State · LIHTC 2026
LIHTC in Wisconsin: 2026 allocations, QAP and data
Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) allocates Wisconsin's housing tax credits. The population-based part of Wisconsin's 2026 9% credit ceiling, before carryforwards and returned credits, is $20,403,040. That is $3.416 times 5,972,787 residents. Its 2026 private activity bond cap, which 4% deals compete for, is $806,326,245 ($135 per person).
Agency and qualified allocation plan
| Allocating agency | Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) |
|---|---|
| Tax credit program page | WHEDA LIHTC page |
| Current QAP | 2025-2026 Qualified Allocation Plan (2025-2026) |
| QAP status | Amended by seven modifications. Final 2027-2028 QAP announced by Gov. Evers and WHEDA in 2026: wheda.com link |
Agency and QAP links checked 2026-10-30.
2026 credit ceiling and bond cap
| Item | 2026 | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| Population (IRS Notice 2026-22) | 5,972,787 | 21st of 52 |
| 9% ceiling, population amount | $20,403,040 | $3.42 |
| Formula | greater of $3.416 × pop or $3,953,600 | per-capita applies |
| Private activity bond cap | $806,326,245 | $135.00 |
| Formula | greater of $135 × pop or $397,625,000 | per-capita applies |
Sources: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 secs. 4.08 and 4.19 (the 9% amounts already include the 12% increase from Pub. L. 119-21 sec. 70422); IRS Notice 2026-22 (2026-15 I.R.B.). Computed by us and rounded to the dollar; agencies may round differently.
Only the population amount is shown. The full 2026 ceiling adds credits unused from 2025, credits returned by projects and any share of the national pool, which the agency reports in its allocation materials. See every state side by side on the 2026 ceilings and bond caps table.
Basis boost areas: 2027 QCTs and DDAs
HUD's 2027 lists, which apply from January 1, 2027, put 195 Wisconsin census tracts in qualified census tracts, spread across 24 counties. No nonmetropolitan county is a 2027 DDA. In metro areas, 6 ZIP code areas (ZCTAs) are Small Area DDAs. A building in either can take 130% of eligible basis. Check an address with the QCT and DDA lookup.
| County | 2027 QCT tracts |
|---|---|
| Milwaukee County | 117 |
| Dane County | 20 |
| Brown County | 7 |
| Kenosha County | 7 |
| La Crosse County | 6 |
Metro areas with Small Area DDAs: Janesville-Beloit, WI MSA; Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA.
Every Wisconsin qualified census tract, with its population, poverty rate and median income, is on the Wisconsin QCT list by county.
Source: HUD 2027 QCT and DDA designations, FR Doc. 2026-20390 (91 FR 63573, Oct. 6, 2026).
Tax credit properties in Wisconsin
HUD's database lists 852 Wisconsin properties financed with housing tax credits that the allocating agency still monitors, with 25,261 income-restricted units. The largest city totals are below; see all cities on the Wisconsin apartments page.
| City | Properties | Restricted units |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 159 | 4,872 |
| Madison | 56 | 2,097 |
| Racine | 20 | 814 |
| Green Bay | 17 | 646 |
| Kenosha | 16 | 617 |
| Fitchburg | 7 | 472 |
| Greenfield | 6 | 379 |
| Oshkosh | 15 | 360 |
| Brown Deer | 7 | 345 |
| Sun Prairie | 8 | 342 |
| County | Properties | Restricted units |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee County | 200 | 6,837 |
| Dane County | 101 | 4,094 |
| Waukesha County | 25 | 1,144 |
| Racine County | 28 | 1,077 |
| Kenosha County | 24 | 866 |
| Brown County | 22 | 809 |
| Rock County | 24 | 685 |
| Winnebago County | 28 | 640 |
| St. Croix County | 23 | 586 |
| Marathon County | 24 | 562 |
For buyers and lenders: the Wisconsin Year 15 and Year 30 list shows which of these properties reach the end of the compliance period or the 30-year extended use minimum from 2022 to 2034, by county.
Source: HUD's national LIHTC database (LIHTCPUB, revised May 28, 2026; projects placed in service through 2024). City pages cover cities with at least five properties; county links go to that county's 2026 income and rent limits.
Financing a LIHTC deal in Wisconsin
A 9% deal in Wisconsin competes for WHEDA's 2026 ceiling of $20,403,040 (population amount) under the 2025-2026 Qualified Allocation Plan. A 4% deal needs an award from the state's $806,326,245 private activity bond cap: tax-exempt bonds must finance 50% of the aggregate basis of the building and land, or at least 25% if one or more of those bonds, from an issue dated after December 31, 2025, together finance at least 5% of that basis (the 25% bond test, for buildings placed in service in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025). Sites in Wisconsin's 195 qualified census tracts for 2027 can take the 130% basis boost.
On HUD's records for the 529 Wisconsin properties on this site's city pages, 15% of those reporting the field were financed with tax-exempt bonds and 80% took 9% (70% present value) credits; 77 received allocations in 2015 or later.
Sources: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32; HUD 2027 QCT list; HUD's national LIHTC database (LIHTCPUB, revised May 28, 2026; projects placed in service through 2024), bond and credit-type fields. What to read in a QAP: state LIHTC programs. Sizing a Wisconsin deal: get a financing quote.
State housing tax credit
Yes. Wisconsin State Housing Tax Credit, Wis. Stat. 234.45 and 71.07(8b) (2017 Act 176). WHEDA may certify up to $42M a year; awarded under the same QAP as federal credits. (primary source)
More Wisconsin data
- Wisconsin 2026 income and rent limitsby county
- Wisconsin tax credit apartmentsby city
- Wisconsin QCTs and DDAs2027 lists by county
- Year 15 and Year 30 propertiesby county
- QCT and DDA lookupby address
- Monthly credit ratesIRS
- LIHTC in West Virginiaprevious
- LIHTC in Wyomingnext
- All statescompare
Questions people ask
How much 9% LIHTC does Wisconsin get in 2026?
The population part of Wisconsin's 2026 housing credit ceiling is $20,403,040: the greater of $3.416 per resident or $3,953,600, applied to the 5,972,787 population in IRS Notice 2026-22. The agency's actual 2026 authority also adds unused and returned credits and any national pool share, so its own published figure can be higher.
Who allocates housing tax credits in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). It awards 9% credits under its qualified allocation plan (2025-2026 Qualified Allocation Plan, 2025-2026) and sets the rules 4% bond deals must meet to receive credits.
Does Wisconsin have a state low-income housing tax credit?
Yes. Wisconsin State Housing Tax Credit, Wis. Stat. 234.45 and 71.07(8b) (2017 Act 176). WHEDA may certify up to $42M a year; awarded under the same QAP as federal credits.
Financing a Wisconsin tax credit deal?
Construction, bond, bridge-to-equity and permanent debt for Wisconsin 4% and 9% deals.