December 21, 2020
To: Certified Assessors, Public Assessor List, County Real Property Listers, Treasurers, Clerks, Registers of Deeds, Municipal Clerks and Treasurers
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue
posted the 2021 Wisconsin Property Assessment Manual (WPAM).
2021 WPAM Updates
Chapter 1 – Overview of the Property Tax
- Pages 6-7: Updated USPAP information
- Page 14: Updated state law reference
- Page 17: Added age requirement for assessor certification
- Page 35: Updated tax bill
Chapter 2 – Assessor Certification
- Page 1: Added age requirement for assessor certification
- Page 8: Added age requirement for temporary assessor certification
- Page 10: Education updated for consistency with Chapter Tax 12
Chapter 3 – Staffing Recommendations
Chapter 4 – The Assessment Cycle and Dates Governing Assessment
- Pages 9, 16: 2019 Wisconsin Act 114, Notice of Assessment law change
Chapter 5 – Public Relations in the Assessment Office
- Page 10: Added documenting consent or denial of requests to view property
Chapter 6 – Statutory Revaluation and Reassessment
Chapter 7 – Parcel and Information Systems
- Pages 29-31: Notice of Assessment section rewrite
- Page 31: Updated assessor contract information
Chapter 8 – Data Collection and Reporting
- Page 8: Added optional combined notice form information
- Page 23: Added form-Conversion Chart Report
- Page 24: Added form-Combined Notice of Assessment
Chapter 9 – Real Property Valuation
- Page 36: Moved leased fee information to Chapter 13, added general income approach information
Chapter 10 – Assessment/Sales Ratio Analysis
Chapter 11 – Computer-Assisted Assessment
Chapter 12 – Residential Property Valuation
Chapter 13 – Commercial Valuation
- Page 4: Removed outdated store references
- Page 12: Updated definition of dark stores
- Pages 15-16: Added leased fee information from Chapter 9
- Page 15: Added value definition source
- Page 16: Added direct capitalization information
- Page 46: Clarified hotel valuation
- Page 64: Clarified landfill valuation
Chapter 14 – Agricultural Valuation
- Page 4-6: Clarified charge for converting use information
- Appendix 14-B: Updated use-value calculation and Council Members
- Chapter Tax 18 Conservation Programs: Pages 3, 4, 8, 10, 12: Updates for 2021
Chapter 15 – Residual Land Valuation
Chapter 16 – Real Property Assessment – Special
Chapter 17 – Valuation of Fixed Assets
- Page 15: Added exemption clarification
Chapter 18 – Manufacturing and Utility Assessment
- Page 17: Removed clean food processing equipment bullet
Chapter 19 – Personal Property Assessment
- Page 22: Added exemption clarification
- Pages 35-38, 41-44: Updated recreational mobile home exemption for November 2020 Tax Appeals Commission decision
Chapter 20 – Property Tax Exemptions
- Page 3: Clarified exemption request process
Chapter 21 – Board of Review and Assessment Appeals
- Page 13: Updated 70.47(2) information for 2019 Wisconsin Act 140
- Page 15: Updated 70.365 information for 2019 Wisconsin Act 114
Chapter 22 – Legal Decisions and Attorney General Opinions
Appendix
Glossary
- Page 1: Updated apportionment definition for consistency with other DOR publications
- Page 35: Updated Fee simple definition for consistency with Appraisal Institute
- Page 38: Updated Leased Fee interest definition for consistency with Appraisal Institute
- Page 46: Added Tenant definition from Appraisal Institute
If you have questions, please contact us at bapdor@wisconsin.gov.