Frequently Asked Questions

Every taxable parcel (business, commercial or private) containing a real property improvement, qualifies for the First Dollar Credit. Unlike the Lottery and Gaming Credit, the property does not need to be the primary residence of the owner. A personal property improvement does not qualify a parcel for this credit.

Does a property owner have to Apply for this credit?

Can an owner receive credit on more than one property?

Does a Manufactured/Mobile Home qualify for the First Dollar Credit?

If the manufactured/mobile home is properly classified as a real property, then the home would qualify for the First Dollar Credit. However, if a manufactured home is classified as personal property, then the home would not qualify for the First Dollar Credit. Section 70.43, Wis. Stats., provides the criteria for determining if a manufactured/mobile home is real or personal property. A manufactured/mobile home is an improvement to real property if the home is connected to utilities and is set upon a foundation upon land which is owned by the manufactured/mobile home owner. A mobile manufactured/mobile home is “set upon a foundation” if it is off its wheels and is set upon some other support. A manufactured/mobile home is personal property if the land upon which it is located is not owned by the manufactured/mobile home owner or if the manufactured/mobile home is not set upon a foundation or connected to utilities.

If a manufactured/mobile home parking fee is required to be paid on a home, does that home qualify for the First Dollar Credit?

No. If a manufactured/mobile home is not properly classified as real property, then the First Dollar Credit does not apply.

Will the First Dollar Credit be distributed to the county instead of the municipality as it is for the School Levy Tax and Lottery and Gaming Credits?

Yes, sec. 79.10 (7m) (c), Wis. Stats., directs the payment to be made to the county, unless the municipality qualifies for one of the exceptions listed in this section and the municipality requests direct payment. A request for distribution to the municipality should be sent to the Department of Administration (DOA) by the end of February each year.

Where will the First Dollar Credit be shown on the property tax bill?

A line has been added just above the Lottery and Gaming Credit line on the property tax bill. See samples of the state prescribed property tax bills for placement of this and other credits at: http://www.revenue.wi.gov/forms/govbill/index.html or Sample Property Tax Bill.

When selecting the parcels to receive the First Dollar Credit, is it true that the credit should only apply to classes 1, 2, 3 and 7, as long as there is an improvement on the parcel?

Although the parcel should contain an improvement to be categorized within one of these classes, a better method to determine if the parcel qualifies for the First Dollar Credit is to look at the improvement value field for that parcel. If the improvement value is greater than zero for that parcel, then the parcel qualifies for the credit. The improvement must be correctly classified as real property to qualify; it can not be classified as personal property.

When the First Dollar Credit is entered on the Taxation District Treasurer's Settlement Sheet, how will this impact the distribution of funds to the taxation districts?

Payment by the state of the First Dollar Credit occurs on the 4th Monday of July, full settlement of this credit should occur in August.

How are adjustments or corrections to the First Dollar Credit handled?

The correction of any error in the amount of funds distributed to a county/municipality by the state (overpayment or underpayment) discovered by October 1 of the year of the distribution shall be corrected by reducing or increasing (as appropriate) the subsequent year's distribution for that municipality. Corrections shall be made in the distributions to all municipalities affected by the error [sec. 79.10(6m) Wis. Stats.]. For example, because of the appropriation limit on the funds available under this program, a correction to increase a municipality's credit amount may cause other municipality's credit amount to be reduced.

Will DOR supply the Maximum Credit Value (MCV) in a manner similar to the Lottery and Gaming Credit value? If so, when can we expect to receive the value?

Yes. DOR will provide the First Dollar Credit MCV by mid to late November in the same manner we currently provide the Lottery and Gaming Credit MCV.

Will both the Lottery and Gaming Credit and the First Dollar Credit use the same equalized value school tax rate?

Yes, both credits will use the same equalized value school tax rate.

How is the First Dollar Credit applied to the taxes due on a property tax bill?

