77.25 Exemptions from fee. The fees imposed by this subchapter do not apply to a conveyance:

(1) Prior to October 1, 1969.

(2) From the United States or from this state or from any instrumentality, agency or subdivision of either.

(2g) By gift, to the United States or to this state or to any instrumentality, agency or subdivision of either.

(2r) Under s. 236.29 (1) or (2) or 236.34 (1m) (e) or for the purpose of a road, street, or highway, to the United States or to this state or to any instrumentality, agency, or subdivision of either.

(3) Which, executed for nominal, inadequate or no consideration, confirms, corrects or reforms a conveyance previously recorded.

(4) On sale for delinquent taxes or assessments.

(5) On partition.

(6) Pursuant to mergers of entities.

(6d) Pursuant to partnerships filing or cancelling a statement of qualification under s. 178.0901 or a corresponding statement under the law of another jurisdiction.

(6m) Pursuant to the conversion of a business entity to another form of business entity under s. 178.1141, 179.76, 180.1161, 181.1161, or 183.1207, if, after the conversion, the ownership interests in the new entity are identical with the ownership interests in the original entity immediately preceding the conversion.

(6q) Pursuant to an interest exchange under s. 178.1131.

(6t) Pursuant to a domestication under s. 178.1151.

(7) By a subsidiary corporation to its parent corporation for no consideration, nominal consideration or in sole consideration of cancellation, surrender or transfer of capital stock between parent and subsidiary corporation.

(8) Between parent and child, stepparent and stepchild, parent and son-in-law or parent and daughter-in-law for nominal or no consideration.

(8m) Between husband and wife.

(8n) Between an individual and his or her domestic partner under ch. 770.

(9) Between agent and principal or from a trustee to a beneficiary without actual consideration.

(10) Solely in order to provide or release security for a debt or obligation, if the debt or obligation was not incurred as the result of a conveyance.

(10m) Solely to designate a TOD beneficiary under s. 705.15.

(11) By will, descent or survivorship.

(11m) By nonprobate transfer on death under s. 705.15.

(12) Pursuant to or in lieu of condemnation.

(13) Of real estate having a value of $1,000 or less.

(14) Under a foreclosure or a deed in lieu of a foreclosure to a person holding a mortgage or to a seller under a land contract.

(15) Between a corporation and its shareholders if all of the stock is owned by persons who are related to each other as spouses, as lineal ascendants, lineal descendants or siblings, whether by blood or by adoption, or as spouses of siblings, if the transfer is for no consideration except the assumption of debt or stock of the corporation and if the corporation owned the property for at least 3 years.

(15m) Between a partnership and one or more of its partners if all of the partners are related to each other as spouses, as lineal ascendants, lineal descendants or siblings, whether by blood or by adoption, or as spouses of siblings and if the transfer is for no consideration other than the assumption of debt or an interest in the partnership.

(15s) Between a limited liability company and one or more of its members if all of the members are related to each other as spouses, as lineal ascendants, lineal descendants or siblings, whether by blood or by adoption, or as spouses of siblings and if the transfer is for no consideration other than the assumption of debt or an interest in the limited liability company.

(16) To a trust if a transfer from the grantor to the beneficiary of the trust would be exempt under this section.

(17) Of a deed executed in fulfillment of a land contract if the proper fee was paid when the land contract or an instrument evidencing the land contract was recorded.

(18) To a local exposition district under subch. II of ch. 229.

(20) Made under s. 184.15.

(21) Of transmission facilities or land rights to the transmission company, as defined in s. 196.485 (1) (ge), under s. 196.485 (5) (b) or (c) or (6) (a) 1. in exchange for securities, as defined in s. 196.485 (1) (fe).

History: 1971 c. 150; 1985 a. 39; 1987 a. 27; 1991 a. 39, 202, 269; 1993 a. 112, 263, 307; 1995 a. 458; 1997 a. 140; 1999 a. 9, 162; 2001 a. 44; 2005 a. 206; 2009 a. 28; 2013 a. 66, 272; 2015 a. 295; 2019 a. 9.

Corporate stock constitutes “actual consideration" under sub. (9). Gottfried, Inc. v. DOR, 145 Wis. 2d 715, 429 N.W.2d 508 (Ct. App. 1988).

A principal/agent relationship for purposes of sub. (9) must be examined as of the date of the conveyance. Washington National Development Co. v. DOR, 194 Wis. 2d 567, 535 N.W.2d 71 (Ct. App. 1995).

Exemptions are strictly construed against granting the exemption. While subs. (15m) and (15s) exempt transfers between family members and family business entities, they do not exempt transfers from one family business to another even though the same transaction, had it been completed in 2 separate transfers, would have been exempt. Wolter v. DOR, 231 Wis. 2d 651, 605 N.W.2d 283 (Ct. App. 1999), 99-0671.

Sub. (15s) applies only if the members of the limited liability company are human. The requirement that all of the members of the LLC be related to each other was reasonably interpreted to reject the argument that if there is only one member, that member need not be human because neither humans nor entities may be related to themselves. F.M. Management Co. v. DOR, 2004 WI App 19, 269 Wis. 2d 526, 674 N.W.2d 922, 03-1536.

There is no family member exemption under sub. (15m) when the transfer is between partnerships rather than from a partnership to exempted family members. For the exemption to apply, the partner or partners who are involved in the conveyance must be human beings, not just legal entities. Turner v. DOR, 2004 WI App 82, 271 Wis. 2d 760, 679 N.W.2d 880, 03-1517.