Frequently Asked Questions

See the Guide for WI Property Owners for information regarding the appeal procedures.  You may also find this article from the WI Bar Association helpful.

Each municipality hires their own assessor to perform annual assessment maintenance.  Please contact your local assessor for any questions regarding your current property assessment or if there are any changes that you have made to your property that may affect future tax assessments.

Click HERE for a list of assessors who work in Lafayette County.

See the following link:  Assessment Code Descriptions

Please Note:  Assessment codes are set by the Department of Revenue and standard throughout the State of Wisconsin.  Assessment codes are based on " how the property is current used for tax  and assessment purposes" and are determined by the assessor.  They are often confused with "Zoning" codes.  Zoning codes define the rules of "how a property may be used" are set by each County and/or municipality.  If you are looking for zoning information and live in rural Lafayette County, please contact Planning & Zoning.  If you live in a City or Village, please contact your local clerk for zoning information.

See the WI Department of Revenue's link to Property Tax Credits.

The first installment of taxes are due to your MUNICIPAL Treasurer no later than January 31st each year.  At a minimum you must pay the first installment (or any amount over that figure).  If you do not pay the minimum of your first installment by January 31st, you lose the ability to pay in installments and interest and penalty will be calculated on the entire outstanding balance of your tax bill.  

The second installment of taxes can be paid to the COUNTY Treasurer anytime between February 1st and July 31st.  You may pay any amount you wish during this time period, but the final balance of your tax bill must be paid no later than July 31st to avoid interest and penalty.

You can pay your second installment of property taxes (due between February 1 and July 31 each year) online with a debit card, credit card, or e-check.  Remember:  Your first half of taxes is always due by January 31st to your local municipal treasurer.  If you are making a delinquent tax payment, please  first contact the Treasurer's office before attempting to pay online.

The following convenience fees will apply to online tax payments:

• Credit Card - 2.3% of your total payment
• Debit Card - $3.95 (one time charge)
• E-Check - $1.50 (one time charge)

To make a payment online, first click HERE to go to Ascent.  You will have to search by your name, property address, or parcel number, and then from the "select detail" menu choose taxes.  

The Lottery and Gaming Credit is a credit that provides direct property tax relief to qualifying taxpayers on their property tax bills. Lottery proceeds are paid into a separate segregated state fund. The lottery credit is displayed on tax bills as a reduction of property taxes due.

To qualify for the Lottery and Gaming Credit, you must be a Wisconsin resident, own a dwelling and use it as your primary residence as of the January 1 certification date of the year the property taxes are levied.
If an owner is temporarily absent, typically for a period no longer than six months (ex: hospital, vacation, incarcerated), the primary residence is the home where the owner returns. Principal dwelling means any dwelling the owner of the dwelling uses as his/her primary residence.  A property owner may claim only one primary residence. You cannot claim the Lottery and Gaming Credit on business property, rental units, vacant land, garages or other property that is not the owner's primary residence (sec. 79.10(1)(dm), (9)(bm), Wis. Stats.).  

To receive the credit, an eligible property owner must file an application with the county treasurer where the property is located or, with the city treasurer if the property is located in a city that collects taxes under state law (sec. 74.87, Wis. Stats.)

Click Here to download a Lottery Credit Application.

Click Here to learn more about the Lottery Credit.

The dates of each Open Book and Board of Review are set by the municipality and its assessor.  The majority of Board of Reviews take place April through June, while municipalities who are undergoing a revaluation usually finish up in the fall.  Dates and times are posted in the paper two weeks prior to the meetings.  Property owners who have had a valuation change to their property will also receive a notice of assessment prior to this time.  Please contact your municipal clerk to find dates and times for your specific municipality.