Wisconsin § 77.54 - General exemptions.
Full text of Wisconsin Wisconsin Statutes § 77.54 — General exemptions., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 77.54. General exemptions.
There are exempted from the taxes imposed by this subchapter: 77.54(1) (1) The sales price from the sale of and the storage, use or other consumption in this state of tangible personal property, and items and property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) and (c) , and services the sales price from the sale of which, or the storage, use or other consumption of which, this state is prohibited from taxing under the constitution or laws of the United States or under the constitution of this state. 77.54(2) (2) The sales price from the sales of and the storage, use, or other consumption of tangible personal property or item under s. 77.52 (1) (b) that is used exclusively and directly by a manufacturer in manufacturing an article of tangible personal property or item or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c) that is destined for sale and that becomes an ingredient or component part of the article of tangible personal property or item or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c) destined for sale or is consumed or destroyed or loses its identity in manufacturing the article of tangible personal property or item or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c) destined for sale, except as provided in sub. (30) (a) 6. 77.54(2m) (2m) The sales price from the sales of and the storage, use, or other consumption of tangible personal property or services that are used exclusively and directly by a manufacturer in manufacturing shoppers guides, newspapers, or periodicals and that become an ingredient or component of shoppers guides, newspapers, or periodicals or that are consumed or lose their identity in the manufacture of shoppers guides, newspapers, or periodicals, whether or not the shoppers guides, newspapers, or periodicals are transferred without charge to the recipient. In this subsection, “shoppers guides,” “newspapers,” and “periodicals” have the meanings under sub. (15) . The exemption under this subsection does not apply to advertising supplements that are not newspapers. 77.54(3) (3) 77.54(3)(a) (a) The sales price from the sale of and the storage, use, or other consumption of tractors and machines, including accessories, attachments, and parts, lubricants, nonpowered equipment, and other tangible personal property, or items or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c) , that are used exclusively and directly, or are consumed or lose their identities, in the business of farming, including dairy farming, agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, silviculture, beekeeping, and custom farming services, but excluding automobiles, trucks, and other motor vehicles for highway use; excluding personal property that is attached to, fastened to, connected to, or built into real property or that becomes an addition to, component of, or capital improvement of real property; and excluding tangible personal property, or items or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c) , used or consumed in the erection of buildings or in the alteration, repair, or improvement of real property, regardless of any contribution that that personal property, or item or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c) , makes to the production process in that building or real property and regardless of the extent to which that personal property, or item or property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) or (c) , functions as a machine, except as provided in par. (c) . 77.54(3)(b) (b) In par. (a) : 77.54(3)(b)1. 1. “Building” has the meaning given under s. 70.111 (10) (a) 1. 77.54(3)(b)2. 2. “Machine” means an assemblage of parts that transmits force, motion and energy from one part to another in a predetermined manner. 77.54(3)(b)3. 3. “Used exclusively” means used to the exclusion of all other uses except for other use not exceeding 5 percent of total use. 77.54(3)(c) (c) For purposes of this subsection, the following items retain their character as tangible personal property, regardless of the extent to which they are fastened to, connected to or built into real property: 77.54(3)(c)1. 1. Auxiliary power generators. 77.54(3)(c)2. 2. Bale loaders. 77.54(3)(c)3. 3. Barn cleaners and elevators. 77.54(3)(c)4. 4. Conveyors. 77.54(3)(c)5. 5. Feed elevators and augers. 77.54(3)(c)6. 6. Grain dryers and grinders. 77.54(3)(c)7. 7. Milk coolers. 77.54(3)(c)8. 8. Milking machines; including piping, pipeline washers and compressors. 77.54(3)(c)9. 9. Powered feeders, excluding platforms and troughs constructed from ordinary building materials. 77.54(3)(c)10. 10. Silo unloaders. 77.54(3m) (3m) The sales price from the sale of and the storage, use, or other consumption of the following items if they are used exclusively by the purchaser or user in the business of farming; including dairy farming, agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, silviculture, beekeeping, and custom farming services: 77.54(3m)(a) (a) Seeds for planting. 77.54(3m)(b) (b) Plants. 77.54(3m)(c) (c) Feed. 77.54(3m)(d) (d) Fertilizer. 77.54(3m)(e) (e) Soil conditioners. 77.54(3m)(f) (f) Animal bedding. 77.54(3m)(g) (g) Sprays, pesticides and fungicides. 77.54(3m)(h) (h) Breeding and other livestock. 77.54(3m)(hm) (hm) Bees, beehives, and bee combs. 77.54(3m)(i) (i) Poultry. 77.54(3m)(j) (j) Farm work stock. 77.54(3m)(k) (k) Baling twine and baling wire. 77.54(3m)(L) (L) Containers for fruits, vegetables, bee products, grain, hay, silage, and animal wastes. 77.54(3m)(m) (m) Plastic bags, plastic sleeves and plastic sheeting used to store or cover hay or silage. 77.54(4) (4) The sales price from the sale of tangible personal property and items and property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) and (c) and the storage, use or other consumption in this state of tangible personal property and items and property under s. 77.52 (1) (b) and (c) , which is the subject of any such sale, by any elementary school or secondary school, exempted as such from payment of income or franchise tax under ch. 71 , whether public or private. 77.54(5) (5) The sales price from the sale of and the storage, use or other consumption of: 77.54(5)(a) (a) 77.54(5)(a)1. 1. Aircraft, including accessories, attachments, and fuel for such aircraft, sold to persons using the aircraft as certified or licensed carriers of persons or property in interstate or foreign commerce under authority of the laws of the United States or any foreign government, or sold to any foreign government for use by such government outside this state. 77.54(5)(a)2. 2. Aircraft, including attachments for such aircraft, sold to persons who are not residents of this state and who will not use such aircraft in this state otherwise than in the removal of such aircraft from this state or in the repair, service, alteration, fitting, cleaning, painting, coating, towing, inspection, and maintenance of such aircraft in this state. 77.54(5)(a)3. 3. Parts used to modify or repair aircraft. 77.54(5)(a)4. 4. Motor vehicles or truck bodies sold to persons who are not residents of this state and who will not use such motor vehicles or trucks for which the truck bodies were made in this state otherwise than in the removal of such motor vehicles or trucks from this state. 77.54(5)(am) (am) Modular homes, as defined in s. 101.71 (6) , and manufactured homes, as defined in s. 101.91 (2) , that are used in real property construction activities outside this state. 77.54(5)(b) (b) Motor trucks, truck tractors, road tractors, buses, trailers and semitrailers, and accessories, attachments, parts, supplies and materials therefor, sold to common or contract carriers who use such motor trucks, truck tractors, road tractors, buses, trailers and semitrailers exclusively as common or contract carriers, including the urban mass transportation of passengers as defined in s.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wisconsin § 77.54
What does Wisconsin Statutes § 77.54 cover?
Section 77.54 ("General exemptions.") is part of the Wisconsin Statutes, the codified statutory law of Wisconsin. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Wisconsin § 77.54?
A common citation format is "Wisconsin Statutes § 77.54" (Wisconsin). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Wisconsin law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Wisconsin official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Wisconsin attorney.
How does Wisconsin § 77.54 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Wisconsin can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Wisconsin.