Tax Laws in Wisconsin (2026): Major Changes Coming Your Way
Most people don’t realize how much Wisconsin’s tax laws changed recently. Seriously. The 2025-27 budget brought some of the biggest tax relief measures in years, and they’re taking effect right now. If you live in Wisconsin, these changes could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Let’s break down exactly what you need to know.
Wisconsin overhauled several tax areas in 2025. Income taxes got adjusted. Retirement income got better treatment. Sales tax exemptions expanded. These aren’t small tweaks. They’re real changes that affect real money in your pocket.
What Are Wisconsin’s Main Taxes?
Wisconsin hits you with several types of taxes. The state has income tax, sales tax, property tax, and corporate tax. Each one works differently. Each one has its own rules and rates.
Income tax is what you pay on your earnings. Sales tax is what you pay when you buy stuff. Property tax is what you pay if you own a home. Corporate tax is what businesses pay on their profits. Pretty straightforward, right?
Most people deal with income tax and sales tax regularly. Property tax hits homeowners once or twice a year. Corporate tax only matters if you own a business.
Income Tax Changes for 2026
Hold on, this part is important. Wisconsin made significant changes to income tax brackets starting in 2025. These changes apply when you file your 2025 taxes in 2026.
New Tax Brackets
Wisconsin has four income tax brackets. The rates are 3.5%, 4.4%, 5.3%, and 7.65%. These rates stayed the same. What changed is where the brackets kick in.
The second bracket got expanded. This means more of your income gets taxed at the lower 4.4% rate instead of jumping to 5.3% or 7.65%. For married couples filing jointly, this bracket now covers more income than before.
The exact dollar amounts matter less than what this means for you. Basically, if you’re a middle-income taxpayer, you’ll probably pay less. The average married couple will save around $230 per year. Single filers will save about $143.
Not huge amounts, honestly. But money is money.
Retirement Income Exclusion
Okay, this one’s big for retirees. Like, really big.
Starting with 2025 taxes, Wisconsin lets you exclude retirement income from your taxable income. If you’re 67 or older, you can exclude up to $24,000 if you’re single. Married couples filing jointly can exclude up to $48,000.
This is a massive change. The old exclusion was only $5,000 for single filers and $10,000 for married couples. Plus, the old rule had income limits that kicked a lot of people out. The new rule is way more generous.
Let me be clear about what counts as retirement income. This includes pensions, annuities, IRA distributions, and other similar payments. Social Security is already exempt in Wisconsin, so that’s separate.
One catch exists. Some tax credits become unavailable if you take this exclusion. You’ll need to figure out which gives you the better deal. Most retirees will benefit from the exclusion, but not all.
Adoption Expense Deduction
Wisconsin tripled the adoption expense deduction. It jumped from $5,000 to $15,000 per child. This applies starting with your 2025 tax return.
Adoption costs add up fast. This deduction helps offset some of those expenses. It’s a straightforward benefit for families who adopt.
Sales Tax Rules and Exemptions
Wisconsin’s state sales tax rate is 5%. That part hasn’t changed. What has changed are some exemptions and how local taxes work.
Residential Utility Exemption
Starting October 1, 2025, electricity and natural gas sold for residential use are exempt from sales tax year-round. Before this, the exemption only applied from November through April.
This saves you money every month. Not a ton, but it adds up. A typical household might save $50 to $100 per year on utility bills.
The exemption covers the full sales price, including delivery charges. It applies as long as the energy goes to a qualifying residential setting.
Local Sales Tax Rates
Here’s where things get complicated. Local sales taxes vary across Wisconsin. Most counties add 0.5% on top of the state’s 5% rate. That brings the total to 5.5% in most places.
Milwaukee is different. Milwaukee County has a 0.9% county tax. The city of Milwaukee adds another 2% city tax. This means Milwaukee city residents pay 7.9% total. That’s the highest rate in Wisconsin.
A few other counties have higher rates too. Sauk County charges 6.75% total. Door, Oneida, Pepin, and Vilas counties charge 6%.
Sound complicated? It’s actually not. When you buy something, the business charges you the right rate based on where you’re located. You don’t have to calculate it yourself.
Property Tax and Homestead Credit
Property taxes in Wisconsin are set locally. The state doesn’t control these rates directly. What the state does control is the homestead credit. This credit helps low and moderate income homeowners and renters offset their property tax burden.
Current Homestead Credit Rules
For 2024 taxes (filed in 2025), the homestead credit uses these limits. If your household income is $8,060 or less, you can claim 80% of your property taxes or rent as a credit. The credit gets reduced if your income exceeds $8,060. No credit is available if your income exceeds $24,680.
The maximum credit is $1,168. Not everyone gets the full amount. It depends on your income and how much property tax or rent you pay.
