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Wisconsin Department of Revenue

 Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)

  1. What is Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)?
  2. What type of taxes may I pay using EFT?
  3. What information do I have to provide in order to use EFT on the internet?
  4. When can I start making EFT payments?
  5. What is the difference between the ACH debit and ACH credit option?
  6. May I register for the ACH debit option even though I plan to use the ACH credit option and vice versa?
  7. Will the Wisconsin Department of Revenue ever initiate a payment without my approval?
  8. What if I don’t want to give out my banking information?
  9. Is my payment and bank information secure?
  10. How can I ensure timely payment?
  11. Will EFT work if I use multiple accounts at different financial institutions?
  12. What if I change financial institutions?
  13. What if I use a payroll service provider?
  14. Do I need to send in the payment vouchers or tax returns if I use EFT?
  15. What if I make an error in reporting a payment?
  16. What if the tax due date falls on a weekend or legal holiday?
  17. What should I do when I have no tax liability for a tax reporting period?
  18. Can I still make payments by telephone?
  19. What should I do if I forget my password?
  1. What is Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)?

    EFT is a payment method that replaces sending a paper check. You simply transfer funds from your financial institution to ours for credit to your Wisconsin taxes. You no longer have to worry about whether your payment made it through the mail on time. Contact the Department for a registration form and instructions at (608) 264-9918 or at eft@revenue.wi.gov. You may then register and make payments on the internet system or via a telephone system.

  2. What type of taxes may I pay using EFT?

    You may use EFT to pay (1) Business Tax Registration, (2) Individual Income Tax, (3) Corporation Tax, (4) Excise Tax (5) Withholding Tax, (6) Sales and Use Tax, and (7) Delinquent Tax. Several other tax types can be made through EFT as well. For a complete list you can go to http://www.revenue.wi.gov/eserv/eft2.html.

  3. What information do I have to provide in order to use EFT on the internet?

    Registration for EFT is a fairly simple one-time process. The information you will need to successfully register for the ACH Debit option is your bank routing number, bank account number, type of bank account; contact name, contact phone number, and contact e-mail address. For the ACH Credit option, bank information need not be provided. You may register for both payment options and use the one most convenient for you at any time. You may change or add payment options at any time by logging on to www.witaxeft.com and selecting the menu option to make this change or by calling the toll free registration telephone number at 1-888-EFT-WISC(1-888-338-9472.) For both options, an EFT registration form (Form A-103) needs to be signed and sent back to the Department of Revenue.

  4. When can I start making EFT payments?

    Once you have completed registration, you can immediately make payments.

  5. What is the difference between the ACH debit and ACH credit option?

    ACH Debit You authorize the Department's bank to initiate the funds transfer when you log on to the internet system and select the menu option to make a payment, or when you call the toll free number to make each payment. There is no charge to you for the ACH Debit transactions.

    ACH Credit You authorize your financial institution to initiate the funds transfer. You must contact your financial institution for its specific instructions. Any costs your financial institution charges for this service are your responsibility. ACH Credit information is available at: http://www.revenue.wi.gov/eserv/eft2.html.

  6. May I register for the ACH debit option even though I plan to use the ACH credit option and vice versa?

    Yes, you may register for both payment options and use the one most convenient for you at any time. You may change or add payment options at any time, by logging on to the internet system and selecting the menu option to make this change or by calling the toll free registration telephone number at 1-888-EFT-WISC (1-888-338-9472), or online at: www.witaxeft.com.

  7. Will the Wisconsin Department of Revenue ever initiate a payment without my approval?

    No, payments only occur when you make a payment entry on our secure internet site, or telephone system. A payment can only be for the amount and day that you instruct the payment to be made.

  8. What if I don’t want to give out my banking information?

    Use the Credit method. Every time you send a paper check, many people have access to your banking information, as well as personal information like your address, telephone number and even your signature. EFT transactions occur between financial institutions electronically so your banking and personal information is actually more secure when you use EFT.

  9. Is my payment and bank information secure?

    Yes, our site uses SSL 128-bit data encryption. Bank information is on the Department's system for Debit payers; however, access to your bank information is limited only to your employees who have access to your EFT ID and Password. Your bank and payment information is more secure than a paper check, which passes through many hands.

