Fill Your Wisconsin Verification Form

What is the purpose of the Wisconsin Verification form?

This form is used to document a business's tax status related to Wisconsin sales or use tax. It is a necessary step to verify that a business and its affiliates are properly registered to collect and remit Wisconsin sales or use tax, or that all their sales in Wisconsin are exempt from these taxes. This verification must be in place for Wisconsin state agencies and authorities to be able to purchase products or services from the business or its affiliates.

How can I submit the Wisconsin Verification form?

The form can be completed and sent to the Department of Revenue's Nexus Unit at the mailing address provided. While the form cannot be submitted online through an electronic submission system, you can visit the website for more guidance and information on the submission process. Additionally, registration for Wisconsin sales and use tax can be done online, and confirmation of this registration should be included if applicable.

What information is required to complete the form?

Completing the form requires various details about the business, including its legal name, business name (if applicable), mailing address, Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), state and date of incorporation or registration, and the type of business entity. For sole proprietors, a Social Security Number (SSN) is required. The form also asks for the business owner's legal name and SSN or FEIN, depending on the nature of the ownership. Additionally, details regarding the business's current registration status for Wisconsin sales and use tax, affiliate information, and specifics about the products and services offered in Wisconsin are necessary.

Who needs to complete the Affiliate Registration Verification (Form A‑002)?

If your business has affiliates that sell products or services in Wisconsin, then you must complete and attach the Affiliate Registration Verification (Form A‑002) in addition to the Wisconsin Verification form. An "affiliate" is defined as a person or business that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with another person or business, where "control" means ownership of more than 10% of the interest in or voting securities of a business.

What happens if my business is not registered to collect and remit Wisconsin sales and use tax?

Wisconsin state agencies and authorities are prohibited from purchasing products or services from businesses that are not registered to collect and remit Wisconsin sales and use tax, unless all sales in Wisconsin are exempt. In cases where a business does not register and does not qualify for exemptions, it will be ineligible to conduct transactions with state agencies and authorities.

How do I determine if all sales in Wisconsin are exempt?

To verify that all sales in Wisconsin are exempt, businesses must complete and attach an Affidavit of Exempt Sales (Form A‑006). Exemptions might be applicable for various reasons, including sales to governmental units, sales for resale, non-taxable services, or other specific reasons that render the sales not subject to sales and use tax. Proper documentation or exemption certificates must be provided as proof of exempt status.

What should I do if my business's income year does not end on December 31st?

On the form, there is a section that allows businesses to specify if their fiscal year ends on a date other than December 31st. If this is the case for your business, you should enter the actual date your fiscal year ends in the space provided to ensure that all information is accurately reflected and in line with your business's financial reporting period.

Can I use this form to register for Wisconsin sales and use tax?

While the Wisconsin Verification form itself is not a registration document, it provides space to indicate your current registration status. If you are not yet registered but need to be, you can register online at the Department of Revenue's website and enter your Business Tax Registration confirmation number on the form. This step is crucial for businesses that need to start collecting and remitting Wisconsin sales and use tax.

Filling out the Wisconsin Verification form can seem straightforward, but some common mistakes often cause complications. Recognizing and avoiding these errors ensures smoother interactions with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

Firstly, a frequent oversight occurs in the area of the "Identification" section. Applicants must accurately enter both their legal and doing-business-as (DBA) names where applicable. Sole proprietors should particularly note that their last name, first name, and middle initial need to be entered in the designated fields. Mistaking these fields for one another or entering incomplete information can lead to the rejection of the application.

1. In the Identification section, mixing up or inaccurately filling out the legal and business names, or incorrectly entering a sole proprietor's name, leads to processing delays.
2. Another common mistake is failing to provide accurate business classification information. This pertains to selecting the correct business type (e.g., Sole Proprietorship, Corporation, LLC, etc.) and, if applicable, the federal income tax classification of an LLC. Incorrect classification can misrepresent business operations to the Department.
3. Forgetting to check the appropriate box under "B. Current Wisconsin Registration Status" or not attaching the required Affidavit of Exempt Sales (Form A‑006) when claiming tax exemption for all sales leads to unnecessary follow-ups, delaying the completion of the verification process.
4. Lastly, overlooking the Affiliate Information section can be problematic. Businesses with affiliates operating in Wisconsin must attach the Affiliate Registration Verification (Form A‑002). Failing to acknowledge and document affiliate relationships might result in incomplete submission.

