Form WI-Z at a glance
What it is: Form WI-Z: Wisconsin income tax 2017, with the adjusted gross income from line 4 of federal Form 1040EZ on line 1.
Who signs: If married, your spouse must also sign.
What to bring and attach to Form WI-Z
Enclose a copy of your W-2 forms.
A filled-in Form WI-Z example: a single filer completes page 1
How to fill out Form WI-Z, box by box
Your name, social security number and home address
Fill in your legal first name and your legal last name.
Fill in your social security number and M.I.
Fill in your home address (number and street) and Apt. No. If you have a PO Box, see page 11.
Fill in the State, City and Zip code.
Spouse's name and social security number
If a joint return, fill in the spouse's legal first name, spouse's legal last name and spouse's social security number.
Amended return
Check here if an amended return.
For more information, see Amending Your Return on page 7 of the Form 1A instructions.
If this is an amended return, enclose a copy of Schedule AR and all supporting forms and schedules for each change.
Do not enclose your original Form WI-Z with your amended return.
Tax district and school district
Check Village, Town or City, then fill in either the name of city, village, or town and the county in which you lived at the end of 2017.
Fill in the school district number (see page 31).
Filing status (check below)
Under Filing status, check Single or Married filing joint return (even if only one had income).
Dependents (line 2)
Check line 2 if your parent (or someone else) can claim you (or your spouse) as a dependent on his or her return.
Check line 2 even if that person chose not to claim you.
Lines 1 to 7: income, deductions and tax
On line 1, fill in the adjusted gross income from line 4 of federal Form 1040EZ.
On line 3, fill in the standard deduction for your status from table, page 39; if you checked line 2, fill in the amount from worksheet on back.
If you checked line 2, use this worksheet for the amount to fill in on line 3.
On line 4, subtract line 3 from line 1; if line 3 is larger than line 1, fill in 0.
On line 5, fill in $700 ($1,400 if married, or 0 if you checked line 2). (checked October 31, 2026)
If you are single and can be claimed as a dependent, fill in 0 on line 5.
If you are married and both spouses can be claimed as a dependent, fill in 0 on line 5.
If you are married and only one of you can be claimed as a dependent, fill in $700 on line 5. (checked October 31, 2026)
On line 6, subtract line 5 from line 4; if line 5 is larger than line 4, fill in 0, which is your taxable income.
On line 7, use the amount on line 6 and table, page 32 for your tax.
School property tax credit (lines 8a and 8b)
Lines 8a and 8b School Property Tax Credit: see the instructions for lines 20a and 20b of Form 1A, and the total credits on lines 8a and 8b cannot exceed $300. (checked October 31, 2026)
Line 8 school property tax credit: for rent paid in 2017 - heat included or rent paid in 2017 - heat not included, find credit from table page 20 (8a); for 8b property taxes paid on home in 2017, find credit from table page 21 (8b).
Married couple credit (line 9)
If you are married and you and your spouse were both employed in 2017, you may claim the married couple credit on line 9.
On line 9, married couple credit: wages 9a yourself and 9b spouse (see instructions on reverse side).
Complete the following steps: (1) fill in your 2017 taxable wages on line 9a.
Fill in your spouse's taxable wages on line 9b.
(2) Fill in the smaller of line 9a or 9b (but not more than $16,000) in the space provided on line 9c; (3) multiply that amount by .03 (3%). (checked October 31, 2026)
(4) Fill in the result (but not more than $480) on line 9c. (checked October 31, 2026)
Credits and net tax (lines 10 and 11)
On line 10, add credits on lines 8a, 8b, and 9c.
On line 11, subtract line 10 from line 7; if line 10 is larger than line 7, fill in 0, which is your net tax.
Sales and use tax (line 12)
Line 12, sales and use tax due on Internet, mail order, or other out-of-state purchases (see page 22): if you certify that no sales or use tax is due, check here. See the instructions for line 25 of Form 1A.
Donations (line 13)
Line 13 Donations (decreases refund or increases amount owed): you may designate amounts as a donation to one or more of the programs listed on lines 13a through 13h.
Your donation will either reduce your refund or be added to tax due.
Lines 13a through 13h: a Endangered resources, b Cancer research, c Veterans trust fund, d Multiple sclerosis, e Military family relief, f Second Harvest/Feeding Amer., g Red Cross WI Disaster Relief, h Special Olympics Wisconsin; 13i is the total (add lines a through h).
Add lines 11, 12, and 13i (line 14)
On line 14, add lines 11, 12, and 13i.
Withholding and amounts paid (lines 15 to 20)
On line 15, fill in the amount from line 14.
On line 16, fill in the total amount of Wisconsin income tax withheld as shown on your withholding statements (W-2s); enclose withholding statements.
Do not include income tax withheld for any state other than Wisconsin.
Lines 17 and 19 are for an amended return only: line 17, amount previously paid; line 19, amount previously refunded.
For lines 17 - 21 of an amended return, see the instructions for lines 33 - 38 of Form 1A.
On line 18, add lines 16 and 17.
On line 20, subtract line 19 from line 18.
Your refund or the amount you owe (lines 21 and 22)
On line 21, if line 20 is larger than line 15, subtract line 15 from line 20; this is your refund.
On line 22, if line 15 is more than line 20, subtract line 20 from line 15; this is the amount you owe.
If line 20 is a negative number because line 19 exceeds line 18, treat the amount on line 20 as a positive number and add (rather than subtract) line 15 to line 20.
Paper clip your check or money order to Form WI-Z.
Third Party Designee
Do you want to allow another person to discuss this return with the department (see page 30)? If yes, fill in the Third Party Designee's name, phone no. and personal identification number (PIN).
Signing your return
Sign: "Under penalties of law, I declare that this return is true, correct, and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief." Fill in your signature, spouse's signature (if filing jointly, BOTH must sign), date and daytime phone.
If married, your spouse must also sign.
More rules for Form WI-Z
Use black ink to complete the form.
Round off cents to the nearest dollar.
Drop amounts under 50¢ and increase amounts from 50¢ through 99¢ to the next dollar.
If completing the form by hand, do not use commas when filling in amounts; NO COMMAS; NO CENTS.
Common questions about Form WI-Z
Where do I file it?
Mail your return to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue: if refund or no tax due, PO Box 59, Madison WI 53785-0001; if tax due, PO Box 268, Madison WI 53790-0001.
Sources
[1] Form WI-Z (R. 5-17), Wisconsin income tax 2017, Wisconsin Department of Revenue (the Official source link on this page).
