Wis. Stat. § 75.36 — WI Code / Chapter 75 / Section 75.36
County acquisition and sale of property.
Status: in_force

(1) Definition. In this section, “special assessments” means unpaid installments of special assessments which were levied on real property prior to the date that the county acquired the real property by taking of a tax deed under this chapter. “Special assessments” includes amounts delinquent when the property became subject to a tax certificate, installments which became delinquent during the time the property is subject to a tax certificate and all installments payable after the date the county takes a tax deed under this chapter. “Special assessments” does not include unpaid amounts of special assessments deferred under s. 66.0715 (2) , unless the taxing jurisdiction has acted under s. 66.0715 (2) (b) .

(2) Acquisition of property by county, effect on liabilities.

(a) If property is acquired by a county taking a tax deed under this chapter, the county is not required to pay any special charges or special assessments until the property is sold by the county. In the case of lands designated as forest croplands or managed forest lands, the county is not required to pay any taxes under s. 77.04 until the forest crop is cut. The liens of the tax certificate and of all general property taxes, special assessments, special charges and special taxes levied against the property shall merge in the county’s title.

(b) If the county did not settle for unpaid special assessments or special charges under s. 74.29 , the county treasurer shall notify all taxing jurisdictions that the county has acquired the property under this chapter. Each taxing jurisdiction shall certify to the county treasurer the unpaid special assessments and special charges to which the property is subject.

(c) If the county’s title to the lands taken by tax deed is adjudged to be void, the county shall reinstate any canceled taxes and any liens previously merged under par. (a) .

(2k) County sale of property. Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, any property acquired by a county by tax deed under this chapter shall be disposed of as provided under this section and ss. 75.35 and 75.69 .

(2m) Notice; proceeds.

(a) Upon acquisition of a tax deed under this chapter, the county treasurer shall notify the former owner, by registered mail or certified mail sent to the former owner’s mailing address on the tax bill, that the former owner may be entitled to a share of the proceeds of a future sale. The county shall send to the former owner the proceeds identified in sub. (3) (c) minus any delinquent taxes, interest, and penalties owed by the former owner to the county in regard to other property and minus the actual costs of the sale as specified under sub. (3) (a) plus all amounts disbursed under sub. (3) (b) and plus the amount of property taxes that would have been owed on the property for the year during which the sale occurs if the county had not acquired the property.

(b) If the payment to the former owner under par. (a) is returned to the county or otherwise not claimed by the former owner within one year following the mailing of the proceeds under par. (a) , the payment shall be considered unclaimed funds and disposed of pursuant to s. 59.66 (2) . Neither the former owner nor any person making a claim for any funds under this section is entitled to interest on sums owed by the county under this section.

(3) Distribution of proceeds of sale. If a county sells property that was acquired by taking of a tax deed under this chapter, the county treasurer shall do all of the following:

(a) Determine the net proceeds from the sale of the property by subtracting from the sale price all of the following:

1. The following costs, including personnel costs associated with them: foreclosure costs, record-keeping costs, legal costs, advertising costs and title insurance costs. A county may establish a reasonable estimate of the average costs under this subdivision incurred with respect to property sold after the taking of a tax deed which it may use instead of determining the actual costs for any parcel sold by the county.

1m. The following actual costs, including personnel costs associated with them: maintenance costs that are required for compliance with building codes or health orders, board-up costs, clean-up costs, demolition costs and all other costs that are reasonable and necessary to sell the property except costs under subd. 2.

2. The amount of reasonable and customary real estate agent or broker fees or other actual costs paid for selling the property.

3. All amounts of unpaid general property taxes, interest, penalties, special assessments, special charges and special taxes levied against the property sold, including interest and penalties imposed under s. 74.47 previously paid to taxing jurisdictions by the county.

(b) From the net proceeds of the sale of the property, as determined under par. (a) , first pay any withdrawal tax and withdrawal fee due under s. 77.84 (3) (b) and then pay to taxing jurisdictions all special assessments and special charges to which the property is subject, including interest and any penalties imposed under s. 74.47 . If the net proceeds are not sufficient to pay all outstanding amounts due, the net proceeds shall be prorated to each taxing jurisdiction based upon the ratio that the amount of all special assessments and special charges due that taxing jurisdiction bears to the amount of all special assessments and special charges levied against the property sold, including interest and any penalties imposed under s. 74.47 . Amounts payable under this paragraph shall be paid to the taxing jurisdiction within 15 days after the last day of the month in which sale proceeds become available to the county.

(c) Distribute any remaining net proceeds to the former owner, as provided under sub. (2m) .

History: 1987 a. 378 ss. 120 , 122 ; 1989 a. 104 ; 1997 a. 72 , 224 ; 1999 a. 150 s. 672 ; 2001 a. 30 s. 108 ; 2003 a. 228 ; 2015 a. 358 ; 2021 a. 216 ; 2023 a. 207 ; 2025 a. 129 .