WI · 2026 rates · statute-cited
Wisconsin RV rental
sales tax, every line.
Marketplace facilitator law collects state + local sales tax automatically. Effective combined rate: 7%. Marketplace facilitator law: PickRV collects + remits, you don't file separately.
The rate stack
WORKED EXAMPLE — 5 NIGHTS @ $99/NT
Optional coverage (carrier-quoted at checkout) + cleaning fee + service charge calculated separately. See full trip-cost calculator.
Host side · Wisconsin
Hosting in Wisconsin — the legal floor and the practical ceiling
Every PickRV host listing in Wisconsin signs into these statutory minimums. Numbers below are primary-sourced; statute citations are linked at the bottom of the section.
Income tax on net
3.5-7.65% bracketed
Top rate triggers above $315,310 taxable single-filer.
Liability insurance floor
$25K / $50K / $10K
Commercial-rental status also requires full collision + comprehensive coverage.
Deposit hold
Up to 21 days after return
Wis. Stat. §704.28 (security deposit return timing analog)
Sales-tax permit
Required from day one
Wisconsin requires a Seller's Permit via the Department of Revenue (Form BTR-101) before collecting on rentals. Wisconsin imposes a separate 5% Vehicle Rental Fee (Wis. Stat. §77.995) on motor vehicle rentals under 30 days, on top of standard sales tax = 10-11.75% combined. Wisconsin's individual income tax is bracketed 3.5-7.65% — the top 7.65% rate triggers at $315,310 taxable single filer. The Milwaukee County stadium tax (which previously added 0.1%) sunset in 2020; current combined sales tax max is 6.75% (Brown County / Milwaukee County after 2024 0.4% local additions).
Worked example · Wisconsin host at $48,000 net
Net rental income
$48,000
State income tax
$2,676
After-state
$45,324
Band: Bracketed 3.5-7.65%. Effective rate 5.58% on Schedule E net (after maintenance, insurance, depreciation, and commission paid to PickRV). Federal tax + self-employment tax apply separately and are not modeled here.
Interactive · Wisconsin host projection
What your monthly net could look like
Move the sliders to your nightly rate and projected booked nights. The math chain uses real PickRV fees and Wisconsin's actual income tax band. All numbers are projections, not guarantees.
$60 - $450 range
1 - 28 (default 10 — 60% occupancy on 200 listed days)
Commission
+15% markup
PickRV adds a 15% commission ON TOP of your base, baked into the price renters see — nothing is deducted from your base. Renters also pay a transparent 10% service fee shown before checkout (never a deduction from your payout).
Your gross (base take-home)
$175/night base × 10 nights
$1,750
PickRV commission (added on top — $0 from you)
$0 — the 15% commission is added ON TOP of your base for the renter, never withheld from you
$0
Insurance + maintenance reserve (10%)
Conservative reserve; actual varies by rig age + miles
−$175
Net before state tax
$1,575
Wisconsin income tax (5.58%)
Bracketed 3.5-7.65%
−$88
Take-home (after Wisconsin tax)
≈ $17,846/year before federal + self-employment tax
$1,487
Numbers are projections based on the values you set + the published PickRV fee schedule (PickRV adds a 15% commission on top of your base, baked into the price renters see; renters pay a transparent 10% service fee shown before checkout) + Wisconsin's 2026 income tax brackets cited above. Federal income tax + self-employment tax (15.3% Social Security + Medicare on Schedule SE) apply on top and are not modeled here. Pre-LLC: zero verified bookings; this is a planning tool, not a revenue commitment. Projections are illustrative, not guarantees — the full set of assumptions is listed above.
What hosts get caught by
Wisconsin stacks a 5% Vehicle Rental Fee on top of 5-6.75% sales tax — total RV rental tax can reach 11.75% (Milwaukee County)
Wis. Stat. §77.995 imposes a 5% Vehicle Rental Fee on motor vehicle rentals under 30 days, in addition to the 5% state + up to 1.75% local sales tax. A Milwaukee County RV rental at 6.75% sales tax + 5% VRF = 11.75% combined. Hosts marketing WI trips (Door County, Apostle Islands, Wisconsin Dells) must show tax-inclusive pricing. The VRF is filed on a separate line from sales tax via the DOR My Tax Account portal.
Primary source ↗(opens in new tab)Apostle Islands National Lakeshore ferry from Bayfield charges $42-$96 round-trip per person + RVs stay on the mainland
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (NPS) is accessible ONLY by ferry from Bayfield via the Madeline Island Ferry Line ($14 walk-on / $30+ vehicle one-way) or Apostle Islands Cruises ($42-$96 round-trip per person for the Stockton Island shuttle / Grand Tour). Motorized vehicles are PROHIBITED on all 21 outer islands. Hosts marketing Apostle Islands trips need to clearly disclose the rig stays mainland-side in Bayfield (Big Bay State Park has 60 RV sites on Madeline) + budget $84-$192 per couple for ferry access.
Primary source ↗(opens in new tab)Primary sources · 4 citationsShow
- Wisconsin Dept of Revenue — Individual Income Tax ↗
Bracketed 3.5-7.65% (single filer). Top 7.65% rate triggers at $315,310 taxable. 5.3% bracket at $14,320; 4.4% at $28,640. Brackets indexed annually for inflation.
- Wisconsin Dept of Revenue — Sales and Use Tax ↗
State sales tax 5%; 68 counties add 0.5% county tax = 5.5%. Milwaukee County + Brown County stadium taxes sunset; Milwaukee City 2% + Milwaukee County 0.4% (2024) = 6.75% combined.
- WI DOR — Vehicle Rental Fee ↗
Separate 5% Vehicle Rental Fee under Wis. Stat. §77.995 on motor vehicle rentals under 30 days, stacked on top of standard sales tax.
- Wisconsin DOT DMV — Vehicle Registration ↗
Recreational vehicle registration $49-$250/yr by GVWR. Commercial vehicle registration $165-$1,500/yr by GVWR.
Last verified: 2026-06-04. State law changes at budget cycle (typically Jan 1 / Jul 1). PickRV refreshes this dataset annually. Not legal or tax advice — consult a state-licensed CPA before high-volume operation.
Frequently asked
Do I owe Wisconsin sales tax on an RV rental?+
Yes. Wisconsin taxes RV rentals as either tangible-property sales (most states) or accommodation services. The combined effective rate is ~7%. PickRV collects and remits via the marketplace facilitator law, so you don't file separately.
What's the marketplace facilitator law in Wisconsin?+
Wisconsin's marketplace facilitator law (effective post-Wayfair) requires platforms like PickRV to collect and remit sales tax on behalf of owners and renters. State Department of Revenue, Marketplace Facilitator Act.
Are there any per-day surcharges on Wisconsin RV rentals?+
No per-day flat surcharge. Standard sales tax + local option only.
Can I get the tax refunded if I cancel?+
Yes. Per PickRV's cancellation policy (default flexible: full refund up to 48 hours before pickup), the entire tax-inclusive total auto-refunds. Owner-set strict cancellation may retain a portion of subtotal but state-collected tax is generally refunded per each state's rules if booking is voided.
Wisconsin rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- · Tax: 8.50%
- · Min driver age: 21+ standard, 25+ Class A
- · Gravel roads: Allowed — disclosure required
- · Generator quiet: 22:00-07:00
Ready to roll?
Wisconsin is waiting.
Flat 15% commission · 48h free cancel. Owners + companies + tour operators all welcome.