77.58 Returns and payments.

(1) The taxes imposed by this subchapter for each calendar quarter are due and payable on the last day of the month next succeeding the calendar quarter for which imposed except that:

(a) If the amount of tax for any calendar quarter exceeds $1,200, the department may require by written notice to the taxpayer that the taxes imposed on and after the date specified in the notice are due and payable on the last day of the month next succeeding the calendar month for which imposed.

(b) If the amount of tax for any calendar quarter exceeds $3,600, the department may require by written notice to the taxpayer that the taxes imposed on and after the date specified in the notice are due and payable on the 20th day of the month next succeeding the calendar month for which imposed. The payment is timely if it fulfills the requirements under s. 77.61 (14).

(1m) Persons who owe amounts under this subchapter shall pay them by mailing or delivering them to the department or, if the department prescribes another method of submitting or another destination, those persons shall pay those amounts in that other method or to that other destination.

(2) A return shall be filed by the last day of the month next succeeding each calendar quarter for taxes imposed for the preceding calendar quarter except that:

(a) If payments are required to be made monthly and are due and payable on the last day of the month next succeeding the calendar month for which imposed under sub. (1) (a), a return shall be filed by the last day of the month next succeeding each calendar month for taxes imposed for the preceding calendar month.

(b) If payments are required to be made monthly and are due and payable on the 20th day of the month next succeeding the calendar month for which imposed under sub. (1) (b), a return shall be filed by the 20th day of the month next succeeding each calendar month for taxes imposed for the preceding calendar month.

(c) Returns and payments under this section are timely if they meet the requirements under s. 77.61 (14).

(d) Except for a seller who uses a certified service provider, a seller who registers through the streamlined sales tax governing board's central registration system and indicates at the time of registration that it anticipates making no sales into this state is not required to file a return in this state until such time as it makes a taxable sale that is sourced to this state under s. 77.522. Once a seller to which this provision applies makes a taxable sale that is sourced to this state under s. 77.522, that seller is required to file a return that is due by the last day of the month following the last day of the calendar quarter in which the sale occurred and shall continue to file returns by the last day of the month following the last day of each calendar quarter thereafter, unless the seller is notified in writing by the department of a different filing frequency.

(3)

(a) Except as provided in sub. (2) (d), for purposes of the sales tax a return shall be filed by every seller. Except as provided in sub. (2) (d), for purposes of the use tax a return shall be filed by every retailer engaged in business in this state and by every person purchasing tangible personal property, or items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), or services, the storage, use or other consumption of which is subject to the use tax, who has not paid the use tax due to a retailer required to collect the tax. If a qualified subchapter S subsidiary is not regarded as a separate entity under ch. 71, the owner of that subsidiary shall elect to either include the information for that subsidiary on the owner's return or file a separate electronic return for that entity. If a single-owner entity is disregarded as a separate entity under ch. 71, the owner shall elect to either include the information from the entity on the owner's return or file a separate electronic return for that entity. If an owner that owns more than one entity that is disregarded as a separate entity under ch. 71 elects to file a separate return for one of its disregarded entities, the owner shall file separate returns for all of its disregarded entities. Returns filed under this paragraph shall be signed by the person required to file the return or by a duly authorized agent but need not be verified by oath.

(b) The return shall show the amount of the taxes for the period covered by the return and such other information as the department deems necessary for the proper administration of this subchapter.

(4) The person required to file the return shall deliver the return together with a remittance of the amount of the tax due to the office of the department or such other place as the department designates in the manner and form prescribed by the department.

(5) The department, if it deems it necessary to ensure payment to or facilitate the collection by the state of the amount of taxes, may require returns and payments of the amount of taxes for other than quarterly periods. The department may, if satisfied that the revenues will be adequately safeguarded, permit returns and payments of the amount of taxes for other than quarterly periods. Such returns or payments shall be due or payable by the last day of the month next succeeding the end of the reporting or paying period, except that the department may require by written notice to the taxpayer that the returns or payments shall be due or payable by the 20th day of the month next succeeding the end of the reporting or paying period. Any person who discontinues business or who does not hold a valid permit under s. 77.52 (9) prior to the end of a reporting period shall, within 30 days after such discontinuance or after the date on which the person ceases to hold a valid permit, file a return and pay the taxes due from the beginning of such reporting period. If a business is discontinued and a final report thereon has been made covering all payments due or refunds claimed as provided in this section, the account shall be closed, the seller's permit terminated and, notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, no further reports may be required.

(6) For the purposes of the sales tax, the sales price from rentals, licenses, or leases of tangible personal property or items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d) shall be reported and the tax paid in accordance with such rules as the department prescribes.

(6m)

(a) The department may, in cases where it is satisfied that an undue hardship would otherwise result, permit the reporting of a sales price or purchase price on some basis other than the accrual basis.

(b) The entire sales price of credit transactions shall be reported in the period in which the sale is made without reduction in the amount of tax payable by the retailer by reason of the retailer's transfer at a discount of any open account, note, conditional sales contract, lease contract, or other evidence of indebtedness.

(7) The department for good cause may extend for not to exceed one month the time for making any return or paying any amount required to be paid by this subchapter. The extension may be granted at any time provided a request therefor is filed with the department within or prior to the period for which the extension is requested.

(8) In any case in which a retailer who has accepted a resale or exemption certificate is subsequently required to pay a sales or use tax measured by the sale, the retailer may recover the amount of the tax as a debt due from the person who furnished such certificate.

(9a) In addition to filing a return as provided in this section, a person described under s. 77.524 (3), (4), or (5) shall provide to the department any information that the department considers necessary for the administration of this subchapter, in the manner prescribed by the department, except that the department may not require that the person provide such information to the department more than once every 180 days.

History: 1971 c. 316; 1975 c. 39, 199; 1977 c. 29, 142; 1979 c. 1, 174, 221, 355; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 405; 1991 a. 316; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27; 2009 a. 2, 28, 330; 2013 a. 20.