Editor,

Property taxpayers should have received their 2021 tax bills. Now is the time to pay your local treasurer. If you did not receive your tax bill, contact your county or your local treasurer. Remember, Wisconsin law states you must pay your taxes and pay them on time even if you did not receive a tax bill.

Oneida County Treasurer’s office can be reached at 715-369-6137. You can also find the 2021 Oneida County tax information, including the tax bill, on the Ascent Land Records website. Go to www.co.oneida.wi.us. Click on Tax, Parcel, Permit, and Deed Search then click on the link to Ascent Land Records for the updated tax information. Enter just your parcel number and be sure to enter a hyphen instead of spaces. Ascent Land Records site will also show payments received by municipalities.

Vilas County Treasurer’s office can be reached at 715-479-3609. Vilas County tax information is available on the County website at www.vilascountywi.gov. Go to the Treasurer Department to view tax information and reprint a copy of your tax bill. Tax payments are updated nightly.

Lincoln County Treasurer’s office can be reached at 715-539-1067. Lincoln County tax information is available on the County website at www.co.lincoln.wi.us, click on Treasurer’s Department or www.lrs.co.lincoln.wi.us will take you directly to the land records system where you can print your tax bill.

You must pay at least the first installment listed on the tax bill on or before Jan. 31 to your local town or city treasurer. Make the check and the envelope out to your municipality. We receive payments made to the municipality, but mailed to the county, which we cannot apply. Payments will be sent to the municipality before Jan. 31. If you miss the payment deadline, or if you pay less than the amount due, your taxes will be delinquent. You will be charged interest and possibly penalty each month on the total unpaid tax amount if you miss this payment. More importantly, however, you lose the option of making your second half payment in July.

Now is also the time to be sure you are certified for the lottery and gaming credit. Please check your tax bill. The amount of the lottery and gaming credit appears in the middle of your tax bill, right above the net property tax calculation. If you have not received the lottery credit and meet the requirements, contact your local treasurer who will see that you receive a claim form or go to wi.gov to obtain a copy of the lottery and gaming credit application. You must sign and return the form to your local treasurer before you can be certified for and receive the credit. You are only allowed one credit. It must be property that was owned by you and was your primary residence on Jan. 1, 2021, to be eligible for the credit. This form must be in the hands of the local treasurer by Jan. 31 to receive the credit off the current tax bill.

Tara Ostermann, Oneida County treasurer
Paulette Sarnicki, Vilas County treasurer
Robbin Gigl, Lincoln County treasurer