-
Can I file my homestead credit claim electronically?
The following options to file homestead credit claims electronically are available:
Schedule H can be filed with a Wisconsin income tax return or by itself (if your software allows it). One option to file your homestead credit claim electronically may be
WisTax, the department's free, online system:
https://tap.revenue.wi.gov/ScheduleH. You can also visit our website at revenue.wi.gov and click on the Individuals tab for more information. This system is available to all Schedule H claimants, except claimants:
- With more than four rent certificates
- With more than one property tax bill with 5 adjoining parcels
- Who were divorced during the claim year
- Who live in a nursing home
- Who are completing Schedules 2, 3, or 4 on Schedule H
- Who are filing an
amended Schedule H or H-EZ
- Who are filing a homestead credit claim for taxable year 2021 or earlier
In addition, you may only use WisTax to file your homestead credit claim if the income you have to report on Schedule H or H-EZ is limited to the following:
- Wisconsin income from your income tax return (line 7 of Schedule H or line 4 of Schedule H-EZ)
- Wages, interest, and dividends (line 8a of Schedule H or line 5a of Schedule H-EZ)
- Other taxable income (line 8b of Schedule H or line 5b of Schedule H-EZ)
- Medical and long-term care insurance subtraction (line 8c of Schedule H or line 5c of Schedule H-EZ)
- Unemployment compensation (line 9a of Schedule H or line 6a of Schedule H-EZ)
- Social security or federal and state SSI, SSI-E, SSD, and CTS payments (line 9b of Schedule H or line 6b of Schedule H-EZ)
- Pensions and annuities (line 9d of Schedule H or line 6d of Schedule H-EZ)
- Child support, maintenance payments, and other support money (line 9i of Schedule H or line 6h of Schedule H-EZ)
If any of the exceptions apply to you or you have income that should be reported on other lines of Schedule H or H-EZ, you cannot use WisTax to file your homestead credit claim. In addition, you may not file both Form 1 and Schedule H or H-EZ together using WisTax. They must be filed separately.
See the information concerning
e-file software products and
off-the-shelf or downloaded software.
Note: Some low-income taxpayers may qualify for free preparation and filing. Otherwise, you may have a registered tax preparer or tax practitioner file your federal and Wisconsin returns, including homestead credit, electronically. Refer to the complete instructions on how to prepare your homestead credit claim
electronically.
See
electronic filing of your homestead credit claim for more information.
-
If I file my homestead credit claim electronically, how can I avoid making common errors that cause delays?
To avoid making common errors that cause delays, follow the tips and hints at "Electronically Filed Homestead Credit Information" in
Wisconsin Tax Bulletin 153, page 11.
Also, see the instructions on how to prepare your homestead credit claim
electronically and
Publication 127,
Wisconsin Homestead Credit Situations and Solutions.
-
Why should I file electronically?
You may receive your homestead credit faster if you file electronically, you choose direct deposit, and your claim is not selected for review.
To avoid delays, you should refer to our
Publication 127,
Wisconsin Homestead Credit Situations and Solutions. If your electronically filed homestead credit claim is selected for review, see
Question 4 for additional information. Once all issues are resolved and you chose direct deposit, a direct deposit of your refund will be made to your bank account. If the direct deposit fails, a paper check will be issued.
If it has been more than 12 weeks since you submitted your homestead credit claim, or more than 12 weeks since you submitted information requested by this department, you may obtain refund information by email to
Refund Inquiry or through our
website. You may also call (608) 266-8100 (Madison) or 1-866-WIS-RFND (1-866-947-7363, toll-free within the U.S. or Canada).
Either way, have your social security number and the dollar amount of your refund available. If you prefer, you may write to:
MS 5-77
Wisconsin Department of Revenue
PO Box 8949
Madison WI 53708-8949
Please include your tax account number (TAN) or social security number on all correspondence.
-
What can I expect if my electronically filed Wisconsin income tax return was selected for review of my homestead credit claim?
A return or claim selected for review will not be reviewed until the
Form W-RA,
Required Attachments for Electronic Filing, and attachments are received. Please wait a minimum of four weeks from the date the Form W-RA was actually submitted before contacting the department.
If the department sends you a letter stating your Form W-RA with required attachments was not received, you should submit them, either by mail or electronically by going to
tap.revenue.wi.gov/WRA/, in response to the letter.
