​Ice dams are common in regions that experience cold, snowy winters. An ice dam is a symptom of an abnormally warm roof and can lead to costly water damage if left unaddressed.

They can occur after a heavy snowfall; and as snow melts on a warm roof, water runs downward and refreezes near the roof edge or gutters. Over time, this creates a ridge of ice that blocks proper drainage. As more snow melts, water backs up under shingles and can seep into the building.

If you notice large icicles hanging from the roofline, your building may already be at risk of ice dam damage.

Click the Read More button below for ice dam prevention tips from Society Insurance.

​Congratulations to Tyson and Julia Koput, Owners of TAPHOUSE TWENTY! They were honored at the State Capitol as a "Hometown Hero", nominated by Rep. Nancy VanderMeer, for everything they do for the Tomah community.

We couldn’t be prouder to have them as longtime WRA members.

Beyond running a successful restaurant, the Koputs have gone above and beyond to support the next generation. Between hosting international hockey players and starting the "Big Band Bash", which has raised over $33k for local jazz programs, they are constantly finding ways to show up for their neighbors. Through their events, they give over 100 students the chance to perform and learn real-world skills which embodies the heart of Wisconsin hospitality through community, passion and service.

The National Restaurant Association needs your input to guide their advocacy agenda this year. This year, policymakers will be considering everything from treatment of third-party delivery companies to immigration reform to tariffs. Please take a few moments to fill out the 2026 Advocacy Survey. The survey takes less than 15 minutes to complete and is anonymous.

​While this may be old news to some, there are still many restaurant businesses who qualify for the FICA Tip Credit and have not claimed it. 
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What is the FICA Tip Credit?
As a restaurant operator, you're paying employer FICA taxes on every dollar your staff receives in tips. What you might not know is that the federal government offers a special tax credit exclusively for food and beverage employers that reimburses these costs. 

The FICA Tip Tax Credit allows you to claim the employer-paid portion of Social Security and Medicare taxes on employee-reported tips as a credit against your tax liability. And you can claim this retroactively for the past three tax years!

You can only amend your tax return up to 3 years of taxes if you have not been taking the FICA Tip Tax Credit.  As soon as 2025 ends, you will lose one tax year of tax credit that you could have collected. We heard from a WRA member who got back $82K from this opportunity.

Help is Available From WRA's Partner Adesso 
The Wisconsin Restaurant Association has partnered with Adesso, specialists in restaurant tax credits, to help you navigate this often-overlooked opportunity. Their experts work directly with you throughout the entire process, handling the documentation and filing to maximize your refund. 
 
Check to See If You Qualify
It's definitely worth double checking that your business is taking advantage of this tax credit—before the year is over and before tax preparers get super busy with tax time. 

On occasion the Department of Revenue's Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement Unit confiscates contraband alcohol beverages. The DOR is authorized to sell the confiscated product to the highest bidder. Many times, bottles sell well below wholesale price.

This sale consists of 859 bottles of Taxed Intoxicating Liquor.

Bids for the entire lot will be accepted from either a wholesale permittee or persons licensed to sell wine at retail (Class A or B Liquor License). Items within the lot may NOT be bid on separately.

Sealed bids may be sent via email with subject “SEALED BID” to [email protected]. Bids may also be mailed to S.A. Erin Dorn at 819 N. 6th St., Room 408, Milwaukee, WI 53203 no later than January 23, 2026. 

Bid opening at 9:00 am on January 27th, 2026.
Successful bidder must pick up product in Madison by February 13, 2026.