January 5, 2026
To: County Register of Deeds, County Treasurers, and County Real Property Listers
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR), State and Local Finance Division would like to remind you of the upcoming enhancements to the real estate transfer return (RETR). DOR is moving RETR into My Tax Account (MTA)
next Monday, January 12, 2026.
How to Prepare
Current RETR system
-
Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. – system deactivated and no longer available to submit or record a RETR
- Conversion of returns to MTA – returns submitted:
-
On or after November 10, 2025, but not yet recorded – will be converted to MTA and will be available to record in MTA
-
Prior to November 10, 2025, and not recorded by January 8, 2026 – will not be converted and will not be available to record in MTA
RETR Web Services
- Third party vendors that:
- Completed testing web services were provided log on credentials and passwords enabling them to retrieve RETR, submit recording, and submit official parcel numbers
- Do not complete testing web services by January 12 will not be given access to production
- If your county's vendor does not complete testing:
- You must work directly in MTA – see "If you are not an existing MTA user" below
- Make sure to contact your vendor – until their testing is completed, you won't be able to use their software
MTA System
-
Friday, January 9, 2026
- MTA RETR logon ID – county officials who perform register of deeds (ROD) and real property lister (RPL) functions on DOR's Legacy ROD and RPL system (GOWA) will be issued logon ID credentials to access the new MTA RETR system
-
If you are not an existing MTA user
- DOR will send county officials (RODs, RPLs) individual login credentials by secure email if they do not already have them. These login credentials will be effective on January 12, 2026.
- When accessing the new MTA RETR system for the first time on or after January 12, 2026, you will be prompted to set up a password
-
If you already have MTA login credentials (treasurer) – they will continue to work on January 12, 2026
-
January 12, 2026 – new system go-live date
-
Within MTA, register of deeds, treasurers and real property listers will be able to:
- Record a return
- Re-record a return to correct document number or recording date
- View recorded and unrecorded returns by receipt number, document number, conveyance date, and recorded date
- File the P-520 Transmittal Report
- First P-520 filed through MTA will be in February
- This will include all recordings for January 2026
- Pay state share of transfer fee collections
- Verify official parcel numbers on returns
Communication is important
Make sure to keep in touch with your third-party provider on this upcoming change.
Review Resources
- DOR will provide training and resources on our website – resource links will be on the
RETR page on January 12
- Stay informed – sign up for RETR email updates on our
Subscribe to DOR E-News page
Questions?
Contact us at retr@wisconsin.gov.