February 22, 2017

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue posted the preliminary 2016 sales reports to our website. The reports include assessment information received in the Provide Assessment Data (PAD) system as of February 10, 2017. 

Report Information

Accessing the Reports – the reports are now located on the Equalized Value Reports web page

Reviewing the Reports
It is very important to review these reports for accuracy. Sales with incorrect assessment information, and improper validation and verification can dramatically skew the assessment level for a class which could have a negative impact on Equalized Value.

• Sales are correctly identified as useable for arm's-length and ratio analysis
• Assessment and classification are correct
• Reported assessment includes all parcels involved in the sale
• Sale is correctly identified as:
• Vacant or improved
• Useable or reject

Note: If you find errors, notify the Equalization Bureau District Office in your area by March 10, 2017, and provide the corrected information.

2016 Preliminary Sales Reports

1. Assessment/Sales Ratio Analysis – this report is an analysis of the 2016 sales the assessor identified as arm's-length and useable for ratio purposes
• If a municipality is located within two or more counties, there is a ratio report for each piece of the municipality and a report combining all pieces
• The split district report is located within the applicable county
• All combined reports for split district municipalities are located in a separate link below the list of counties
• You may use assessment/sales statistics from these reports to estimate the current level of assessment for the 2017 assessment year


2. Useable Sales for DOR Ratio Projection – this report is an analysis of the 2016 sales identified as arm's-length and useable for ratio purposes by the assessor
• An assessor may use the report's assessment/sales statistics to assist in estimating the January 1, 2017 level of assessment


3. Useable Arm's-length and Rejected for DOR Ratio Projection – this report includes 2016 sales identified as arms-length transactions, and rejected for DOR ratio projection


4. Rejected Arm's-length and Rejected for DOR Ratio Projection – this report includes 2016 sales identified as non-arms-length transactions

Prior Year Sales Reports

• To access the reports, sign into the eRETR System using your WAMS ID
• Links to the reports are located on the eRETR/PAD home page under "Assessor Sales Reports"

PAD Data via CAMA system

If you submitted PAD data in a file upload using your CAMA system, be particularly aware of extremely low or high ratios, which may indicate you submitted incorrect sales data.

Important Deadlines

1. March 10, 2017 Deadline – Post FINAL 2016 Assessment Information into PAD
• Sales conveyed in 2016 (but recorded in 2017) are still loaded into the PAD system as 2016 sales and need assessment information posted by March 10
• Review the PAD system for sales identified as "Incomplete"
• Sales are often identified as incomplete because only part of the required information was entered and saved
• Typically the missing data is the physical attribute information required on improved sales


2. May 1, 2017 Deadline – Stratified Assessment Data
• You may submit stratified assessment data or similar information to your district office by May 1 for consideration in establishing the 2017 real estate market trends (economic adjustments)
• Information on stratifying assessments into similar property groupings and a sample DOR spreadsheet are available on our website


3. June 12, 2017 Deadline – 2017 Assessor Reports
• Exempt Computer Report (ECR)
• Municipal Assessment Report (MAR)
• Tax Increment District Assessment Report (TAR)
• Note: 2017 reports will be available on May 1. DOR will send an email including filing instructions.

If you have questions, contact the Equalization Bureau District Office in your area.

Thank you,

Equalization Bureau
Wisconsin Department of Revenue
State and Local Finance Division