Wisconsin Code § 70.20

Owner’s liability when personalty assessed to another; action to collect
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(1) For assessments made before
January 1, 2024, when personal property shall be assessed to
some person in charge or possession thereof, other than the
owner, such owner as well as the person so in charge or possession shall be liable for the taxes levied pursuant to such assessment; and the liability of such owner may be enforced in a personal action as for a debt. Such action may be brought in the
name of the town, city or village in which such assessment was
made, if commenced before the time fixed by law for the return of
delinquent taxes, by direction of the treasurer or tax collector of
such town, city or village. If commenced after such a return, it
shall be brought in the name of the county or other municipality
to the treasurer or other officer of which such return shall be

made, by direction of such treasurer or other officer. Such action
may be brought in any court of this state having jurisdiction of the
amount involved and in which jurisdiction may be obtained of the
person of such owner or by attachment of the property of such
owner.
(2) For assessments made before January 1, 2024, the remedy
of attachment may be allowed in such action upon filing an affidavit of the officer by whose direction such action shall be
brought, showing the assessment of such property in the assessment district, the amount of tax levied pursuant thereto, that the
defendant was the owner of such property at the time as of which
the assessment thereof was made, and that such tax remains unpaid in whole or in part, and the amount remaining unpaid. The
proceedings in such actions and for enforcement of the judgment
obtained therein shall be the same as in ordinary actions for debt
as near as may be, but no property shall be exempt from attachment or execution issued upon a judgment against the defendant
in such action.
(3) For assessments made before January 1, 2024, and taxes
levied before January 1, 2024, the assessment and tax rolls in
which such assessment and tax shall be entered shall be prima facie evidence of such assessment and tax and of the justice and
regularity thereof; and the same, with proof of the ownership of
such property by the defendant at the time as of which the assessment was made and of the nonpayment of such tax, shall be sufficient to establish the liability of the defendant. Such liability
shall not be affected and such action shall not be defeated by any
omission or irregularity in the assessment or tax proceedings not
affecting the substantial justice and equity of the tax. The provisions of this section shall not impair or affect the remedies given
by other provisions of law for the collection or enforcement of
such tax against the person to whom the property was assessed.

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