Unlike the Lottery and Gaming Credit, the First Dollar Credit is applied equally to each installment. To calculate a single payment (payment in full) amount you would subtract both the Lottery and Gaming Credit, and the First Dollar Credit from the net tax (net of the School Levy Tax Credit) and then add the amount of any special assessments and special charges and special taxes (PFC, MFL, Occupational) to determine the total amount due. However when calculating the amount of tax due for each installment under an installment plan, the First Dollar Credit is to be applied equally across all the installments. For example, for a $31.95 First Dollar Credit, $15.98 credit would be applied to the first payment and $15.97 to the second payment under a two payment plan. One method to calculate this would be to subtract the First Dollar Credit from the net tax (net of the School Levy Tax Credit), and then divide that amount by the number of installments offered (in this case 2) to determine the amount due for the 2nd and subsequent installments. For the first installment amount, you must subtract the Lottery and Gaming Credit from the same amount calculated for the second installment and then add the amount of any special assessments and special charges and special taxes (PFC, MFL, and Occupational). It should be noted that depending on the amounts of any special assessments and special charges and special taxes and whether a Lottery and Gaming Credit is available for this parcel, the amount due for the first installment may be greater than or less than the 2nd and subsequent installment amounts. Another method is to divide both the First Dollar Credit and the net tax (net of the School Levy Tax Credit), as two separate calculations, by the number of installments; then from the results of dividing the net tax by the number of installments, add any special charges, subtract the Lottery and Gaming Credit, and subtract the First Dollar amount determined by dividing the allowable First Dollar Credit by the number of installments. The second and subsequent installments would the amount of the net tax divided by the number of installments less the allowable First Dollar Credit divided by the number of installments. Extra cents can be applied to either the first or last installment. No matter which method is used, an installment can never be less than zero. Since the entire Lottery and Gaming Credit is applied to the first installment (to the extent of the total tax due on the first installment), the Lottery and Gaming Credit (if applicable) should always be applied to the taxes due before the First Dollar Credit. For this reason, you may decide that the second method is the best method for calculating the amount due for each installment.

How is the First Dollar Credit Calculated?

Who qualifies for the lottery and gaming credit?

To qualify for the lottery and gaming credit, an owner must be a Wisconsin resident, the owner of the dwelling, and use the dwelling as their primary residence as of the certification date (January 1 of the year in which the property taxes are levied). If temporarily absent, typically for a period no longer than 6 months (hospital, vacation, incarcerated, etc), it is the home to which the owner returns. Principal dwelling means any dwelling used by the owner of the dwelling as his/her primary residence. A property owner may claim only one primary residence. The lottery and gaming credit can not be claimed on business property, rental units, vacant land, garages, or other property that is not the primary residence of the owner. [sec. 79.10 (1) (dm), (9) (bm), Wis. Stats.].

Must I apply for the lottery and gaming credit?

Yes to receive the credit, an eligible property owner must file an application with the treasurer of the county in which the property is located or, if the property is located in a city that collects taxes under sec. 74.87, Wis. Stats., with the treasurer of that city. A person who is eligible for the credit as of the certification date, but whose property tax bill does not reflect the credit may, by January 31 following the issuance of person's property tax bill, claim the credit by applying to the municipal (town, village or city) treasurer in which the property is located. A person who is eligible for the credit as of the certification date, but whose property tax bill does not reflect the credit, and who has missed the January 31 deadline for applying for the credit with the municipal treasurer, may file a late claim application with the Department of Revenue by October 1, following the issuance of the person's property tax bill. Lottery and gaming credit applications forms are located at: http://www.revenue.wi.gov/forms/lottery/index.html.

How is the lottery and gaming credit computed?

The amount of funds available for the lottery and gaming credit is determined in November of each year based on revenues generated from the Wisconsin lottery, pari-mutuel on-track betting and bingo during the year. Based on available funds and an estimated number of properties that will qualify for the credit, a maximum credit value (MCV) is determined. The credit amount for each qualifying property is then calculated by multiplying the MCV (or the actual value of the property if that value is less than the MCV) by the applicable school tax rate. This is the amount of credit provided for that property. [sec. 79.10(9) (bm), (11), Wis. Stats.].

Do manufactured/mobile homes that pay a monthly permit fee qualify?

Yes, if the manufactured/mobile home, as of January 1 of the year in which property taxes are levied, is used by the owner as their primary residence. The municipal (town, village or city) clerk will calculate and deduct one-twelfth of the credit each month from the monthly municipal permit fee. Eligible manufactured/mobile home owners must file a Lottery and Gaming Credit application with the municipal treasurer or the 1 st class city treasurer (City of Milwaukee) to receive the Lottery and Gaming Credit. [sec. 79.10(1)(dm), (9)(bm), (10)(a), 66.0435(3)(c)1.c., Wis. Stats.].

