Wisconsin Voluntary Disclosure Program

1. What is voluntary disclosure?
   
   
2. Who can benefit from voluntary disclosure?
   
   
3. What are the taxpayer qualifications?
   
   
4. Will the department enter into an agreement to resolve a successor's liability under sec. Tax 11.91, Wis. Adm. Code?
   
   
5. How does a taxpayer apply for voluntary disclosure?
   
   
6. Why should a taxpayer come forward?
   
   
7. How many years will the department go back if the taxpayer has not filed the required Wisconsin tax returns?
   
   
8. What are the responsibilities of a taxpayer who requests voluntary disclosure treatment?
   
   
9. What are the department's rights?
   
   

1. What is voluntary disclosure?

   Voluntary disclosure is a program in which the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) encourages businesses and individuals who are not in compliance with Wisconsin tax laws to voluntarily come forward. Taxpayers may remain anonymous throughout the voluntary disclosure process.

2. Who can benefit from voluntary disclosure?

   Voluntary disclosure may help individuals, partnerships, and corporations that have not filed their required Wisconsin tax returns.

   Online Marketplace Sellers: Effective January 1, 2020, 2019 Wis. Act 10 clarifies that a marketplace provider is required to collect and remit sales or use tax for all sales of taxable products and services in Wisconsin that the marketplace provider facilitates on behalf of a marketplace seller, as provided in secs. 77.52(3m)(a) and 77.523(1), Wis. Stats.

   The Act also requires marketplace providers that facilitate sales of all services under sec. 77.52(2), Wis. Stats., including lodging services, to collect and remit sales or use tax on the entire amount charged to a purchaser, as provided in sec. 77.52(3m)(a), Wis. Stats.

   Note: For sales made prior to January 1, 2020, both the marketplace and third-party seller may be liable on taxable sales. Such sellers may participate in Wisconsin's Voluntary Disclosure Program.

3. What are the taxpayer qualifications?

   To qualify for voluntary disclosure treatment, a taxpayer must meet the following conditions:

   • No tax returns filed for the period in question.
   • No registration for the type of tax involved during the period in question.
   • No contact by the department within the last 6 years regarding a registration/filing requirement, an assessment/audit assignment, or request for the completion of nexus questionnaires.
     • Any partners of partnerships, shareholders in S corporations, trusts, or trust beneficiaries are considered to have been contacted if the pass-through entity has been contacted.
     • Any owners of disregarded entities are considered to have been contacted if the disregarded entity has been contacted.
       • See common questions for Disregarded Entities (Sales and Use and Withholding Taxes)

4. Will the department enter into an agreement to resolve a successor's liability under sec. Tax 11.91, Wis. Adm. Code?

   The department may enter into an agreement to resolve a successor's liability if collection of the amount due from the predecessor is unlikely.

5. How does a taxpayer apply for voluntary disclosure?

   A taxpayer or the taxpayer's representative may request voluntary disclosure treatment by submitting Form A-020 to the department for consideration. The request will include the following information:

   • Description of Wisconsin activities for the years involved.
   • List of property owned or leased in Wisconsin.
   • Taxpayer's taxable year-end.
   • Taxpayer's federal tax return type.
   • Date taxable activities began in Wisconsin.
   • Whether the tax involved has been collected or withheld and for what periods. For sales and use tax purposes, whether tax has been paid to a vendor in error for which a credit is being claimed.
   • Approximate liability (by tax type) for each of the years involved.
   • Prior contacts by the Department of Revenue.
   • Other types of tax returns currently being filed with the department.
   • Whether the taxpayer is registered with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (formerly the Secretary of State) to transact business in Wisconsin.
     
     

   Note: If unable to complete the electronic request for voluntary disclosure, submit a written request including the information above. If applying for voluntary disclosure for more than one tax type, each tax type must be specified. For example, a request for voluntary disclosure for income tax does not cover sales tax.

   Wisconsin is a member of the Multistate Tax Commission's National Nexus Program. If you wish to enter into agreements with more than one state, or want to learn more, visit the Multistate Tax Commission's website.

6. Why should a taxpayer come forward?

   The department may enter into an agreement with the taxpayer to:

   • Limit the statute of limitations.
   • Waive penalties.
   • Reduce interest from 18% to 12%, except for withholding taxes, motor vehicle floor taxes and intoxicating liquor floor taxes which remain at 18%.
   • Possibly reduce the number of returns that must be filed.
     
     

   The taxpayer will also eliminate the risk of being discovered under audit.

7. How many years will the department go back if the taxpayer has not filed the required Wisconsin tax returns?

   The department will require the prior four years returns, plus the current year, unless the taxpayer did not have a filing requirement in Wisconsin during this time period.

8. What are the responsibilities of a taxpayer who requests voluntary disclosure treatment?

   A taxpayer must file all returns agreed upon, pay all tax, late filing fees, and interest according to the agreement, file the current and any subsequent returns in a timely manner according to the agreement, and make books and records available to the department.

9. What are the department's rights?

   The department reserves the right to audit the facts given as part of the agreement, audit any returns filed, void the agreement if factual misrepresentations have been made by or on behalf of the taxpayer, and/or if the taxpayer fails to comply with any term(s) of the agreement.

Applicable Laws and Rules

This document provides statements or interpretations of the following laws and regulations enacted as of September 28, 2026: secs. 71.77, 71.82, 71.92, 73.03, 77.51, 77.52, 77.62, 77.65, 77.67 and 139.39, Wis. Stats., and secs. Tax 2.87(2)(e) and 11.98(2)(e), Wis. Adm. Code.

Laws enacted and in effect after this date, new administrative rules, and court decisions may change the interpretations in this document. Guidance issued prior to this date, that is contrary to the information in this document is superseded by this document, according to sec. 73.16(2)(a), Wis. Stats.

The department welcomes your input on our guidance. Submit comments on this guidance document.

Guidance Document Number: 100030

September 28, 2026