What Is The Minimum Amount Of Money To File Taxes In Wisconsin 2019

Taxes in Wisconsin

Wisconsin State Tax Quick Facts

Income tax: 3.54% - 7.65%
Sales tax: 5% - 5.5%
Property tax: 1.68% average effective rate
Gas tax: 30.90 cents per gallon of regular gasoline and diesel

Wisconsin taxpayers have some of the highest income and property taxes in the country. Menominee County actually has the fifth-highest average effective property tax rate in the U.S. at 3.19%. On the other hand, the average sales tax in the state (when you combine all state and local rates) is one of the lowest in the nation at 5.43%.

A financial advisor in Wisconsin can help you understand how taxes fit into your overall financial goals. Financial advisors can also help with investing and financial plans, including retirement, homeownership, insurance and more, to make sure you are preparing for the future.

Wisconsin Income Taxes

There is a statewide income tax in Wisconsin. This tax is applied based on income brackets, with rates increasing for higher levels of income. The table below shows Wisconsin's tax rates as of tax year 2020 (filed in 2021) and their respective brackets.

These rates are based on Wisconsin taxable income, which includes adjustments for deductions and exclusions. The standard deduction in Wisconsin depends on a taxpayer's filing status and income level. Above a certain level, deductions decline steadily, until, for incomes above a certain level, there is no deduction.

If you claimed (or could have claimed) federal itemized deductions totaling more than your Wisconsin standard deduction, you may be eligible for the itemized deduction credit. This is equal to 5% of the difference between eligible federal itemized deductions and your Wisconsin standard deduction. Eligible federal deductions are interest paid, gifts to charity, medical and dental expenses and casualty losses (if the loss is related to a federally-declared disaster).

Wisconsin Sales Tax

The statewide sales tax in Wisconsin is 5%. Local taxes of 0.5% are collected in 68 Wisconsin counties. The table below shows the sales taxes in all 72 Wisconsin counties.

Sales tax in Wisconsin applies to most goods, including clothing, computers and electronic downloads. It also applies to certain services, including admissions tickets (e.g. to movies or sporting events), cable television, internet access, landscaping, laundry services and hotel room rentals.

However, several types of products are exempt from sales tax. Food and food ingredients are not taxable, except for prepared food, candy and soft drinks. Prescription drugs are exempt, as are newspapers, caskets and water delivered through mains. Electricity and natural gas are not taxable during the winter, defined as November through April.

Wisconsin Property Tax

Wisconsin homeowners pay some of the highest property taxes in the country. The median amount of property taxes paid is around $3,320 annually. The average effective property tax rate in Wisconsin is 1.68%, which is the eighth-highest in the U.S. Around 10 of the state's 72 counties pay an effective property tax rate over 2%, with homeowners in Menominee County paying a staggering 3.19%.

If you are interested in purchasing a home in the Badger State or want to refinance an existing loan, take a look at our Wisconsin mortgage guide for details on rates and the various types of mortgages you'll be deciding between.

Wisconsin Cigarette Tax

Cigarettes are taxed at $2.52 per pack in Wisconsin. This is the 14th-highest cigarette tax in the country.

Wisconsin Mobile Home Tax

Also called "manufactured homes," mobile homes used as a dwelling receive a 35% sales tax exemption, which means the remaining 65% is taxed at the full sales tax rate.

Wisconsin Gas Tax

Wisconsin is one of several states that taxes regular gasoline and diesel fuel at the same rate: 30.90 cents per gallon. These are the 13th- and 16th-highest gas and diesel tax rates in the country, respectively.

Wisconsin is called America's Dairyland, and with good reason. The state produces over 25% of all U.S. cheese. This is more than any country outside the U.S. besides Germany and France.
Approximately one third of the population of Wisconsin lives in the greater Milwaukee area.
Green Bay, Wisconsin is the smallest city by population to have its own NFL team.