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Wisconsin Department of Revenue

Can I use Wisconsin e-file?

  1. Am I eligible to use Wisconsin e-file?
  2. What Wisconsin individual income tax returns does Wisconsin e-file support?
  3. What do I need before I begin to use Wisconsin e-file?
  4. Can I file my 2008 tax return jointly with my deceased spouse?
  1. Am I eligible to use Wisconsin e-file?
    Almost any full-year Wisconsin resident may be able to use Wisconsin e-file to file their 2008 Wisconsin income tax return. You can use Wisconsin e-file UNLESS you meet any one of the following:

    • You are filing:
      • Form I-804
      • Schedule 2440W
      • Schedule OS – Net Tax Paid to Another State Credit
      • Schedule CR – Other Credits
      • Schedule DC – Development Zone Credit
      • Schedule DI – Dairy Investment Credit
      • Schedule DM – Dairy and Livestock Farm Investment Credit
      • Schedule EB – Ethanol and Biodiesel Fuel Pump Credit
      • Schedule FC – Farmland Preservation Credit
      • Schedule FP – Film Production Services Credit
      • Schedule HR – Historic Rehabilitation Credit
      • Schedule IE – Internet Equipment Credit
      • Schedule MI – Manufacturing Investment Credit
      • Schedule MS – Manufacturer’s Sales Tax Credit
      • Schedule MT – Alternative Minimum Tax
      • Schedule RS – Recycling Surcharge
      • Schedule RT – Related Entity Expenses
      • Schedule T – Transitional Adjustments
      • Schedule TC – Technology Zone Credit
      • Schedule VC – Venture Capital Credits
    • You are filing Schedule H with:
      • More than:
        • 4 rent certificates
        • 4 separate rental amounts/months/days on the rent certificates lines 11a/11b
        • 6 tax bills
      • Tax bills for adjoining property where owner name and type are different than on the home tax bill
    • You have more than 9 of any one of these forms: W-2, W-2G, 1099R, 1099-MISC
    • You have a fiscal year ending other than December 31st
    • You have more than 19 exemptions
    • You do not have a social security number or taxpayer identification number.

  2. What Wisconsin individual income tax returns does Wisconsin e-file support?
    You may file any one of these Wisconsin individual income tax returns: Form WI-Z, 1A, or 1; additionally, you may file a Schedule H along with a Form 1A or 1.

  3. What do I need before I begin to use Wisconsin e-file?
    You will need the following information:

    • Have your completed federal income tax return (especially if you are filing a Form 1); and
    • All of your W-2, W-2G, and 1099 forms;
    • Your checking or savings account information and bank routing number if you choose to directly deposit your refund or to pay your tax by direct debit/withdrawal;
    • Your credit card information for payment of a balance due. Accepted credit cards include American Express, Discover, MasterCard and VISA; plus
    • We recommend that you have a printer ready to print a copy of your return for your records. If you do not print or save your return once you have filed, there will be a processing fee to obtain a copy at a later time.
    • You can choose to save your return in a portable document format (PDF) to your PC or other storage device (disk, CD, etc.). Simply select "File" and "Save As" while using Wisconsin e-file.

  4. Can I file my 2008 tax return jointly with my deceased spouse?
    Yes. You can file a joint return if your spouse died during 2008 and you did not remarry in 2008 or if your spouse died in 2009 before filing a 2008 return. You should fill in your spouse’s social security number and full legal name in the appropriate boxes on the return. If it is the husband who is deceased, fill in ‘06’ in the Special Conditions box on the form and fill in the husband’s date of death in the line next to the box. If it is the wife who is deceased, fill in ‘07’ in the Special Conditions box on the form and fill in the wife’s date of death in the line next to the box.

    If you are a surviving heir and are filing a return claiming a refund on behalf of a person who died, you must file a paper return and include a completed Form I-804, Claim for Decedent’s Wisconsin Income Tax Refund, if the refund is more than $100. If the refund is $100 or less, you must attach a note with the return listing your name, address, social security number and your relationship to the person who died and sign the note.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
Electronic Filing Unit
Mail Stop 5-77
P.O. Box 8949
Madison, WI 53708-8949
Phone: (608) 264-6886
Fax: (608) 264-7776
E-Mail Additional Questions

Last updated February 16, 2009