When your Form W-RA with attachments is received, your Wisconsin income tax return, homestead credit claim, and Form W-RA with attachments are reviewed for correctness and completeness. After review, one of the following may happen:
- You may receive a letter requesting additional information or documentation
- Your return may be adjusted based on the information provided
- Your return may be released from review with no adjustment based on the information provided
If your return is adjusted, you will receive an adjustment notice. The notice will show the amounts used to compute your correct homestead credit and the reasons your claim was adjusted. If you disagree with the adjustment made to your claim, you must file a
written appeal within 60 days of receipt of our notice. If no appeal is filed within 60 days of receipt, the adjustment becomes final and conclusive.
If your return was selected for review, and you chose direct deposit, a direct deposit of your refund will be made to your bank account. If the direct deposit fails, a paper check is sent to the address on your return.
-
If I file my homestead credit claim electronically, do I need to submit any paper copies?
For all electronically filed homestead credit claims, within 48 hours of receiving the Wisconsin acknowledgement, you must provide the department with the following:
- The
Form W-RA
- All attachments, such as Forms W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1098-T, property tax bills, original rent certificates, legal documents, and other required statements. Attach a copy of
Schedule GL,
Gain or Loss on the Sale of Your Home, if using electronic software that does not submit the Schedule GL as part of the electronic return.
Don't send a paper copy of the electronically filed income tax return or Schedule H or H-EZ,
Homestead Credit Claim, as this can cause delays.
-
What is the Wisconsin Form W-RA? What should I attach to the Form W-RA before submitting it?
The
Form W-RA is required whenever you electronically file for homestead credit. It should be submitted within 48 hours of receipt of your Wisconsin acknowledgment and should include all required attachments (Forms W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, original rent certificates, copies of your property tax bills, legal documents, and statements for the year of the claim). Attach a copy of
Schedule GL if using electronic software that does not submit the Schedule GL as part of the electronic return.
Note: If you are disabled, under the age of 62, and do not have earned income, you must include one of the following to verify that you meet the definition of disabled:
- Physician’s Statement – A statement from your physician which states the beginning date of the disability and that you meet the definition of disabled.
- Veteran’s Statement – A statement from the Veteran’s Administration certifying that the claimant is receiving a disability benefit due to 100 percent disability.
- Social Security Administration Document – A document or copy of a document from the Social Security Administration stating the date the disability began.
There are several ways to submit your Form W-RA and required attachments to the department. You may 1) electronically transmit through
My Tax Account, 2) electronically attach it to the claim (when using a tax preparation software that provides the option to electronically attach documents), or 3) mail it. If you choose to mail the form, and are using the United States Postal Service, send it to:
Wisconsin Department of Revenue
PO Box 8977
Madison, WI 53708-8977
Or, if you are using an alternate mail carrier:
MS 1-151
Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Mail Opening
2135 Rimrock Road
Madison, WI 53713
Note: Refunds may not complete processing until we receive the Form W-RA with its required attachments. Be sure it was submitted by one of the methods in the paragraph above.
-
If I file my homestead credit claim electronically, how do I attach explanations and notes as requested in the Schedule H and H-EZ Instruction Booklet?
You should use the Homestead Notes and Attachments page provided by your software or within WisTax and submit the information electronically with your homestead credit claim. Refer to this list of all the instances when a claimant must provide either a note or a copy of a document when filing a homestead credit claim. Your software should allow you to check all instances that apply to the claim.
For detailed instructions see: "Electronic Filing of Individual Income Tax Returns with Homestead Credit Claims".
This document provides statements or interpretations of the following laws and regulations enacted as of November 18, 2024: secs. 71.55, 71.80 and 71.88,
Wis. Stats., and sec. Tax 14.01,
Wis. Adm. Code.
Laws enacted and in effect after this date, new administrative rules, and court decisions may change the interpretations in this document. Guidance issued prior to this date, that is contrary to the information in this document is superseded by this document, according to sec. 73.16(2)(a), Wis. Stats.
Contact Us
MS 5-77
Wisconsin Department of Revenue
PO Box 8949
Madison WI 53708-8949
Phone: (608) 266-8641
Fax: (608) 267-1030
Email:
DORHomesteadCredit@wisconsin.gov