71.43 Imposition of tax.

(1) Income tax. For the purpose of raising revenue for the state and the counties, cities, villages and towns, there shall be assessed, levied, collected and paid a tax as provided under this chapter on all Wisconsin net incomes of corporations that are not subject to the franchise tax under sub. (2) and that own property within this state; that derive income from sources within this state or from activities that are attributable to this state; or whose business within this state during the taxable year, except as provided under s. 71.23 (3), consists exclusively of foreign commerce, interstate commerce, or both, or that buy or sell lottery prizes if the winning tickets were originally bought in this state; except as exempted under ss. 71.26 (1) and 71.45 (1) (a). This section shall not be construed to prevent or affect the correction of errors or omissions in the assessments of income for former years under s. 71.74 (1) and (2).

(2) Franchise tax on corporations. For the privilege of exercising its franchise, buying or selling lottery prizes if the winning tickets were originally bought in this state or doing business in this state in a corporate capacity, except as provided under s. 71.23 (3), every domestic or foreign corporation, except corporations specified in ss. 71.26 (1) and 71.45 (1) (a), shall annually pay a franchise tax according to or measured by its entire Wisconsin net income of the preceding taxable year at the rates set forth in s. 71.46 (2). In addition, except as provided in ss. 71.23 (3), 71.26 (1) and 71.45 (1) (a), a corporation that ceases doing business in this state shall pay a special franchise tax according to or measured by its entire Wisconsin net income for the taxable year during which the corporation ceases doing business in this state at the rate under s. 71.46 (2). Every corporation organized under the laws of this state shall be deemed to be residing within this state for the purposes of this franchise tax. All provisions of this chapter and ch. 73 relating to income taxation of corporations shall apply to franchise taxes imposed under this subsection, unless the context requires otherwise. The tax imposed by this subsection on insurance companies subject to taxation under this chapter shall be based on Wisconsin net income computed under s. 71.45, and no other provision of this chapter relating to computation of taxable income for other corporations shall apply to such insurance companies, except for s. 71.255. All other provisions of this chapter shall apply to insurance companies subject to taxation under this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

History: 1987 a. 312; 1989 a. 31; 1999 a. 9; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 2.

Sub. (2) is discriminatory within the meaning of 31 USC 3124 (1) (a) and in violation of that provision. American Family Mutual Insurance Co. v. DOR, 214 Wis. 2d 577, 571 N.W.2d 710 (Ct. App. 1997), 97-1105.