77.04 Taxation.

(1) Tax roll. The clerk on making up the tax roll shall enter as to each forest cropland description in a special column or some other appropriate place in such tax roll headed by the words “Forest Croplands" or the initials “F.C.L.", which shall be a sufficient designation that such description is subject to this subchapter. Such land shall thereafter be assessed and be subject to review under ch. 70, and such assessment may be used by the department of revenue in the determination of the tax upon withdrawal of such lands as forest croplands as provided in s. 77.10 for entries prior to 1972 or for any entry under s. 77.02 (4) (a). The tax upon withdrawal of descriptions entered as forest croplands after December 31, 1971, may be determined by the department of revenue by multiplying the last assessed value of the land prior to the time of the entry by an annual ratio computed for the state under sub. (2) to establish the annual assessed value of the description. No tax shall be levied on forest croplands except the specific annual taxes as provided, except that any building located on forest cropland shall be assessed as personal property, subject to all laws and regulations for the assessment and taxation of general property.

(2) Tax per acre; payment; penalty. The “acreage share" shall be computed at the rate of 10 cents per acre on all lands entered prior to 1972 or entered under s. 77.02 (4) (a). On all lands entered after December 31, 1971, the “acreage share" shall be computed every 10 years to the nearest cent by the department of revenue at the rate of 20 cents per acre multiplied by a ratio using the equalized value of the combined residential, commercial, manufacturing, agricultural, undeveloped, agricultural forest, and productive forest land classes under s. 70.32 (2) within the state in 1972 as the denominator, and using equalized value for these combined land classes in 1982 and every 10th year thereafter as the numerator. All owners shall pay to the taxation district treasurer the acreage share on each description on or before January 31. If the acreage share is not paid when due to the taxation district treasurer it shall be subject to interest and penalty as provided under ss. 74.11 (11), 74.12 (10) and 74.47. These lands shall be returned as delinquent and a tax certificate under subch. VII of ch. 74 shall be issued on them. After 2 years from the date of the issuance of a tax certificate, the county clerk shall promptly take a tax deed under ch. 75. On taking such deed the county clerk shall certify that fact and specify the descriptions to the department of natural resources.

(3) Apportionment of forest cropland income. Out of all moneys received by any town from any source on account of forest croplands in such town, the town treasurer shall on or before November 15 pay 20 percent to the county treasurer and retain the remainder.

History: 1971 c. 215; 1975 c. 39, 211; 1977 c. 418; 1981 c. 20, 167, 391; 1983 a. 275 s. 15 (8); 1983 a. 405, 538; 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (2); 1987 a. 378; 2003 a. 33; 2009 a. 28.