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Wisconsin Property Tax GuideAppeal and Lower Your Wisconsin Property Tax.
Wisconsin runs one of the most unusual appeal calendars in the country: assessments are done by your city or town, not the county, and the appeal window is a narrow two hour Board of Review session each spring. Preparation is everything, skip Open Book and you lose your best chance to settle informally.
How the Wisconsin Appeal Process Works
- Watch for your Notice of Assessment, mailed spring by your municipal assessor.
- Attend Open Book (informal assessor meeting, usually 1 to 2 weeks before BOR).
- File Form PR-302 with the municipal clerk at least 48 hours before the Board of Review.
- Board of Review hearing, quasi judicial, more formal than most states. Sworn testimony and evidence.
- Appeal to Circuit Court within 90 days of BOR decision.
- Department of Revenue review as alternative to Circuit Court in limited cases.
Major Wisconsin Cities & Counties, Where to File
- Milwaukee: city.milwaukee.gov/assessor.
- Madison (Dane County): cityofmadison.com/assessor.
- Green Bay (Brown County): greenbaywi.gov/assessor.
- Kenosha: kenosha.org/assessor.
- Racine: cityofracine.org/assessor.
- Appleton (Outagamie): appleton.org/assessor.
- Waukesha County (incorporated cities and towns each file separately): waukeshacounty.gov.
Wisconsin's BOR is more formal than most states. Unlike the casual county level boards in Ohio or Michigan, Wisconsin's Board of Review takes sworn testimony and requires the objector to present evidence under oath. Bring your comparable sales packet, be organized, and consider swearing in under the Burden of Proof rule that shifts the burden once you show the assessor's value is unreasonable.
When You Probably Qualify for a Reduction
- Your municipality revalued and your assessment jumped above neighborhood trends
- Recent comparable sales on your street are below your assessed value
- Your parcel record has errors (square footage, finished basement, lakefront feet)
- Your home has unrepaired damage, foundation, or mechanical issues
- You bought the home in the past 12 months for less than the new assessment
Get a Wisconsin PR-302 Package in 48 Hours
We pull your municipal assessor record, build comparable sales, and produce a filing ready Objection with evidence for $50 flat.
Start My Wisconsin Appeal →Wisconsin Property Tax Appeal FAQ
Will appealing raise my assessment?
The BOR has authority to increase, decrease, or affirm. Increases are rare for homeowner objections but present a real risk if your claimed value is well below credible comparable sales. Be realistic.
Do I have to testify under oath?
Yes. Wisconsin BOR hearings require sworn testimony. This formality is why preparation matters more than in states with casual county boards.
What if I miss Open Book?
You can still file Form PR-302 and appear at the BOR, but Open Book is where many cases settle without a formal hearing. Attending signals good faith and gives you a preview of the assessor's evidence.
Can I file the 72 hour waiver?
Yes. If you cannot attend the BOR in person, you can file Form PR-302 with a written request to waive the in person appearance, hearings then proceed on the written record.