The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) is reminding Wisconsin residents to check their current property tax bill for the lottery and gaming credit. The credit provides direct property tax relief to qualifying taxpayers on their property tax bills displayed as a reduction of property taxes due. Lottery proceeds are paid into a separate segregated state fund. This year’s estimated average lottery and gaming credit on property tax bills is $213.

To qualify for the lottery and gaming credit, you must be a Wisconsin resident, own a dwelling and use it as your primary residence as of the January 1 certification date of the year the property taxes are levied – in this case January 1, 2024. If an owner is temporarily absent, typically for a period no longer than six months (ex: hospital, vacation), the primary residence is the home where the owner returns. Principal dwelling means any dwelling the owner uses as their primary residence. You cannot claim the lottery and gaming credit on business property, rental units, vacant land, garages, or other property that is not the owner’s primary residence.

If a property owner is eligible for the credit as of January 1, 2024, they should use the online portal to apply for the lottery and gaming credit. DOR will send the information to the county treasurer where the property is located or to the city treasurer, if the property is located in a city that collects taxes under state law. A property owner only needs to apply for the credit one time; once applied, the credit will continue annually for that residence. 

Lottery and gaming credit information, including the online application portal, walkthrough videos and common questions are located on the Lottery and Gaming Credit Forms page on DOR’s website.