• Entering incomplete or inaccurate identification information, especially for sole proprietors.
• Misclassifying the business or incorrectly detailing the federal income tax classification for LLCs.
• Omitting necessary attachments or failing to correctly indicate the business's Wisconsin tax registration status.
• Ignoring the requirements regarding affiliates selling in Wisconsin, leading to potential oversight of necessary disclosures.

In summary, care and attention to detail in filling out the Wisconsin Verification form are crucial. Ensuring accurate and complete information, from business identification to the disclosure of affiliate operations, streamlines the verification process. Moreover, a thorough review before submission can save businesses time and prevent unnecessary complications with Wisconsin state agencies.

When businesses engage in operations in Wisconsin that require completing the Wisconsin Verification form, they often need to gather and submit additional documents to fully comply with state regulations and requirements. These documents, varying in purpose and detail, ensure that a business's tax and legal standing in Wisconsin is correctly established and maintained. Below is a concise overview of seven such forms and documents frequently used alongside the verification form, providing a clearer insight into the administrative landscape for businesses operating in the state.

• Affidavit of Exempt Sales (Form A‑006): This document is essential for businesses claiming that all their sales of products and services in Wisconsin are exempt from sales and use tax. It provides a structured way to declare and detail exemptions, supporting the claims made on the Wisconsin Verification form.
• Affiliate Registration Verification (Form A‑002): Companies with affiliates selling products or services in Wisconsin are required to submit this form. It verifies the registration and tax compliance of these affiliated entities, ensuring a comprehensive disclosure of business activities and responsibilities.
• Business Tax Registration (BTR): For new and existing businesses required to collect and remit sales and use taxes, the BTR is a critical document. By registering online, businesses obtain a confirmation number they must enter on the Wisconsin Verification form, formalizing their tax obligations in the state.
• Articles of Incorporation or Organization: Companies must provide their Articles of Incorporation (for corporations) or Organization (for LLCs) as proof of legal establishment and registration with the appropriate Wisconsin authority or another state if the business is foreign qualified.
• Employer Identification Number (EIN) Documentation: The IRS issues an EIN, and this documentation verifies a business's identity and tax reporting entity status. It is necessary for tax administration and must align with the information provided on the Wisconsin Verification form.
• Sales and Use Tax Exemption Certificate: For businesses conducting exempt transactions, this certificate proves the legitimacy of not collecting sales tax on certain sales. It protects businesses during audits and serves as a critical document for tax-exempt sales reported on the Wisconsin Verification form.
• Fiscal Year Documentation: For businesses whose income year does not end on December 31, documentation specifying the fiscal year end is required. This helps in aligning tax reporting and obligations with the company's financial reporting period.

While the primary function of these documents is to ensure regulatory compliance and accurate tax reporting, they collectively embody the broader responsibility businesses hold toward transparent and lawful conduct in Wisconsin. Familiarity with these documents, their requirements, and their deadlines can significantly ease the administrative burden for businesses, fostering a more favorable operational environment in the state.

The Wisconsin Verification Form, though unique in its application, shares similarities with various other documents pertaining to business and legal confirmations. Here, we explore seven such documents, explaining how they are akin to the Wisconsin Verification Form.

One common document is the Uniform Sales & Use Tax Certificate - Multijurisdiction. This form, used by businesses that sell goods or services in multiple states, requires information similar to the Wisconsin Verification Form, such as the business's legal name, address, and tax registration status. Both forms serve to verify a business's tax obligations and exemptions, albeit the Multijurisdiction Certificate applies across various states.

Another example is the Business Tax Registration forms found in many states. These documents also collect details concerning the business's legal entity type, ownership, and tax registration status, much like the Wisconsin form. The key purpose is to ensure that the business is properly registered for tax purposes within a specific state, reflecting a fundamental similarity in function.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) SS-4 Form, used to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN), also shares resemblances. Although its primary function differs, the IRS SS-4 requires detailed business identification information and outlines the business structure, akin to sections within the Wisconsin form that determine tax status based on business identity and configuration.

The Vendor Responsibility Questionnaire often utilized in procurement processes, parallels the Wisconsin Verification Form in scope and utility. It gathers comprehensive information on a vendor’s legal standing, operational capacities, and tax compliance to assess their responsibility and eligibility for public contracts, echoing Wisconsin's requirement for verified tax status to engage with state agencies and authorities.

Similar too is the Nonprofit Organization Annual Registration Form required by many states from nonprofit entities for continued recognition and certain tax exemptions. Like the Wisconsin form, it demands details about the organization’s legal and tax registration status to ensure compliance with state laws, emphasizing the importance of accurate and current information.