When the burden of proof is on you to prove property ownership

"Show me your ID"
Have you heard that in Wisconsin?
For most of you, that means an out-of-state, resident driver’s license. In most instances, the driver’s license and credit card have become the standards of today’s personal/credit identification.

But for non-residents....the driver’s license has become more a symbol of price and fee discrimination than a mechanism to aid commerce and facilitate hospitality.

Remember, You're not a Tourist
Part-time, or Seasonal, residency makes it difficult for local officials, community workers, retailers and volunteers to differentiate between you, the property taxpayer, and the tourist just passing through.
When a sign reads "Non-Resident Parking, $7" it usually applies to those who do are not local taxpayers in that municipality--not necessarily to you. It’s up to you to let them know the difference.

The Burden of Proof is Yours
It’s unfortunate, but most of us live in an untrustworthy personal and economic climate. Just because you "say" you live down-the-road-a-piece doesn’t make it so.

Therefore, SRA has provided a simple mechanism for you to deal with the problem of where you live in Wisconsin --a residency identification card. A useful adjunct to your daily Wisconsin experience that. . .
Establishes Local Status
Locates your Property
Reduces Doubt
Encourages Trust

But I'm Not a Resident of Wisconsin
Your Second Home is Your Residence

"Residency" is a loaded, legal, political term which has less to do with owning a residence than it does with voting and qualification for state-resident benefits. Short-term renters in Wisconsin have full residency rights, yet own no property and pay no property taxes. On the other hand, long-term property owners (like you) who choose to hold voting residency out of Wisconsin get no state residency benefits at all. For tax purposes most Seasonal Residents' parcels are considered "residential," and a part-time, seasonal home is a still a residence, whether you live there all the time or not. The Residency ID Card shows you are a taxpayer, and shows where your residence is located --township, county and state!

Simplify Your Life
It’s up to you to know the boundaries of your township, city, village and county and to know what services your property taxes pay. Don’t expect the "locals" to have figured this out for your. When your taxes are paying for it, you should get the same as a resident for such things as:
Local Park Admission
Library Card
School Summer Program Admission
Golf Course Fees
Special Event Parking
Trail Fees
Boat Launch Permits
Museums and Zoos
Municipal Vehicle Stickers
Sanitary Landfill Access

Establish Strong Relationships
Build mutual understanding, trust and respect with local retailers by having your ID card handy in all situations:
Check Cashing
Rental Deposits
Banking
Police Protection
Traffic Violations
Health Services

Here’s How it Works
You simply show your SRA Residence ID Card along with your driver’s license whenever asked for identification (being sure you point out that you are a part-time resident). The Residence ID card is not a form of personal identification --it only verifies where your Wisconsin property is located. As a member of SRA you are encouraged to report problems with access to public services towards which you pay property taxes.

APPLICATION
FOR RESIDENCE ID CARD***

***About the Application
 The WiSRA RESIDENCE ID card is a means of showing proof of owner’s location --of Wisconsin property-- by a seasonal resident. Along with personal identification, the Residence ID card is used to qualify for benefits
and privileges of a resident property taxpayer in the locale in which the residence is maintained.

(1) NAME: Your Residence ID card should match closely with your in-state driver’s license which will be needed to confirm your personal identification (see comments below). SRA will check your name against the membership files. When membership is in two names such as "Mr. & Mrs. Doe" or "John & Jane Doe" the applicant should use only one name per application. Additional ID cards can only be issued to those listed on land title or spouses of those people.

(2) PROPERTY LOCATION: This is normally the "street address," however many rural properties do not have conventional street names and numbers. Use a mailing address if you have one, or the fire number of your property if you don’t (for example N5565). With the exception of extremely remote locations, fire numbers are common. If in doubt, call the name listed on your tax bill and ask them how your property is identified for the purposes of "location." It might even be a Section Number on the Platte map. Please do not use a Post Office Box number. This defeats the purpose of the card for it does not confirm the specific location of your property.

(3) MUNICIPALITY: This is normally the "city" in your address, but many rural vacationers do not receive mail at their summer place are not within the boundaries of a city or village. Wisconsin counties are divided by townships or "towns." This information is listed on your tax bill. It is very important that you identify your township if you do not have a Wisconsin mailing address.

(4) COUNT/ZIP: List the county where your property is located and a zip code if you can/do receive mail. If you don’t include a zip code, we’ll assume that your residence does not receive mail.

(5) MEMBERSHIP ID NUMBER: This is listed as a four or five digit number on the address label of most correspondence sent to you by SRA; including your quarterly newsletter, LandOwner. Use of the number will help us find you in the roster.

(6) PROPERTY OWNER SINCE: Indicate the year that you first owned the property indicated.

(7) WISCONSIN PHONE: This will NOT be put on to your ID card. This is for SRA contact information only. It is optional

COMMENTS
PROOF OF RESIDENCY REQUIRED: SRA would like to confirm your residence location and keep that on file before issuing your Residence ID card. A tax bill or utility bill (phone, gas, electric, etc.) will suffice. If you have something else that matches your name and your Wisconsin location, send that instead. For additional ID cards, send us a note of explanation. All information will be kept confidential.

PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION: Positive identification of "who you are" is commonly show with a driver’s license --or in some cases a passport --because these cards have your Social Security number, signature and (in most states) a photo. All photo ID’s are not necessarily positive proof of who you are. For WiSRA purposes, you will want to use both your Personal ID and your Residence ID to establish local, seasonal residency

RESIDENCE VS. RESIDENCY: In common usage, "residency" is where one lives --all the time. Wisconsin Seasonal Residents have chosen to be non-residents. A residence, on the other hand, is a structure or vacant place that one can live --either all the time, part-time, or no-time also as one chooses. The owner of a residence must pay property taxes and is entitled to all the rights of all tax payers in the district whether they live there full time or part-time. The SRA ID card shows the whereabouts of ones residency --not proof of "residency" as commonly understood.