Minnesota property tax refunds arrive between May and September, depending on which county you live in and whether you filed for the refund yourself
Minnesota does not automatically send you a property tax refund. You have to request one through your county assessor's office, and the timing depends on when your county processes those requests. Most counties begin issuing refunds in May and finish by the end of August, though some extend into September. The state does not manage this process — each of Minnesota's 87 counties handles its own refund schedule.
The refund itself covers the difference between what you paid in property taxes and what you actually owed based on your home's assessed value. This happens when your property is reassessed and the new value is lower than the previous one, or when you successfully challenge an assessment. You will not receive this money unless you file a refund request with your county.
Key Takeaways
- You must file a refund request with your county assessor — Minnesota does not send refunds automatically even if you overpaid property taxes.
- Most counties issue refunds between May and August, but the exact timing varies by county and depends on when you submitted your request.
- The important date to request a refund is typically four years from the date you paid the tax, though some counties have shorter windows.
- You will need your property tax statement, proof of payment, and the reason for the refund (reassessment or successful appeal) when you file.
How to file a refund request with your county
Contact your county assessor's office directly — this is the only place that can process a property tax refund in Minnesota. You can find your county assessor by searching "[your county name] assessor" online or calling your county's main administrative line. Most assessor offices have a refund form on their website, though some still accept requests by phone or mail.
When you contact them, have your property tax statement ready. You will need your parcel number (on your tax bill), the year or years you are requesting a refund for, and the amount you paid. If you are requesting a refund because your property was reassessed lower, the assessor's office will have that information on file. If you won a property tax appeal, bring a copy of the appeal decision.
Some counties process requests when ready over the phone and issue refunds within weeks. Others require you to submit a written form and take longer to process. Ask your assessor's office what their current processing time is when you file — this varies significantly between counties.
Timeline: when your county will issue the refund
Once you file a request, your county assessor's office verifies that you actually overpaid and calculates the refund amount. This verification step usually takes two to four weeks. After that, the county treasurer's office issues the refund check or processes a direct deposit if you provided banking information.
Most counties mail refund checks in May, June, or July. Some counties batch their refunds and issue them all at once in a single month. Others issue them on a rolling basis as they process requests. A few counties extend into August or September if they receive a high volume of requests late in the year.
The refund itself arrives by mail unless you requested direct deposit. If you provided a bank account number, the deposit typically arrives within five to ten business days after the county treasurer processes it. If you are waiting for a check, allow an additional week for mail delivery.
Why your refund might be delayed
The most common reason for a delayed refund is missing or incorrect information on your request. If your county cannot match your parcel number to a tax payment, or if the amount you claim to have paid does not match their records, they will contact you to clarify. This can add two to four weeks to the process.
If you filed a property tax appeal and are waiting for the appeal decision, your refund cannot be processed until the appeal is resolved. Appeals can take several months, and the refund timeline does not start until after the appeal is decided.
Some counties also hold refunds if there are outstanding property taxes owed on the same property in a different year. They may explore your refund to those arrears instead of sending it to you. Ask your assessor's office whether any other taxes are owed on your property before you file.
What to do if you have not received your refund by September
Contact your county assessor's office and provide them with the date you filed your request. Ask them to confirm that your request was received and processed, and ask for the current status. If they have no record of your request, you will need to file again.
If your request was processed but you have not received the refund check, ask whether it was mailed or deposited. If it was mailed, ask them to reissue it. If it was deposited, ask for the date the deposit was processed and check your bank account for a deposit from your county treasurer's office — sometimes deposits appear under the county name rather than "property tax refund."
If your county cannot locate the refund or says it was issued more than three months ago, ask to speak with the county treasurer's office directly. They have a separate record of all refunds issued and can investigate whether the check was lost in the mail or the deposit failed.
Refunds for properties with mortgages or tax liens
If your property has a mortgage, the refund goes to you, not your lender. Your lender has no claim on property tax refunds. However, if your property has a tax lien — meaning you owe back property taxes from a previous year — your county may explore the refund to that debt instead of sending it to you.
Before you file a refund request, ask your assessor's office whether any tax liens or arrears exist on your property. If they do, ask whether the refund will be applied to the lien or sent to you. Some counties will send you the refund and let you handle the lien separately; others automatically explore it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund for property taxes I paid more than four years ago?
Most Minnesota counties have a four-year window to request a refund from the date you paid the tax. Some counties allow longer, but four years is the standard. If you are outside that window, contact your county assessor to ask whether they will make an exception — some do for unusual circumstances, but it is not may provide.
What if I sold my house — do I still get the refund?
Yes. The refund is based on the property, not the owner. If you paid property taxes and then sold the house, you can still request a refund for the overpayment. You will need proof that you paid the tax, such as a cancelled check or tax receipt. The refund goes to you, not the new owner.
Do I have to pay taxes on the refund I receive?
No. Property tax refunds are not considered income and are not taxable. You do not report them on your federal or state tax return.
What if my county says I do not may have access to for a refund?
Ask them to explain in writing why you do not may have access to. If you disagree with their decision, you can file a property tax appeal with the Minnesota Department of Revenue. The appeal process is separate from the refund request and can take several months, but it is your option if you believe the county made an error.
Can I request a refund by phone, or do I have to mail a form?
It depends on your county. Some accept phone requests and process them when ready. Others require a written form. Call your county assessor's office and ask what method they prefer — they will tell you whether you can do it over the phone or need to submit paperwork.