767.54.Required exchange of financial information.

Subch. VI: Support and Maintenance · Last amended 2021 · Current through 2025 Wisconsin Act 247 · Last verified September 8, 2026

In one sentenceSection 767.54 makes parties under a support or maintenance order swap financial information every year by May 1, with a list of what may be redacted.

Full Text of Section 767.54

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(1) In an action in which the court has ordered a party to pay family support under s. 767.225, 2019 stats., or s. 767.531, 2019 stats., or child support or maintenance under this chapter, including an action to revise a judgment or order under s. 767.59, the court shall require the parties annually to exchange financial information. Information required under this section shall be exchanged no later than May 1 of each calendar year, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing by the parties. The information required to be exchanged shall include all of the following:

(a) A complete copy of the party’s federal and state income tax return for the prior calendar year, including all W-2 forms and 1099 forms.

(b) A year-end paycheck stub from all sources of employment for the prior calendar year.

(d) Any other documentation of the party’s income from all sources for the 12-month period preceding the exchange of information.

(2) A party may redact or remove the following personally identifying information from documents provided under sub. (1) unless otherwise ordered by the court:

(a) The party’s home or work address, if the party is participating in the program under s. 165.68, or if the party’s address is otherwise protected or sealed.

(b) The name, date of birth, and address of the party’s spouse.

(c) The name, date of birth, and other personally identifying information of a minor child not related to the other party.

(d) Any social security number.

(e) An identification number assigned by an employer.

(f) A taxpayer identification number assigned by the department of revenue or federal internal revenue service.

(g) Any depository account number, investment account number, or other personally identifying number related to any investment tool.

(h) A military identification number.

(i) Any other personally identifying information that is intended to be used to access services, funds, or benefits of any kind to which an individual is entitled.

(j) Any other personally identifying information that is not required to determine the income or financial status of the party.

(3) Information disclosed under this section is subject to s. 767.127 (3). A party who fails to furnish information required by the court under this section may be proceeded against for contempt of court under ch. 785. If the court finds that a party has failed to furnish information required under this section, the court may award to the party bringing the action costs and, notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), reasonable attorney fees.

End

Official Notes

Wisconsin prints certain labelled notes with the statute — effective-date notes, cross-references, and notes of the Judicial Council. They are reproduced verbatim below. The unlabelled digest of court decisions that the Legislative Reference Bureau prints after them is annotation rather than statute, and is not reproduced.

NOTE: 2005 Wis. Act 443 contains explanatory notes.

Amendment History

Wisconsin prints each section’s legislative history as a single “History” line naming every act that created or amended it, and every renumbering. It is reproduced verbatim below.

History: 2005 a. 443 s. 122; 2021 a. 35, 259.

Plain-English Summary

Support that is set once and never revisited drifts away from the truth. This section keeps the facts current without anyone having to file a motion.

The duty. In any action where the court has ordered family support, child support or maintenance — including an action to revise a judgment — the court shall require the parties to exchange financial information annually. It is due no later than May 1 each year unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.

What must be exchanged. A complete copy of the party's federal and state income tax return for the prior calendar year, with all W-2 and 1099 forms; a year-end paycheck stub from every source of employment for that year; the most recent paycheck stub from every source showing year-to-date gross and net income; and any other documentation of income from all sources for the 12-month period preceding the exchange.

What may be blacked out. A party may redact home or work addresses where they are in the address confidentiality programme or otherwise protected or sealed; the name, date of birth and address of a spouse; identifying details of a minor child not related to the other party; social security, employer identification, taxpayer identification, account and military identification numbers; anything used to access services, funds or benefits; and anything else not needed to determine income or financial status.

Teeth. A party who fails to furnish the information may be proceeded against for contempt, and the court may award the party who brought the action its costs and reasonable attorney fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to send my ex my tax return every year in Wisconsin?

If a support or maintenance order is in place, yes. The exchange is due no later than May 1 each year unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.

What exactly has to be exchanged?

The federal and state income tax return for the prior calendar year with all W-2 and 1099 forms, a year-end paycheck stub from each source of employment, the most recent stub showing year-to-date gross and net income, and other documentation of income for the preceding 12-month period.

Can I hide my social security number?

Yes. Social security numbers are on the list a party may redact, along with account numbers, employer and taxpayer identification numbers, and a protected address.

What if the other party ignores it?

They may be proceeded against for contempt of court, and the court may award you costs and reasonable attorney fees.

Source & verification. The statutory text, official notes and history are reproduced verbatim from the Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 767 (Wis. Stat. § 767.54), published by the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. Current through 2025 Wisconsin Act 247. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified September 8, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: annual financial disclosure Wisconsin supportMay 1 exchange tax returnsredact social security number support767.54 financial information