WI restaurants have until 12/18 to apply for the $20,000 “We’re All In For Wisconsin Restaurants” grant

By: Austin DeMoss, Tara Johnson and Alex LaFleur

On December 11, 2020, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) started contacting restaurants that are eligible to receive grants of up to $20,000 in CARES Act funding, as part of a “We’re All In For Wisconsin Restaurants” program. DOR is primarily contacting restaurants through its online portal, My Tax Account, but it will call businesses who are not registered on My Tax Account. 

The program makes a total of $45 million dollars in CARES Act funding available primarily to Wisconsin restaurants that have suffered economic damages. To be eligible for the grant, restaurants must meet the following criteria:

• The primary business activity based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code begins with digits 722, 713 or 312 (if the business has a brewpub permit with DOR).
• Total sales of more than $1,000,000 but less than $7,000,000 reported on 2019 sales tax returns. Total sales figures were derived from Form ST-12, Line 1.
• Sales tax account is active.
• The business suffered economic damages in 2020 from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The owner or business is not on:
  • The DOR’s delinquent taxpayer list.
  • The DOT’s debarred contractors list.
  • The DOA’s compliance vendor directory.

Qualifying restaurants can request the grant through their My Tax Account. Requests must be received by the DOR no later than 4:00 p.m. CT on December 18, 2020. The grants, which will be $20,000 for most taxpayers, will be distributed no later than December 30, 2020. 

The grant will be considered taxable income for federal and Wisconsin state purposes, and recipients of the grant will receive a 1099-G, Certain Government Payments, in early 2021.

Wipfli can help you get started

Wipfli’s tax professionals can help you understand your eligibility for the grant and assist with requesting it from the DOR. If you have questions about this grant or your unique situation, please contact your Wipfli representative or one of Wipfli’s Wisconsin state and local tax specialists:

• Austin DeMoss, phone: 608 661 2688
• Tara Johnson, phone: 715 858 6617
• Alex LaFleur, phone: 715 858 6951