  10. How can I ensure timely payment?

    You may "warehouse" (system for storing your payment when you designate a date into the future for your payment to come out of your account) your payment up to 365 days into the future. This system allows you to make your payment in advance, but not have the funds taken out of your account until the actual tax due date. You no longer have to wait until the last minute to file your tax report. The latest you can initiate an EFT payment and still have it be treated as timely is by 4:00 PM CST on the due date.

  11. Will EFT work if I use multiple accounts at different financial institutions?

    You are able to use a different banking account for each tax type that you register to pay by EFT. To pay the same tax type from more than one account, you must contact the Department of Revenue and ask for an additional EFT Identifier before you register.

  12. What if I change financial institutions?

    You can easily update your bank information on the Department's internet system via the registration option, or through the telephone system. You can immediately make a payment after making your update.

  13. What if I use a payroll service provider?

    For the Debit option, your Payroll Service Provider, on your behalf, must register with the Department of Revenue for each tax type that they will be paying for you.

  14. Do I need to send in the payment vouchers or tax returns if I use EFT?

    Depending on the tax type, you may need to file a corresponding tax return.

    Withholding Tax Do not send the WT-6 withholding payment coupon. The information you give when you pay online or by telephone, replaces your coupon and check. You must still file the paper Annual Reconciliation of Tax Withheld (Form WT-7) either electronically or on paper by January 31 of each year. You may pay any tax due on the WT-7 by EFT.

    Estimated Taxes Do not send the 1-ES (for individual) or 4-ES (for corporation), estimated tax coupons. The information you give when you pay online or by telephone, replaces your coupon and check for these taxes.

    Other Tax Types You must continue to send tax returns for other tax types and also for unemployment insurance reports.

  15. What if I make an error in reporting a payment?

    ACH Debit You will be given the opportunity during the payment process to confirm the numbers you have entered and to correct them if you make an error. If you discover an error after receiving your confirmation number, you have until 4:00 PM CT the business day before the effective date(the day you designated as the date payment is to come out of your account) to cancel a warehoused payment. (A payment is called "warehoused" if you have designated a date into the future when the payment is to come out of your account.) To cancel a payment you will need your payment confirmation number, and to go online or call the toll free payment number, select the option to cancel the payment, and then follow the instructions. Be sure to consider issues relating to timeliness of your payment and consequences of a late payment. If you realize the error after 4:00 PM CT, you must contact your financial institution and request that the payment be returned using the specific reversal code of 31.

    ACH Credit You must contact your financial institution for instructions on how to correct an error. Be sure to consider issues relating to timeliness of your payment and consequences of a late payment.

  16. What if the tax due date falls on a weekend or legal holiday?

    You must initiate your payment by 4:00 PM CST on the due date. However, when the regular due date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the payment is due the next business day immediately following the weekend or holiday.

    ACH Debit You must initiate your payment by no later than 4:00 PM CST on the revised due date. For example, if the regular tax due date falls on Monday, which is also Memorial Day, you must initiate your payment by 4:00 PM CST on the following Tuesday.

    ACH Credit You need to contact your financial institution to determine how to initiate a timely payment when the tax due date falls on a weekend or holiday.

  17. What should I do when I have no tax liability for a tax reporting period?
    • Withholding Tax

      ACH Debit Go online or call the toll free payment number and report a zero liability and a zero dollar payment transaction.

      ACH Credit Instruct your financial institution to originate a zero dollar transaction with an addenda record.

    • Estimated Tax

      Do not report a zero dollar payment and do not send a paper payment voucher.

    • Other Tax Types

      Send your tax return showing a zero liability to the correct address. Do not go online or call to report a zero dollar payment.

  18. Can I still make payments by telephone?

    Yes, once you have an EFT ID and password, you may register and make payments by phone or online.

  19. What should I do if I forget my password or if I cannot log into the website or if I cannot connect to the telephone system?

    Call the Customer Support Call Center at 1-866-474-8274 to get your password reset.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
Customer Service Bureau
Mailstop 3-80
P.O. Box 8902
Madison, WI 53708-8902
Phone: (608) 264-9918
Fax: (608) 264-6884
E-Mail Additional Questions

Last updated January 3, 2008