Proposed Changes for 2026
Wondering if this applies to you? The Wisconsin legislature proposed expanding the homestead credit for claims filed in 2026 and later. The proposals vary, but here’s what’s being discussed.
One proposal would raise the income threshold from $8,060 to $19,000. The maximum income limit would jump from $24,680 to $37,500. These changes would help way more people qualify for the credit.
Another proposal is less generous but still helpful. It would keep the $8,060 threshold but raise the maximum income to $35,000.
These proposals haven’t passed yet as of early 2026. Check the Wisconsin Department of Revenue website for the latest information. Things could change before you file your 2026 taxes.
Corporate and Business Taxes
If you run a business in Wisconsin, you need to know about corporate income tax. Wisconsin charges a flat 7.9% corporate income tax rate. This rate applies to most C corporations doing business in Wisconsin.
Who Pays Corporate Tax
C corporations pay the 7.9% rate on their net income. S corporations don’t pay corporate tax. Instead, their income passes through to the owners, who pay personal income tax on it.
LLCs can be taxed different ways. If your LLC is treated as a corporation for federal tax purposes, it pays Wisconsin corporate tax. If it’s treated as a partnership or sole proprietorship, the income passes through to the owners.
Most small businesses structure themselves to avoid corporate tax. They use S corporations or LLCs taxed as partnerships. This lets them pay personal income tax rates instead, which top out at 7.65%.
Honestly, this is probably the most important rule. Personal income tax rates range from 3.5% to 7.65%. Corporate tax is a flat 7.9%. Do the math. For most businesses, pass-through taxation saves money.
Economic Development Surcharge
Here’s something that catches people off guard. Wisconsin charges an economic development surcharge on top of corporate income tax. Any business with gross receipts over $4,000,000 must pay this.
The surcharge is the greater of $25 or 3% of your gross tax liability. This is different from gross receipts. Gross tax liability means the actual tax you owe before credits.
For most small businesses, this doesn’t apply. But if your business is growing, keep this in mind. Once you cross $4 million in gross receipts, the surcharge kicks in.
How to File and Pay Wisconsin Taxes
You’ve got options for filing Wisconsin taxes. Most people file electronically. It’s faster and more accurate than paper filing.
Individual Income Tax Filing
For individual income taxes, the deadline is April 15 following the tax year. If you need more time, you can get an automatic extension to October 15. The extension gives you more time to file, not more time to pay. Any taxes owed are still due April 15.
You can file using tax preparation software like TurboTax or H&R Block. You can also use the IRS Free File program if you qualify. Or hire a tax professional to do it for you.
Wisconsin uses Form 1 for most taxpayers. If you have business income or complex deductions, you might need additional schedules. The forms are available on the Wisconsin Department of Revenue website.
Sales Tax Filing
Businesses that collect sales tax must file returns regularly. How often depends on your sales volume. Monthly, quarterly, or annual filing might apply to you.
Returns are due by the last day of the month following the reporting period. For example, January sales tax is due by the end of February. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue provides online filing through their website.
Late filing costs you. There’s a $20 late filing fee. Plus a penalty of 5% per month of the tax due, up to 25% maximum. Interest also accrues at 1.5% per month. Stay on top of your filing deadlines.
Property Tax and Homestead Credit Filing
Property taxes are billed directly by your local government. You typically pay them once or twice per year. The exact timing varies by county and municipality.
The homestead credit requires filing Schedule H or Schedule H-EZ. You must file this by April 15, but you actually have until April 15 four years later if you miss the initial deadline. Most people file it with their regular income tax return.
To claim the homestead credit, you need documentation. Homeowners must attach a copy of their property tax bill. Renters need a rent certificate signed by their landlord.
Penalties and Consequences
Don’t mess around with tax deadlines. Wisconsin charges serious penalties for late filing and late payment.
Late Filing Penalties
Filing your return late triggers automatic penalties. The penalty is 5% of the tax due for each month the return is late. This maxes out at 25% of the total tax.
A $20 late filing fee also applies. This happens even if you don’t owe any tax. If you’re more than 60 days late, an additional $50 penalty kicks in.
These penalties add up fast. File on time, even if you can’t pay the full amount.
Late Payment Penalties
Paying your taxes late costs you too. The penalty is 5% of the unpaid tax, plus 1% per month. This also maxes out at 25%.
Interest charges separately from penalties. Wisconsin charges 1.5% interest per month on unpaid taxes. This compounds. The longer you wait, the more you owe.
If you can’t pay the full amount, file your return anyway and pay what you can. Then contact the Wisconsin Department of Revenue to set up a payment plan. They’re usually willing to work with you if you’re making an effort.
Special Circumstances and Exemptions
Wisconsin provides several tax breaks for specific situations. These can save you money if you qualify.
