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Wisconsin Department of Revenue

Electronic Filing

Basic Information

  1. What is electronic filing?
  2. Why should I electronically file my tax return?
  3. What are the costs involved in electronic filing?
  4. How long does it take to electronically file my return?
  5. Is electronic filing secure?
  6. Will my chances of being audited increase if I electronically file?
  7. Do I have to electronically file my federal and state income tax returns at the same time?
  8. Can all income tax forms and schedules be filed electronically?
  9. Can sales and use tax returns be electronically filed?
  10. Is electronic filing completely paperless?
  11. When can I electronically file my 2009 income tax return?
  12. What payment alternatives are offered?
  1. What is electronic filing?

    Electronic filing is a method of filing tax returns where the taxpayer information is transmitted to the revenue agencies electronically over the Internet, a modem, or a phone line.

  2. Why should I electronically file my tax return?

    Electronic filing offers the taxpayer many benefits that cannot be achieved through paper filing, such as:

    • Faster refunds using direct deposit
    • Accuracy -- you or a tax preparer enters the information and confirms that it is correct
    • Acknowledgment of receipt
    • Speeds up processing
    • Reduces costs for the Department of Revenue which saves you tax dollars
    • Security
    • If you owe, you can choose direct debit withdrawal from your financial institution. That allows you to select the date you want the transaction to take effect (up to April 15) without having to worry about writing and mailing a paper check.

  3. What are the costs involved in electronic filing?

    The costs will vary according to your choice of electronic filing method. Many tax professionals prefer e-filing and encourage their clients to use it by not charging an additional fee. Other tax professionals incorporate the e-filing fee into their cost of doing business. Off-the-shelf software can vary in price from approximately $20 to $50. Online filing will also vary in price from approximately $10 to $40. You may be eligible for free online filing using Wisconsin e-file.

  4. How long does it take to electronically file my return?

    Simple returns can be prepared and transmitted in approximately 20 minutes. More complicated returns can take up to 2 hours or more.

  5. Is electronic filing secure?

    Yes. No one sees your tax information except you, your tax professional (if applicable), the IRS, and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. There are no worries about delivery or paper shuffling or inappropriate people seeing your personal or financial information. Internet companies that provide web-based tax preparation use the industry standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol to encrypt your personal data.

  6. Will my chances of being audited increase if I electronically file?

    No. However, you will be notified within 24-72 hours if there is a mistake on your electronic return. The IRS reviews e-filed returns and rejects those with errors related to social security number, name, or address mismatch. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue reviews e-filed returns and rejects those with certain errors.

  7. Do I have to electronically file my federal and state income tax returns at the same time?

    No. Wisconsin is a "piggyback" state. This means that Wisconsin's electronic filing program works in conjunction with the federal electronic filing program. If you file online or through a tax preparer, you can file both your federal and state income tax returns together. If you e-file your federal return, you can still e-file your Wisconsin return at a later time, if your software supports state-only returns. The Wisconsin e-file application can be used to file your Wisconsin state individual income tax returns.

  8. Can all income tax forms and schedules be filed electronically?

    The following Wisconsin forms and schedules can be filed electronically:

    1. All federal individual income tax forms and schedules allowed by the IRS appears in their publication Handbook for Electronic Filers (IRS Publication 1345)
    2. Form 1, Wisconsin Income Tax Return
    3. Form 1A, Wisconsin Income Tax Return
    4. Schedule CR - Other Credits
    5. Form WI-Z, Wisconsin Income Tax Return
    6. Schedule DC, Development Zone Credit
    7. Schedule DI, Dairy Investment Credit
    8. Schedule DM, Dairy Manufacturing Investment Credit
    9. Schedule EB - Ethanol and Biodiesel Fuel Pump Credit
    10. Schedule EC, Enterprise Zone Job Credit
    11. Schedule ED, Economic Development Credit
    12. Schedule FC, Farmland Preservation Credit
    13. Schedule FP - Film Production Services Credit
    14. Schedule H or Schedule H-EZ, Wisconsin Homestead Credit Claim
      • Rent Certificate and Shared Living Expenses
      • Property Tax/Sale of Home Information
      • Homestead Credit Notes
    15. Schedule HR, Historic Rehabilitation Credit
    16. Schedule I, Adjustment to Convert 2008 Federal Adjusted Gross Income and Itemized Deductions to the Amounts Allowable Under the Internal Revenue Code
    17. Schedule IE, Internet Equipment Credit
    18. Schedule MI - Manufacturing Investment Credit
    19. Schedule MP - Meat Processing Facility Investment Credit
    20. Schedule MS, Manufacturer's Sales Tax Credit
    21. Schedule MT, Alternative Minimum Tax
    22. Schedule OS, Net Tax Paid to Another State Credit
    23. Schedule RS, Recycling Surcharge
    24. Schedule RT - Related Entity Expenses
    25. Schedule T - Transitional Adjustments
    26. Schedule TC, Technology Zone Credit
    27. Schedule U, Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Individuals and Fiduciaries
    28. Schedule VC, Venture Capital Credit
    29. Schedule WD, Capital Gains and Losses
    30. Schedule 2440W, Wisconsin Disability Income Exclusion
    31. Schedule EIC-A, Wisconsin Earned Income Credit Qualifying Children
    32. Form 1NPR, Wisconsin Income Tax for Nonresident and Part-Year Resident (limited to certain taxpayers)
    33. Form SPL-01, Model Form - Wisconsin Legislators (for making Internal Revenue Code Section 162(h) Election)
    34. Wisconsin Forms require an accompanying copy of the taxpayer's federal return. The software developer will fulfill this requirement by copying the federal data into the unformatted records of the state packet before transmitting returns to the IRS.

