
(a) It is used for the purposes for which the exemption under
section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code is granted to the
corporation, organization, or association that owns or leases the
property.
(b) It includes one or more buildings that are owned or leased
by the corporation, organization, or association and that are located within, or are surrounded by, a municipal park.
(c) It includes one or more theaters for the performing arts
that are operated by the corporation, organization, or association
and the seating capacity of the theater or theaters is not less than
600 persons.
(d) It includes facilities that are used for arts education.
(44) NATIONAL ICE TRAINING CENTER. Beginning with the
first assessment year in which the property would not otherwise
be exempt from taxation under sub. (1), property owned by a nonprofit corporation that operates a National Ice Training Center on
land purchased from the state, if the property is located or primarily used at the center. Property that is exempt under this subsection includes property leased to a nonprofit entity, regardless of
the use of the leasehold income, and up to 6,000 square feet of
property leased to a for-profit entity, regardless of the use of the
leasehold income.
(45) NONPROFIT COMMUNITY THEATER. All property owned
or leased by a corporation, organization, or association that is exempt from taxation under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, if the property satisfies the following conditions:
(a) It is used for the purposes for which the exemption under
section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code is granted to the
corporation, organization, or association that owns or leases the
property.
(b) It is located on land that the property owner owned prior
to March 25, 2010, or on land donated by a local business owner
or by a municipality.
(c) It is located on land that is within 20 miles of the Mississippi River.
(d) It is located on a parcel of land that is at least one-fourth of
an acre, but no larger than 2 acres.
(e) It includes one or more theaters for the performing arts
that are operated by the corporation, organization, or association
and the seating capacity of the theater or theaters is not less than
450 persons.
(f) It includes facilities that are used for arts education.
(45m) SNOWMOBILE, ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE, AND UTILITY
TERRAIN VEHICLE CLUBS. Trail groomers owned by a snowmobile club, an all-terrain vehicle club, a utility terrain vehicle club,
or an off-highway motorcycle club that is exempt from taxation
under section 501 (c) (3), (4), or (7) of the Internal Revenue
Code.
(46) NONPROFIT YOUTH BASEBALL ASSOCIATIONS. Land not
exceeding 6 acres, the buildings on that land, and personal property, if the land is owned or leased by, and the buildings and personal property are owned by, a nonprofit youth baseball association and used exclusively for the purposes of the association.
Leasing all or a portion of the property does not render the property taxable if all of the leasehold income is used for maintaining
the leased property.
(47) CRANBERRY RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL STATION.
All property owned or leased by the Wisconsin Cranberry Research and Education Foundation that is located in Jackson
County and consists of at least 130.5 acres of land.
(48) RADIO, CELLULAR, AND TELECOMMUNICATION TOWERS.
Radio, cellular, and telecommunication towers used exclusively
to support equipment that provides telecommunications services,
as defined in s. 76.80 (3), or that is used as digital broadcasting
equipment for radio, television, or video service, as defined in s.
66.0420 (2) (y).
(49) RECREATIONAL PREFABRICATED STRUCTURES. Any prefabricated structure originally designed to be towed upon a highway by a motor vehicle and used primarily as temporary living
quarters for recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal purposes,
including accessory decks, sheds, and porches, if such prefabricated structures are located in a licensed campground under s.
97.67 upon land that is not owned by the owner of such prefabricated structures.

‹ Prev All Wisconsin sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.