Wisconsin return changes: a wider bracket and no federal update

• The second bracket (4.4%) now ends at $50,480 for single, head of household and fiduciary filers (was $29,370) and $67,300 for joint filers (was $39,150).
• Filers 67 or older can subtract up to $24,000 of eligible retirement income, or $48,000 on a joint return when both spouses qualify. Claimants give up Wisconsin credits for that year.
• The adoption expense subtraction rises from $5,000 to $15,000 per child.

Wisconsin follows the Code as amended to December 31, 2022. The DOR says it has not adopted the federal tips, overtime, car loan interest or senior deductions. It does not follow any bonus depreciation enacted after January 1, 2014, and uses the pre-TCJA version of section 174 for research costs.

Section 179 is the exception: Wisconsin follows current federal law, including the $2.5 million limit.

Partnerships and S corporations make the entity-level election each year by the extended due date of the return: September 15, 2026 for Form 3 and October 15, 2026 for Form 5S for calendar 2025. The threshold for certain Forms 1099 filed with the DOR remains $600.