CLAW Tax Group helps taxpayers with Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) collection and audit representation. We handle tax warrants, wage attachments, bank levies, refund intercepts, payment plans, and office or field audits under Wisconsin rules. Jon Call, Enrolled Agent and NTPI Fellow, leads most DOR contact after you sign Wisconsin Form A-222, Power of Attorney. Matthew Wildes, JD CPA, joins when the matter needs an attorney. Fixing an IRS balance does not close a Wisconsin balance, and fixing Wisconsin does not close the IRS. Wisconsin rules also differ from Minnesota Revenue rules.
Who we are for Wisconsin matters
We represent individuals and businesses that already have a Wisconsin DOR bill, delinquent account, tax warrant, wage attachment, bank levy, payment-plan question, or audit letter. We also handle dual files where the IRS and Wisconsin are both collecting, and mixed Minnesota and Wisconsin balances. Broader relief tools live on tax relief services. Other state agencies are introduced on our state tax help index. Minnesota depth: Minnesota Department of Revenue help.
Collection: what Wisconsin can do if you do not pay
DOR considers a tax delinquent when the assessment due date has passed and any statutory appeal rights have expired. Once delinquent, the debt is subject to collection action.
Extra costs on delinquent accounts
DOR publishes these additional costs when a liability becomes delinquent:
- Delinquent tax collection fee of 6.5% of the amount due or $35, whichever is greater
- Interest monthly at 18% per year on the tax balance due
- A $20 payment plan fee if you enter a payment plan
- Expenses from legal collection actions (for example, lien filing fees, garnishment fees, and other court costs)
Warrants, wage attachment, bank levy, refunds, and payment plans
After delinquency, Wisconsin can use several tools:
- Tax warrant: acts as a lien against real property in the county where it is filed and against personal property. It is filed with the Clerk of Court and is a public record. The cost of filing and satisfying the warrant is added to the account; currently that cost is $10.
- Wage attachment: DOR can require your employer to withhold from your paycheck, not to exceed 25% of gross pay, until the account is paid in full. You can request a reduction through My Tax Account or a Wage Attachment Reduction Request.
- Bank levy: DOR can attach funds at a financial institution. Levies may be one-time or continuous. Continuous levies stay in place until the amount is paid in full.
- Refund intercepts: Even on a payment plan, DOR continues to intercept refunds or payments due to you from the federal government, Wisconsin, and other states.
- Payment plans: Request through My Tax Account or Forms A-771 (individuals), A-774 (business), and A-771a (electronic funds transfer authorization) as applicable. If you honor plan terms, DOR does not take other collection action, but refund intercepts continue and DOR may still issue a tax warrant to secure the debt.
Use the Wisconsin tax levy, wage attachment, and tax warrant page for procedure depth. For federal levy contrast, see IRS tax levy. Agency FAQ: Delinquent Tax.
Exam / audit: office and field
Wisconsin uses office audits (often limited and correspondence-heavy) and field audits (detailed review of books and records). DOR’s first contact is never by email or phone; the audit starts with a letter. You may authorize a representative with Form A-222, Power of Attorney.
Field audits include a proposed report and a Notice of Proposed Field Audit Report you sign to show agreement or disagreement. If you disagree with a final notice of assessment or refund, you generally appeal to DOR within 60 days, then may go to the Wisconsin Tax Appeals Commission and the courts. Full process: Wisconsin tax audit. Federal exam contrast: audit defense.
How Wisconsin differs from the IRS (and briefly from Minnesota)
| Topic | Wisconsin DOR | IRS / Minnesota (high level) |
|---|---|---|
| Separate file | Wisconsin balance, notices, and agreements stand alone | Federal and Minnesota balances stand alone |
| Collection security | Tax warrant filed with Clerk of Court; perfected lien rules under Wis. Stat. 71.91 | IRS federal tax lien; Minnesota lien with Secretary of State and/or county |
| Delinquent costs | 6.5% or $35 collection fee; 18% interest on tax balance; $20 plan fee | Different federal and Minnesota fee and interest schedules |
| Dual resolution | An IRS installment agreement does not bind Wisconsin | A Wisconsin payment plan does not bind the IRS or Minnesota |
For warrant duration and MN/WI clock education read Minnesota and Wisconsin state tax CSED and our federal CSED page.
Wisconsin and Minnesota clock education
Wisconsin collection is warrant- and lien-driven. Warrants entered after May 5, 2004 generally continue for 20 years from entry and can be renewed until the liability is satisfied. That is not the IRS CSED and not Minnesota’s five-year / lien-stretch system. We keep the detailed comparison on the MN/WI CSED blog.
Other states
If your notice is from another department of revenue, start at our state tax help index or contact us with the notice in hand. We cover Minnesota and Wisconsin in depth and take other state notices case by case.
Can CLAW deal with Wisconsin DOR for me?
Yes, after you sign Wisconsin Form A-222, Power of Attorney (or a notarized alternate authorization that clearly allows your representative to receive tax information). We confirm the form before we contact Compliance or Audit.
What is a Wisconsin tax warrant?
A tax warrant acts as a lien against real property you own in the county where it is filed and against your personal property. It is filed with the Clerk of Court and is a public record of the amount you owe. Filing and satisfaction costs are added to the delinquent account (currently $10 per DOR’s delinquent tax FAQ).
Does a Wisconsin payment plan stop refund intercepts?
No. If you honor plan terms DOR does not take other collection action, but it will still collect refunds or payments due from the federal government, Wisconsin, and other states, and it may still issue a tax warrant to secure the debt.
Are Wisconsin and Minnesota the same?
No. Different agencies, fees, warrant versus lien systems, portals (My Tax Account versus Minnesota Revenue systems), audit publications, and statutes. Wisconsin rules, forms, and timelines differ from Minnesota.
Do I need a separate plan from my IRS installment agreement?
Yes. An IRS installment agreement does not pause Wisconsin wage attachments, bank levies, warrants, or refund intercepts.
Talk with CLAW about a Wisconsin DOR notice
If you have an active Wisconsin bill, warrant, wage attachment, bank levy, or audit letter, contact CLAW Tax Group for a consultation. Bring the notice dates and any IRS or Minnesota letters in the same packet so we can map each file. We review the facts and explain options. We do not promise outcomes.
Jon Call, Enrolled Agent / NTPI Fellow · Matthew Wildes, JD CPA when the matter needs an attorney · Twin Cities practice with Wisconsin DOR matters