Wisconsin Income Tax FAQs
Content provided for general information. Talk to your advisor to learn about recent updates or other rules that may apply to your situation.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about income taxes in Wisconsin.
What is the Wisconsin income tax rate?
Wisconsin income tax rates range from 3.54% to 7.65%. That puts Wisconsin right about in the middle when it comes to state income tax rates.
Wisconsin Single and Head of Household Income Tax Brackets
| over | but not over | 2022 tax is | of the amount over |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | $12,760 | 3.54% | $0 |
| $12,760 | $25,520 | $451.70 + 4.65% | $12,760 |
| $25,520 | $280,950 | $1,045.04 + 5.3% | $25,520 |
| $280,950 | $14,582.83 + 7.65% | $280,950 |
Wisconsin Joint Filer Income Tax Brackets
| over | but not over | 2022 tax is | of the amount over |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | $17,010 | 3.54% | $0 |
| $17,010 | $34,030 | $602.15 + 4.65% | $17,010 |
| $34,030 | $374,600 | $1,393.58 + 5.3% | $34,030 |
| $374,600 | $19,443.79 + 7.65% | $374,600 |
Wisconsin Separate Filer Tax Brackets
| over | but not over | 2022 tax is | of the amount over |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | $8,510 | 3.54% | $0 |
| $8,510 | $17,010 | $301.25 + 4.65% | $8,510 |
| $17,010 | $187,300 | $696.50 + 5.3% | $17,010 |
| $187,300 | $9,721.87 + 7.65% | $187,300 |
Non-Residents and Part-Year Residents
If you’re a non-resident or part-year resident, you won’t pay Wisconsin income tax on your entire income. You’ll only pay Wisconsin tax on your income associated with Wisconsin.
Your Wisconsin income is generally based on where you earned the income and how many days you spent in each state.
Wisconsin Residents Working in Another State
If you live in Wisconsin and work in another state, you’ll generally need to file a state income tax return in both states. You’ll usually receive a tax credit so that you don’t have to pay double income taxes on that income.
Leaving Wisconsin
If you state that you are no longer a Wisconsin resident, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue may ask you to fill out a domicile questionnaire to confirm your residency.
Who has to file a Wisconsin income tax return?
Part-year residents and nonresidents generally need to file a Wisconsin state tax return if they have a gross income of $2,000 or more. To be clear, that’s gross income before deductions not taxable income.
For residents, it gets a little tricky because it varies based on your age and your spouse’s age. You can usually expect to file if your gross income is above $11,000 as a single filer or $22,000 as joint filers.
You can see the exact rules here.
Deceased Taxpayers
The estate is responsible for filing an individual’s final tax return in the year he or she died. The final tax return only includes income up to his or her date of death.
Income after the date of death may need to be reported on a Fiduciary Income Tax Return.
What deductions and credits does Wisconsin have?
Wisconsin typically recognizes a portion of your federal itemized deductions rather than having your claim separate Wisconsin deductions.
Wisconsin does have several tax credits available:
- Earned income tax credit worth up to 1/3 of your federal earned income tax credit.
- Homestead tax credit towards up to $1,168 in rent or property tax expenses for those with low incomes.
- Property tax credit worth up to $300 in rent or property taxes for most taxpayers.
- Working families credit worth up to your entire tax liability if you’re married and have income below $10,000
- Married couple credit worth up to $840 that offsets a potential marriage penalty
What is the Wisconsin tax deadline?
The Wisconsin income tax filing deadline is usually April 15th. The day may be pushed back due to weekends or holidays.
Some businesses that don’t use a calendar tax year may have a different deadline.
If you’re self-employed, you may have to make quarterly Wisconsin estimated tax payments. These are separate from federal estimated taxes.
Does Wisconsin allow tax filing extensions?
Wisconsin will usually grant you an automatic extension if you request a federal tax filing extension.
To receive the extension, you must estimate your tax and make an estimated tax payment by the usual April 15th deadline. Use the current Form ES-1.
The extension to file does not give you more time to pay, and interest will apply to any unpaid amounts.
What if I can’t pay?
If you can’t pay, you should generally still file your tax return. There are additional penalties for not filing on top of the penalties for paying late.
You may also want to request a payment plan. You can learn more about how payment plans work or start your Wisconsin payment plan.
Other Taxes
What is the Wisconsin sales tax rate?
The Wisconsin sales tax rate is usually 5.5%. That’s made up of a 5% state sales tax and 0.5% county sales tax.
Some counties previously had an additional stadium tax rate, but those have all expired.
Does Wisconsin have property taxes?
Wisconsin does charge real estate taxes with the property tax rate set locally.
Wisconsin does not charge property taxes on vehicles.
Does Wisconsin have an inheritance tax?
Wisconsin does not have an inheritance tax.
Does Wisconsin have an estate tax?
Wisconsin does not have an estate tax on the value of the estate, but income paid to an estate may need to be reported on a Fiduciary Income Tax Return.
Remember that federal estate taxes may apply
Does Wisconsin have a gift tax?
Wisconsin does not have a gift tax. Federal gift taxes may apply.