Manufacturing and Agriculture Credit
Businesses engaged in manufacturing or agriculture can claim a significant credit. The credit equals 7.5% of qualified production activities income. This is a big deal for qualifying businesses.
Manufacturing includes making stuff. Agriculture includes farming operations. The credit reduces your tax liability dollar for dollar.
Film Production Credit
Starting with tax years after December 31, 2025, Wisconsin offers a film production credit. The credit covers production expenditures incurred in Wisconsin. There’s a statewide cap of $5 million per year and a $1 million limit per applicant.
This credit aims to attract film and TV production to Wisconsin. If you work in the entertainment industry, this could benefit you.
College Savings Account Deduction
Wisconsin lets you deduct contributions to Wisconsin state-sponsored college savings accounts. The deduction is $5,130 per beneficiary for 2025. If you’re married filing separately, the limit is $2,560.
This deduction helps families save for education. The money grows tax-free in the account and can be withdrawn tax-free for qualified education expenses.
Tuition and Fee Deduction
You can deduct tuition and fees paid for yourself or your dependents. For 2025, the deduction is $7,649 per student. The deduction phases out at higher income levels.
This helps offset the cost of higher education. It’s separate from the college savings account deduction, so you might qualify for both.
Recent Changes to Watch
Wisconsin’s tax laws keep evolving. Here are some recent changes that matter.
Telecommunication Tower Exemptions
New exemptions apply to telecommunication towers. Starting January 1, 2026, certain towers used exclusively for telecommunication services are exempt from property tax. Additional exemptions take effect January 1, 2027.
This won’t affect most people directly. But it might lower costs for telecommunication companies, which could lead to lower prices for consumers.
Information Product Exemptions
Starting October 1, 2025, certain information products became exempt from sales tax. This includes reports, statistics, records, and data used exclusively by insurance companies.
Again, this is pretty niche. Most people won’t notice it. But it’s part of Wisconsin’s effort to modernize its tax code.
What You Should Do
Now that you know the basics, here’s what to do next.
First, review your tax situation. Look at your 2024 return. Compare it to the new rules for 2025 and 2026. Figure out if the changes help you or not.
Second, adjust your withholding if needed. If the new income tax brackets reduce your liability, you might want to adjust your W-4. This puts more money in your paycheck throughout the year instead of waiting for a refund.
Third, if you’re 67 or older, definitely look into the retirement income exclusion. This is probably the biggest tax break Wisconsin has offered retirees in years. Calculate whether taking the exclusion beats claiming certain credits.
Fourth, keep records. Save all your tax documents. This includes W-2s, 1099s, receipts for deductible expenses, property tax bills, and rent certificates. Good recordkeeping makes filing easier and protects you if you get audited.
Fifth, consider hiring a professional. Tax laws are complicated. A good tax preparer or CPA can help you maximize your deductions and credits. The money you spend on professional help often pays for itself in tax savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Wisconsin’s income tax rates for 2026? Wisconsin has four income tax rates: 3.5%, 4.4%, 5.3%, and 7.65%. The rates didn’t change, but the income levels where each rate applies were adjusted for 2025 taxes.
Can retirees exclude retirement income in Wisconsin? Yes, starting with 2025 tax returns. If you’re 67 or older, you can exclude up to $24,000 of retirement income if single, or $48,000 if married filing jointly. Some restrictions apply and certain tax credits become unavailable if you take this exclusion.
What is Wisconsin’s sales tax rate? The state sales tax rate is 5%. Most counties add 0.5% for a total of 5.5%. Milwaukee has the highest combined rate at 7.9%, which includes state, county, and city taxes.
How do I claim the homestead credit? File Schedule H or Schedule H-EZ with your Wisconsin income tax return. You must include documentation like property tax bills or rent certificates. The credit is available to homeowners and renters with household income below $24,680 for 2024 taxes.
What happens if I file my Wisconsin taxes late? You’ll face a $20 late filing fee plus a 5% penalty per month of the tax due, up to 25% maximum. If you’re more than 60 days late, add another $50 penalty. Interest charges separately at 1.5% per month on unpaid taxes.
Final Thoughts
Wisconsin’s tax laws changed significantly in 2025. The retirement income exclusion helps older residents. Expanded income tax brackets provide modest relief to middle-income families. Sales tax exemptions on utilities save homeowners money. These aren’t revolutionary changes, but they’re steps in the right direction.
The most important thing is staying informed. Tax laws change every year. What’s true today might change tomorrow. Check the Wisconsin Department of Revenue website regularly for updates. Consider working with a tax professional who keeps up with the latest changes.
Don’t let taxes stress you out. They’re complicated, sure. But with good recordkeeping and proper planning, you can handle them. Take advantage of the deductions and credits you qualify for. File on time. Pay what you owe. That’s really all there is to it.