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REAL PROPERTY:
This term refers to the
land and the improvements on that land.
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PERSONAL PROPERTY:
This term refers to items
such as machinery, furniture, and fixtures used to operate
a business. It also refers to buildings on leased land
when the lessee owns the buildings.
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PARCEL NUMBER, I.D. NUMBER,
PIN, OR TAX KEY NUMBER:
Refers to the unique number that is assigned to each
parcel of land in the county.
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TAX BILL:
The original bill for
property taxes that is sent to the property owners’
mailing address in December of each year.
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TAX ROLL:
A listing of information
that appears on tax bills for every property in the
county. (Also may be used to refer to one page of the
entire roll.)
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BASE TAXES:
The amount of property
taxes billed on the original property tax bill.
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LOTTERY AND GAMING CREDIT:
A credit that is given on a
property tax bill. This credit is only allowed on the
parcel that contains the owner’s primary residence as of
January 1st of the current tax year.
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TAX STATEMENT:
This is a statement that
shows the status of unpaid taxes on a specific parcel. The
statement shows separate lines by year for base taxes,
base specials, and the interest/penalty charges.
Interest/penalty charges are calculated monthly and added
to the statement on the first day of every month.
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SPECIALS OR SPECIAL
ASSESSMENTS: These are
charges added to the tax bill for services provided by the
municipality. They may be in a different amount for each
parcel. Some examples are: unpaid sewer or water bills,
recycling charges, sidewalks, razing charges, weed or
grass cutting charges, etc.
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CURRENT TAXES:
Current year taxes. (After
January 1st and until mid December this is the
prior calendar year.)
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POSTPONED TAXES:
The balance due of current
year taxes when prior installment(s) is/are paid on or
before the due date.
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DELINQUENT TAXES:
Property taxes that have
not been paid on or before the due date. Once taxes become
delinquent, interest and penalty accrue on the unpaid
balance until paid in full.
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TIMELY PAYMENT:
A tax payment that has been
paid on or before the due date, and therefore has not
accrued any interest and penalty.
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INTEREST:
Extra charge that is added
to a delinquent property tax bill. The amount is 1% per
month on the unpaid base tax and specials. It is added to
the statement on the first of each month. This accrues as
simple interest not compounded interest.
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PENALTY:
Extra charge that is added
to a delinquent property tax bill. The amount is 1/2% per
month on the unpaid base tax and specials. It is added to
the statement on the first of each month. This accrues as
simple interest not compounded interest.
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ASSESSMENT OR ASSESSED VALUE:
The value that is placed on
a property by the local Assessor. The assessed value is
used to determine the property tax amount. Our Public
Access Program has assessment history as far back as 2003.
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IN REM PROCESS:
The legal process that is
used by the county to take ownership of tax delinquent
properties.
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IN REM FEE:
Fees that are incurred at
cost, during the In Rem process. The owner must pay all
taxes, specials, interest, penalties, and In Rem fees to
redeem a property once the In Rem process has begun.
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TAX CERTIFICATE:
A tax certificate is issued
annually on September 1st for all properties
that have unpaid current year taxes. It represents a lien
on the property on behalf of the county.
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EXEMPT:
This is a term that refers
to parcels that are not required to pay property taxes.
They are still responsible to pay any and all specials and
special assessments on the property.
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DOR:
The Wisconsin Department of
Revenue
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DOA:
The Wisconsin Department of
Administration
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DNR:
The Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources
