Online Property Tax Services - Frequently Asked Questions

General Property Questions

Will I be charged for reviewing information about my property?
What type of online information is available about my property?
Is a map of my property available online?
Can other people view my property information?
Am I supposed to receive a homestead card (application) every year?
Are senior citizens' taxes frozen?
Who sets the interest rate on special assessments?
Why is my first year installment of the special assessment payment, certified to the current year’s tax, so high?
Can a partial payment be made on the special assessment balance?

Appealing My Property Taxes

Can I appeal my property taxes?
What can I do if I think the market value on my property is too high?

General Property - Answers

Will I be charged for reviewing information about my property?

No. There is no charge for reviewing tax information about an individual property.

What type of online information is available about my property?

Information on your tax district, tax amount due, and property assessment are all available using the online payment system.

Is a map of my property available online?

Not at this time. The ability to view a property map is not part of this project. However, this feature is under development.

Can other people view my property information?

Like all public records, property assessment and tax information are available to any individual or company that wishes to review it.

Am I supposed to receive a homestead card (application) every year?

No. The Homestead Law was changed. You only need to fill out a homestead application in the first year in which you are the homeowner and resident. The homestead classification will remain in place until the property is either sold or you are no longer in residence. You are required to notify the County Assessor within 30 days if the property is sold or if you are no longer occupying the property as your primary residence.

Are senior citizens' taxes frozen?

The senior citizen tax freeze that existed in the mid-1970s has been replaced by the property tax refund program. However, you may be able to defer a portion of the property tax on your homestead if you are a qualifying senior citizen.

To be eligible, you must be at least 65 years old with a household income of $60,000 or less and must have lived in your home for at least 15 years. Senior citizens that participate in this program are only required to pay a tax equal to 3 percent of their net income. The state of Minnesota will pay the remaining tax as a low-interest loan. The unpaid tax, along with accumulated interest, will become a lien on the property. This lien must be satisfied upon sale of the property.

Homeowners who apply for the property tax refund will not receive the refund as a cash payment. Instead, the refund will be applied to the deferred property tax total. To receive a fact sheet and/or an application, please call the State Property Tax Refund Office at (651) 296-0335 or (800) 652-9094, extension 6-0335.

Who sets the interest rate on special assessments?

The amount, interest and terms of a special assessment is determined be the local city or township.

Why is my first year installment of the special assessment payment, certified to the current year’s tax, so high?

Interest is collected from the completion of the project to the end of the current year. This time period could be more than 365 days for the first year of the assessment. The amount of this special assessment is certified to the first year of payment.

Can a partial payment be made on the special assessment balance?

Stearns County can only accept full payment on the balance of the special assessment.

Appealing My Property Taxes - Answers

Can I appeal my property taxes?

"Truth in Taxation" hearings are held in November/December each year to review the amount of taxes being levied by each taxing district. Citizen attendance at these meetings is important.

What can I do if I think the market value on my property is too high?

If you disagree with your estimated market value or property class, you may make formal appeal in one of the following ways:

Three-Step Appeal
Step One: Local Board of Appeal and Equalization: Your first official opportunity to appeal your property valuation or class is at the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization. You may make your appeal in person, through a designated representative, or by sending a letter. If your appeal is unsuccessful, proceed to step two.

NOTE: If you do not first appeal to the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization, your appeal cannot be heard by the County Board of Appeal and Equalization.

Step Two: County Board of Appeal and Equalization:
Appeals to the County Board of Appeal and Equalization can be made in person, through a designated representative, or by sending a letter. To schedule an appointment for your appeal, call the County Auditor-Treasurer ’s office before the scheduled June meeting at (320) 656-3900. If you are dissatisfied with the results of this appeal, you may continue to step three.

Step Three: Tax Court:
There are two divisions of the Minnesota Tax Court, the small claims division and the regular division.

The small claims division will hear appeals involving the valuation, assessment, or taxation of real and personal property if it involves: the denial of a homestead application; a single parcel containing one residential homestead dwelling unit; the entire property is classified as agricultural homestead; property of any class having an estimated market value of less than $300,000, as determined by the assessor; or any other case in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $5,000, including penalty and interest. All decisions of the small claims division are final and cannot be appealed to another court. The cost of filing an appeal in the small claims division is $32, plus a law library fee.

The regular division will hear appeals that are not eligible to be heard by the small claims division. The regular division is more formal than the small claims division. Taxpayers are often represented by an attorney. Ordinary rules of court and evidence apply. Decisions of the regular division can be appealed to a higher court. The cost of filing an appeal in the regular division is $135, plus a library fee.

One-Step Appeal
Appeals may be made directly to either the small claims division or the regular division of the Tax Court without utilizing the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization and the County Board . Both the small claims division and the regular division of the Minnesota Tax Court are described above.

All appeals to Tax Court must be filed on or before April 30th of the year the tax becomes payable. Specific instructions for appealing to Tax Court can be obtained by contacting the Minnesota Tax Court, Room 245, 25 Constitution Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55155 or from the court administrator in Stearns County . You may obtain additional information from their web site at www.taxcourt.state.mn.us.