Mail your Minnesota property tax refund to the Minnesota Department of Revenue
If Minnesota has issued you a property tax refund, you send it to the Minnesota Department of Revenue, not to your local assessor or county office. The state processes all property tax refunds centrally. The address where you mail your check depends on whether you are responding to a notice from the state or sending in a refund request on your own.
The most common reason for a property tax refund is that you have overpaid — either because you sent in a payment twice by mistake, paid more than your actual tax bill, or the state determined you owed less than originally assessed. The Department of Revenue handles the refund process, and they will tell you where to send your payment if one is due from you, or where to expect a refund check if one is due to you.
Key Takeaways
- Property tax refunds go to the Minnesota Department of Revenue, not your county or local assessor.
- If the state sent you a notice about a refund, follow the mailing address printed on that notice rather than a general address.
- If you are sending a refund check because you overpaid, mail it to the address listed in the notice you received from the Department of Revenue.
- The Department of Revenue processes refunds by mail, and you can also contact them by phone or through their website to confirm where to send your payment.
Finding the correct mailing address on your notice
The Department of Revenue includes a mailing address on every notice they send you about a property tax refund. This address is the safest place to send your payment because it is specific to your case and may route your check to the correct processing unit within the department.
Look for the notice you received from the state — it will be labeled as a property tax refund notice or a notice of overpayment. The mailing address will appear near the bottom of the notice, often in a box labeled "Send payment to" or "Mail to." Use that address exactly as printed, including the ZIP code.
If you have lost the original notice, you can contact the Department of Revenue directly to ask for the current mailing address. They can confirm the address over the phone and also tell you whether your refund has already been processed.
The Minnesota Department of Revenue general mailing address
If you do not have a notice in front of you and need a general mailing address, the Department of Revenue's main office is located in St. Paul. However, property tax refunds may be processed at a different location than general inquiries, so calling ahead is more reliable than guessing at an address.
The department's phone number is available on the Minnesota Department of Revenue website. When you call, tell them you have a property tax refund to mail in, and they will give you the exact address for that type of payment. This takes five minutes and prevents your check from being misdirected.
What information to include with your refund check
When you mail a refund check to the Department of Revenue, include a note with your name, address, and the property address that the refund relates to. If you received a notice from the state, include the notice number or reference number from that notice as well.
Write this information on a separate sheet of paper and tape or clip it to the back of your check. Do not write on the check itself beyond the standard signature and date. This helps the department match your payment to the correct account and process it faster.
How long refunds take to process
Once the Department of Revenue receives your refund check, processing typically takes several weeks. The exact timeline depends on mail delivery time, the current volume of refunds the department is handling, and whether your information matches their records without errors.
If you are concerned about whether your refund was received, you can contact the Department of Revenue after four weeks have passed. Have your notice number or property address ready when you call. They can tell you whether the check has been deposited and when you can expect a confirmation.
If you are receiving a refund instead of sending one
If the Department of Revenue owes you a refund rather than the other way around, they will mail the check to the address on file for your property. You do not need to do anything — the state will send the check automatically once the refund is approved.
Refund checks from the state typically arrive within four to eight weeks of approval. If you do not receive your check within that timeframe, contact the Department of Revenue with your notice number. They can verify whether the check was mailed and issue a replacement if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mail my property tax refund to my county assessor instead of the state?
No. Property tax refunds must go to the Minnesota Department of Revenue, not your county or local assessor. The state handles all refund processing centrally, even though your property tax bill comes from your county.
What if I do not have the notice the Department of Revenue sent me?
Call the Department of Revenue and provide your name and property address. They can look up your account, confirm that a refund is due, and give you the correct mailing address. You can also request a copy of the original notice.
Should I send my refund check by certified mail?
Certified mail is not required, but it does give you proof that the Department of Revenue received your check. Regular mail works fine, though certified mail can be helpful if you want documentation for your records.
What if my refund check gets lost in the mail?
Contact the Department of Revenue after four weeks if you have not received confirmation that your check arrived. They can issue a replacement check or explore the refund as a credit to your next property tax bill, depending on your preference.