Did I receive the lottery and gaming credit?

A line for the lottery and gaming credit on the property tax bill is located below the Total (tax) and First Dollar Credit lines on your tax bill. If an amount is listed on this line, the property received the credit.

What if the lottery and gaming credit was not applied to my tax bill?

A person who is eligible for the credit (as of the certification date) but whose property tax bill does not reflect the credit may, by January 31 following the issuance of person's property tax bill, claim the credit by applying to the municipal (town, village or city) treasurer in which the property is located. The treasurer will calculate the amount of credit you should receive and either credit your tax bill, or if the taxes have been paid, refund the credit to you. A person who is eligible for the credit (as of the certification date) but whose property tax bill does not reflect the credit, and who has missed the January 31 deadline for applying for the credit with the municipal treasurer, may file a late claim application with the Department of Revenue by October 1 following the issuance of the person's property tax bill. [sec. 79.10 (10) (bm), Wis. Stats.] Lottery and gaming credit applications forms are located at: http://www.revenue.wi.gov/forms/lottery/index.html.

What if a home was purchased after January 1?

To receive the lottery and gaming credit, a new owner must attest that, to the best of their knowledge, the previous owner owned and used the property as their primary residence as of the certification date (January 1). Only in this limited circumstance may a new homeowner sign an application to receive the lottery and gaming credit. If the property was vacant on January 1st the house will not qualify for the Lottery credit. Use the buyer's application at: http://www.revenue.wi.gov/forms/lottery/index.html. [sec. 79.10 (10) (bn), Wis. Stats.]

May I claim more than one lottery and gaming credit?

In most cases, only one Lottery and Gaming Credit is allowed and it is allowed only on your primary residence. You may claim more than one lottery and gaming credit under limited situations. If you own property which qualified for the credit as of the certification date (January 1) and then purchase a property that also qualified for the credit as of the certification date, you may receive a lottery and gaming credit on both properties. You may sign an application for the lottery and gaming credit for each parcel. This is only valid for the year of the purchase. [sec. 79.10 (10) (bn), Wis. Stats.] It is your responsibility to notify your country treasurer within 30 days in which a property no longer qualifies for the Lottery and Gaming Credit. In rare cases, a husband and wife may each claim a lottery and gaming credit on two separate properties. If one spouse owns one property and the other spouse owns a different property, and both use the property they own as their primary residence (they do not live together, and one of the homes is not a vacation home), then credit can be claimed on both properties.

Who do I notify if a property is no longer qualified to receive the Lottery and Gaming Credit?

A person who is no longer eligible to receive the Lottery and Gaming credit on a property should complete the Lottery and Gaming Credit Removal Request form (LC-400) found at: http://www.revenue.wi.gov/forms/lottery/lc-400.pdf within 30 days in which the property is no longer eligible. Completed forms should be submitted to the County Treasurer's Office in which the property is located.

What if I split my property during the year and the municipal or county treasurer proceeds under s. 70.323 to prepare an assessment of a divided parcel?

The net tax liability after Lottery and Gaming credit will be used. [ss. 70.323(5), 79.10(9), (10)(bn) Wis. Stats.]

What if I build a new home?

The property tax bill printed in December is based on the assessment of the property as of January 1. The taxes will be based on that assessed value. The Lottery and Gaming Credit will be deducted from the net tax payable on the next year's tax bill. Lottery and Gaming Credit will be applied only if the home is completed and occupied on January 1 of the qualification year. [ss. 79.10(1)(dm), (9)(bm), (10)(b) Wis. Stats.]

Am I eligible to receive both the lottery and gaming credit and the first dollar credit?

Every Wisconsin parcel with a real property improvement qualifies for the first dollar credit. Therefore, if you are receiving the lottery and gaming credit, you automatically qualify for the first dollar credit. However, you do not automatically qualify for the lottery and gaming credit if you are receiving the first dollar credit. See first dollar credit FAQs at: http://www.revenue.wi.gov/faqs/slf/fdolcred.html

Who should I contact if I have more questions?

You should first contact your county treasurer for those with property outside the City of Milwaukee, or the City of Milwaukee treasurer for those with property inside the City of Milwaukee.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
Local Government Services Bureau
P.O. Box 8971 MS 6-97 Madison , WI 53708
Phone: (608) 266-0772 or (608) 266-9457
Fax: (608) 264-6887

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