    Note: Software companies may not support all schedules above.

  9. Can sales and use tax returns be electronically filed?

    Yes. The Department of Revenue currently has three options available for electronic filing of your sales and use tax return.

    • My Tax Account is the department's free online business tax service that allows businesses access to their accounts to file and amend returns, make payments, view current account status and manage and update account information. It's simple, secure and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. See My Tax Account for more information.
    • File Transmission is a secure process for sales tax registrants and/or their representatives to transmit their sales/use tax return data to DOR via an electronic file over the Internet. See File Transmission for more information.
    • Sales Telefile allows businesses to file Wisconsin Sales and Use Tax Returns using the telephone. The TeleFile program does not require a personal computer. For more information see the Sales Telefile web site.

  10. Is electronic filing completely paperless?

    A Form WR-A and attachments are required for Wisconsin returns that include Homestead, Historic Rehabilitation, Development Zone, Technology Zone, Internet Equipment, Enterprise Zone Jobs, Dairy Cooperatives, Dairy Manufacturing Facility Investment, Farmland Preservation, Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax, Angel Investment, Early Stage Seed Investment, Economic Development, Film Production Services, Health Insurance Risk-Sharing Plan Assessments, Manufacturing Investment, Meat Processing Facility Investment, Minnesota Reciprocity, Model Form for Legislators who make the sec. 162(h) election and Tax Paid to Another State credit claims.

    Form W-RA with required attachments must be mailed to this Department, as instructed by the Form W-RA. Form W-RA is provided by your tax professional or is part of your software package or web-based filing program. It may be printed from your computer.

    In all other instances, the Electronic Return Originator (ERO) or taxpayer must retain all income statements, such as W-2, W-2G, and 1099-R forms, normally attached to a paper return, for four years. The Department of Revenue may request these documents from the ERO or taxpayer at a later date.

  11. When can I electronically file my 2009 income tax return?

    You can file any time between January 15, and October 15, 2010. However, if you file after April 15, 2010, you must file a federal extension with the IRS. Wisconsin e-file is available from January 16 through December 31, 2010.

  12. What payment alternatives are offered?

    • Pay by Credit Card Individual Income Taxpayers who filed a Wisconsin tax return with the Department of Revenue, Business Taxpayers who file returns and pay bills, and Taxpayers who have a delinquent tax notice payment key are all eligible to pay by Credit Card.

    • Pay by Direct Debit/Withdrawal -- For electronic filers only

      • Direct Debit is available only to individual income taxpayers filing electronically, through the Federal/State program or the Wisconsin e-file program.
      • It' s free and the taxpayer decides when the tax payment is withdrawn from the checking or savings account.
      • Funds must be available in the taxpayer's account on the date the taxpayer specifies to withdraw the taxes owed through Direct Debit.
      • A taxpayer may e-file early and, at the same time, authorize the withdrawal from a savings or checking account as late as April 15.
      • For returns filed after April 15th, the payment is effective on the filing date.
      • Returns will be rejected if the payment date is missing or invalid.

    • Pay by check

      If you have filed electronically, enclose your check with Form EPV (Electronic Payment Voucher) and mail to:

      Wisconsin Department of Revenue
      P.O. Box 930208
      Milwaukee , WI 53293-0208

      If you have filed a paper return, enclose your check with your return. If you do not enclose a check, a bill will be sent to you after the return has been processed. Note: This may take several weeks and may result in interest being due in addition to the amount owed.

    • My Tax Account

      You can use My Tax Account to pay any amount due for the following business tax types: sales and use tax, premier resort tax, local exposition center tax, rental vehicle fee and employer withholding tax.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
Electronic Filing Unit
P.O. Box 8949
Madison, WI 53708-8949
Income Phone: (608) 264-6886
Sales Phone: (608) 261-6261
Fax: (608) 264-6884
E-Mail Additional Questions

Last updated January 25, 2010