Capitol Report: By State Representative Mark Pocan

Several people have contacted me with questions regarding the sales tax

rebate. Here is the information that we have received from the Department

of Revenue at the time of this writing:

1. When will the rebate checks be mailed out?

If you do not receive your rebate check by January 31, 2000,

and you believe you qualify for a rebate, contact the Wisconsin Department

of Revenue at :P.O. Box 8937 Madison, WI 53708-8937

2. I was a Wisconsin resident in 1998 and filed a 1998 Wisconsin income

tax return or homestead credit claim by October 15, 1999. Do I need to do

anything to get my rebate?

If you filed your 1998 Wisconsin income tax return or

homestead credit claim on or before October 15, 1999, your rebate check

should automatically be issued. If you did not file by October 15, 1999, you

will need to file an Application for Sales Tax Rebate </ise/99s-104.pdf>

with the Department of Revenue no later than June 30, 2000.

3. I was a Wisconsin resident in 1998, but I did not file a 1998

Wisconsin income tax return or homestead credit claim. Do I need to do

anything to get my rebate?

Yes. You must file an Application for Sales Tax Rebate

</ise/99s-104.pdf> with the Department of Revenue no later than June 30,

2000.

4. How can I get an application form for the sales tax rebate?

Call the Department of Revenue at (608) 266-2772 or (608) 267-9420.

5. I filed a joint return with my spouse. Will we each get a check for

the amount shown in your rebate calculator?

No. You will get only one check based on the combined income

you reported on your joint return.

6. I worked and paid taxes in 1998, but my parents claimed me as a

dependent on their 1998 federal income tax return. Do I qualify for a

rebate?

If you were claimed as a dependent on another person's 1998

federal income tax return, but you had 1998 Wisconsin adjusted gross income

of at least $5,000 and paid at least $1 of Wisconsin income tax, you may be

eligible for a rebate.

If you were claimed as a dependent on another person's

federal income tax return in 1998, and your Wisconsin adjusted gross income

was less than $5,000 or you did not owe any Wisconsin tax, you are not

eligible for a rebate. This is true even if you are no longer a dependent.

7. Will the rebate be taxable income on my 1999 federal income tax

return?

It is the Department of Revenue's expectation that the 1999

sales tax rebate will not be taxable. However, the Internal Revenue Service

makes the final determination on these issues.

8. I was a full-year or part-year resident of Wisconsin in 1998. I

filed my 1998 Wisconsin income tax return by October 15, 1999. How can I

estimate the amount of my rebate?

Select your filing status from your 1998 return.

The rebate amount shown is only an estimate. Your actual

rebate may vary.

Married Filing Joint Return Single,

Married Filing Separately, and Head of Household

1998 Taxable Income Sales Tax Rebate 1998 Taxable Income

Sales Tax Rebate

$25,000 or less $360 $25,000 or less $184

$25,001 to $50,000 $368 $25,001 to $37,500 $193

$50,001 to $75,000 $385 $37,501 to $50,000 $203

$75,001 to $100,000 $405 $50,001 to $100,000 $221

$100,001 to $200,000 $442 $100,001 to $250,000 $244

$200,000 to $500,000 $487 Over $250,000 $267

Over $500,000 $534

9. What can I do if I disagree with the amount of my rebate or if my

claim for rebate is denied?

If, after checking the Wisconsin adjusted gross income

reported on your 1998 Wisconsin income tax return and checking the Sales Tax

Rebate Calculator </ise/wrebcalc.html> or table, you disagree with the

amount of rebate you received, you should send a letter stating your

specific reasons for your disagreement to: Revenue Audit Bureau, P.O. Box

8906 Madison WI 3708-8906. Your letter of disagreement must be received by

the Department of Revenue within 60 days of your receipt of the rebate.

Please remember to return your survey:

You will soon receive a newsletter from our office, which will

include a survey. I am very interested in hearing your thoughts on a

variety of issues. I would be grateful if you would take the time fill out

the survey and return it to my office.

Wisconsin Retirement System Increased Multiplier:

At the time I am writing this article it is expected that the

governor will sign into law an increase in the "multiplier" which is used to

determine the pension benefits of state employees. Barring any legal

challenges the new law will mean an increase in benefits to over 390,000

current, active and retired state and local government workers. Please call

our office with any questions.

What's Next?

The next Assembly floor session will begin at the end of January. I

expect us to address several important issues including several Democratic

proposals such as; a patients bill of rights, minimum wage increase and

campaign finance reform, assuming the Republican's don't block these

initiatives.

As always, you can reach me at (phone) 266-8570, (e-mail)

mark.pocan@legis.state.wi.us <mailto:mark.pocan@legis.state.wi.us> or you

may write to P.O. Box 8953 Madison, WI 53708.

-Representative Mark Pocan