Where to file your Minnesota property tax refund

Minnesota property tax refunds are filed through the Minnesota Department of Revenue's online portal, not through your local assessor or county office. You can file at taxes.state.mn.us using the Property Tax Refund process, which opens each year on a set schedule. The department handles all refund claims for the state, regardless of which county your property is in.

You do not need to create a new account if you have already filed Minnesota taxes online before — your existing login works for the property tax refund system. If you have never filed online with the state, you will need to set up an account with a username and password before you can start a refund claim.

The filing window varies by year. The department typically opens the process in early summer and closes it in the fall, though the exact dates change. Check the Department of Revenue website or call 651-296-3781 to confirm when the current year's window is open, because you cannot file outside those dates.

Key Takeaways

  • File through taxes.state.mn.us using the Department of Revenue's Property Tax Refund process during the annual filing window, which typically runs from summer through fall.
  • You need your property's market value from your assessment notice, your household income from your tax return, and proof of payment such as a property tax receipt or mortgage statement showing taxes paid.
  • The refund is based on a formula that compares your property taxes to your household income — you do not choose the amount.
  • Processing takes several weeks after you file; the department will mail a check to the address on your claim or deposit it directly if you provide banking information.

What documents you need before you start

Gather these items before you log in to file. You will need your property's market value from your most recent assessment notice — this is the value the county assessor assigned to your property, not what you paid for it or what it might sell for. The assessment notice arrives in the mail each year and shows the market value clearly at the top.

You also need your household income from your federal tax return for the year you are claiming the refund for. This is your total income before deductions. If you filed jointly with a spouse, use the combined income from that return.

Finally, you need proof that you paid property taxes on the property. This can be a property tax receipt from your county, a mortgage statement showing property taxes paid in escrow, or a closing statement from when you bought the property. If you rent and your landlord pays the property tax, you cannot file for a refund — the refund is only for property owners.

Step-by-step: logging in and starting your claim

Go to taxes.state.mn.us and select "Sign In" in the upper right. If you have a Minnesota tax account from filing state income tax online, use that username and password. If you do not have an account, select "Create Account" and follow the prompts to set up a username, password, and security questions.

Once you are signed in, look for the Property Tax Refund process. It is usually listed under "Individual" or "My Applications" depending on the year. Click on it to open a new claim. The system will ask you to confirm the tax year you are filing for — this is the year the property taxes were paid, not the current year.

Enter your name, address, and the property address if it is different from where you live. The system will ask whether you own the property outright or have a mortgage. If you have a mortgage, the lender's name and address may be requested so they can be notified of the refund.

Entering your property and income information

The process asks for your property's market value. Enter the figure from your assessment notice exactly as it appears. Do not estimate or round. If you cannot find your assessment notice, you can look up your property value on your county assessor's website — most counties have searchable databases where you enter your address and see the assessed value.

Next, enter your household income. Use the total income from your federal tax return for that year. If you are married and filed jointly, use the combined income. If you filed separately, use only your income. The system will calculate whether you meet the income threshold for a refund based on this number and your property value.

You will also be asked to confirm that you owned and occupied the property on January 2 of the year you are claiming the refund for. This means you must have owned it and lived there on that specific date. If you bought the property later in the year, you are not may be able to access for that year's refund.

Uploading proof of payment and ownership

The system will ask you to upload a document showing you paid property taxes. A property tax receipt from your county works best — this is a document the county sends after you pay your taxes, showing the amount paid and the property address. If you do not have a receipt, a mortgage statement showing property taxes paid in escrow is acceptable, as is a closing statement from your purchase.

Upload the document as a PDF or image file. The file must be clear enough to read the property address, the tax amount, and the year. If the document is blurry or cut off, the department may reject it and ask you to resubmit. Take a photo with your phone if you need to — just make sure the text is legible.

Some filers also need to upload proof of ownership, such as a deed or property tax statement showing their name. The system will tell you if this is required for your claim. If you are unsure whether a document counts, the Department of Revenue's website has examples of acceptable documents, or you can call 651-296-3781 to ask.

Submitting your claim and tracking your refund

Review all the information you entered before you submit. The system will show you a summary of your claim, including the property address, market value, household income, and the documents you uploaded. Check that everything matches your records. If you see an error, go back and correct it before submitting.

Click "Submit" to send your claim to the Department of Revenue. The system will give you a confirmation number — save this number or take a screenshot. You will need it if you need to contact the department about your claim.

Processing takes several weeks. The department will send you a letter in the mail telling you whether your claim was approved or denied, and if approved, when to expect your refund. You can also check the status of your claim by logging back into your account and viewing your submitted applications. Some years the department offers direct deposit — if that option is available, you can enter your bank account information to have the refund deposited instead of mailed.

What happens if your claim is denied

The most common reason for denial is that your household income is above the limit for that year. The income threshold changes each year and depends on your property value — higher-value properties have lower income limits. If you are denied for this reason, you cannot appeal, but you may be may be able to access next year if your income changes.

A claim can also be denied if you do not own the property, did not own it on January 2 of the year you claimed, or did not live there. If you believe the denial was an error, you can contact the Department of Revenue at 651-296-3781 with your confirmation number and ask them to review your claim. Have your documents ready to explain why you believe you are may be able to access.

If your documents were rejected as unclear or incomplete, the department will tell you what is needed. You can resubmit during the same filing window if time remains, or wait until the next year's window opens to file again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file if I just bought my house this year?

No, not for this year. You must have owned and lived in the property on January 2 of the year you are claiming the refund for. If you bought in March, you can file for next year's refund. Check with your county assessor about whether you will receive an assessment notice for the partial year you owned it.

What if I cannot find my assessment notice?

Look up your property value on your county assessor's website. Most counties have online databases where you enter your address and see the assessed market value. Write down the exact figure and use that in your claim. You can also call your county assessor's office and ask them to tell you the market value.

Do I need to file every year?

You must file each year you want a refund. There is no automatic renewal. The filing window opens once per year, usually in summer, so mark your calendar or check the Department of Revenue website in June to see when it opens.

What if my property value or income changed since I filed?

You cannot change a claim after you submit it. If you made an error, contact the Department of Revenue at 651-296-3781 before the filing window closes to ask whether you can withdraw and refile. If the window has closed, you will need to wait until next year to file again.

How long does it take to get the refund after I file?

Processing typically takes four to eight weeks from the time you submit your claim. The department will mail you a letter with the decision before sending the refund. If you chose direct deposit, the refund will be deposited to your bank account. If not, a check will be mailed to the address on your claim.