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What is a temporary event?
A temporary event is an occasion, activity, or function at which merchandise is sold or traded or taxable services are provided.
An event can be on one or consecutive days. It may reoccur on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. Each reoccurrence is a separate event. For example, a festival occurring Thursday through Sunday is one event. A farm market occurring each Saturday from May until October is a separate event for each Saturday.
The department allows operators with multiple events in a calendar month to combine and report the events on one
Form S-240 Wisconsin Temporary Event Report for the month. The event name, location, and organizer must be the same for all events. A vendor only needs to be listed once for the month. An alternate version (Form S-240-Alt) offers space to add information for up to 100 vendors in a single file. No other alternate forms are approved for use.
Some examples of temporary events include:
- swap meets
- flea markets
- craft fairs
- farm markets
- coin shows
- gun shows
- trade shows
- conventions
- consumer shows
- community or association picnics
- fairs
- markets
- festivals
- carnivals
- fund raisers concerts
- portable roadside stands
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Who is an event operator?
The organizer or planner of an event is known as the event operator.
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What must an event operator report?
Temporary event operators are required to report certain information about each event's vendors to the Department of Revenue within ten days of the close of the event. See the
Event Operator page for more information.
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What are event seller requirements?
Most sellers at a temporary event are required to hold a Wisconsin seller's permit. See the
Event Vendor page for more information.
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Where can I find more information on temporary events?
For more information on temporary events, see the following:
This document provides statements or interpretations of the following laws and regulations enacted as of October 10, 2022: chs. 77 and 73,
Wis. Stats., and ch. Tax 11,
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.
Contact Us
Wisconsin Department of Revenue
Temporary Events Program MS 3-80
PO Box 8902
Madison, WI 53708-8902
Phone: (608) 264-4582
Email: DORTempEvents@wisconsin.gov