Walker signs bills affecting Revenue, interest

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker has signed into law a bill that changes Wisconsin’s tax enforcement procedures and another that reduces interest charged on court judgments.

Walker signed both the bills Wednesday.

One bill makes numerous changes to how certain cases are handled by the state Department of Revenue. One part would shift the burden of proof from the taxpayer to the department when determining whether the taxpayer was negligent in paying taxes.

The other bill reduces current interest rates charged on civil judgments.

Currently, people ordered to pay court judgments face 12 percent annual interest. The bill changes that to make it the prime rate, plus 1 percent, which would be 4.25 percent currently.

Both proposals were part of Walker’s special session called to help create jobs.