FAQ's from Assessor
Frequently asked questions

My tax bill or notice of assessment has the word ‘Improvements’ but I’ve made no changes to my property

The word improvement used on tax bills or notices means improvements to land such as paving, walkways, patios, decking, garages, sheds, house, or any type of building. 

I want to discuss my assessment

  • The assessor office is available by phone, email, or in person.. Assessors can discuss general assessment questions and relate how your assessment is calculated. 
  • Assessors don’t discuss the tax burden because the tax rate is a result of municipal budgets, the School levy, the Vocational School levy, the County levy, state aids, lottery credits, 1st dollar credits, and so on. 

I’ve received my property tax bill or notice of assessment. I disagree with the amount(s) shown 

  • The assessor cannot change the tax bill as received. The time to appeal the assessment is at the Open Book hearings (typically held in March or April). Unresolved differences in value may result in an appeal to the Board of Review (typically the 1st step in the formal appeal process). Changes made by the assessor at Open Book or by the Board of Review will be reflected in the next tax bill. 

  • Notices of assessment are required to be sent when there is any change to value from the previous year. 

I think my property is agricultural. 

  • Agricultural property (Use-Value) is by definition an area devoted to a qualifying agricultural use. Qualifying agricultural uses differ from hobby farms. Set aside program lands, federal land programs, apiculture (bee keeping), crops, and many more uses constitute Use-Value land. Land uses such as growing a crop will show evidence of planting and harvesting. Pasturing animals will have clear evidence of grazing or other activity. Some uses such as set aside lands in a program will need documentation to present to the assessor to qualify as use-value. Uses such as apiculture and maple-syrup gathering may need additional supporting information to be classified as Use-Value. 

  • Hobby Farms are not classified as Use-Value. Hobby farms include horse stables (these are commercial ventures), selling of home-grown garden products, and keeping of a few animals (llama, cattle, sheep, goats, etc.) for personal use. 

  • Publications online: The 2020 Agricultural Assessment Guide for Wisconsin Property Owners is available: https://www.revenue.wi.gov/DOR%20Publications/pb061.pdf 

  • Chapter tax 18 conservation programs is available https://www.revenue.wi.gov/DOR%20Publications/tax18.pdf