Minnesota property tax exemptions can lower your bill — there are breaks for owner-occupants, seniors, veterans, and homeowners with disabilities, and many people who qualify never claim them. That is money left on the table every year. Below are the Minnesota property tax exemptions that exist, who qualifies, and how to apply. Amounts and income limits change over time and some are set locally, so treat each figure as a
starting point and confirm the current number with your local assessor.
Minnesota Property Tax at a Glance
| Homestead & Primary-Residence Relief | Available — see below |
| Senior Relief (Age 65+) | Available — see below |
| Veteran & Disabled-Veteran Relief | Available — see below |
| Disability Relief | Available — see below |
Verified from official state and county sources.
In This Minnesota Guide:
Minnesota Property Tax Exemptions & Relief
An exemption lowers the value your tax is figured on (or, in some states, gives you a credit or caps how fast your value can rise) — so the same tax rate produces a smaller bill. Here is each of the Minnesota property tax exemptions available to homeowners.
Relief does not look the same everywhere. Some states knock a flat dollar amount off your home’s value; others give a credit on the tax itself, cap how much your assessed value can rise each year, or freeze the bill for qualifying seniors. A few offer an income-based rebate instead of a value exemption. The point is the same — a lower bill for people who qualify — but the
form differs, so read each program below for how it actually works rather than assuming it is a simple dollar discount.
Homestead & Primary-Residence Relief
Homestead classification (apply once with the county assessor by December 31) unlocks the Homestead Market Value Exclusion, which removes part of an owner-occupied home’s value from tax. A separate income-based Homestead Credit Refund (‘circuit breaker’) and a Special/’Targeting’ Refund (for big year-over-year increases) are claimed on state form M1PR.
How much / how it works: The exclusion is 40% of value for homes at/under about $95,000 (max about $38,000), phasing down and ending above about $517,200. Refunds are income-based. Confirm current figures with your county assessor / Minnesota Dept of Revenue.
Senior Relief (Age 65+)
Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral – owners 65+ who have owned the home 5+ years and meet an income limit can defer property tax above about 3% of income as a low-interest state loan/lien. Seniors also use the income-based Property Tax Refund.
How much / how it works: Income limit about $96,000 (recently raised). Confirm the current limit with the Minnesota Dept of Revenue.
Veteran & Disabled-Veteran Relief
Market Value Exclusion for Veterans with a Disability – excludes a large slice of the homestead’s value: $150,000 for a 70%+ service-connected disability and $300,000 for a 100% permanent-and-total disability. Surviving spouses and certain primary family caregivers may qualify. Apply to the county assessor by December 31.
How much / how it works: $150,000 (70%+) or $300,000 (100% P&T) of market value excluded. Confirm eligibility with your county assessor / county veterans service officer.
Disability Relief
A blind/disabled homestead classification (class 1b) gives a lower class rate on part of the home’s value; disabled homeowners also use the income-based Property Tax Refund.
How much / how it works: Reduced class rate on the first about $50,000 of value; confirm with your county assessor.
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Not sure which Minnesota breaks you qualify for?
How to Apply for Minnesota Property Tax Exemptions
Minnesota property tax exemptions are almost never automatic — you have to file for them, usually with your local assessor, and usually by a set date each year. Apply once for most breaks and they carry forward, but a few (like some senior or income-based programs) must be renewed. If you just bought your home, or just turned 65, or your disability or veteran status changed, that is the moment
to file.
Even one missed exemption can cost hundreds of dollars a year, so it is worth ten minutes to check.
Don’t want to appeal your Minnesota taxes yourself? A property tax appeal service can file everything for you and usually only charges if it wins — typically a share of what it saves you. It is one option; you can also appeal on your own for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Minnesota property tax exemptions are available?
Minnesota has relief for owner-occupants (homestead), seniors 65+, veterans and disabled veterans, and homeowners with disabilities. The details, amounts, and income limits are covered above — and each is worth checking, because they can stack.
Who qualifies for a homestead exemption in Minnesota?
Generally an owner who lives in the home as their primary residence. Exact rules — and whether the state uses a dollar exemption, a credit, or an assessment cap — are described in the homestead section above.
How do I apply for Minnesota property tax exemptions?
File the application with your local assessor, usually by a set date each year. Most exemptions carry forward once approved; some must be renewed. Confirm the current form and deadline with your assessor.
Can I claim more than one of the Minnesota property tax exemptions?
Often yes — for example a homestead break plus a senior or veteran break — though some programs interact. The sections above note where that applies; your assessor can confirm what stacks.
Minnesota Property Tax Sources & Data
- Tax Foundation — Property Taxes by State & County: taxfoundation.org
- U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey): census.gov/acs
- Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (property tax data): lincolninst.edu
Exemption details for Minnesota on this page were verified from official Minnesota state and county sources and last
checked in July 2026. Amounts, income limits, and deadlines change and many are set locally — confirm the current
figures and forms with your local assessor before you rely on them.
More Property Tax Guides
- Property Tax Rates by State
- Property Tax by County
- Are You Overpaying? Over-Assessment Checker
- Property Tax Exemption Finder
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Know Property Tax is an independent educational resource. It is not a government agency, not a county assessor, and not a tax-appeal service. Property tax rates, bills, exemptions, and deadlines change over time and vary by county and property. Confirm anything that affects your taxes with your county assessor or a licensed professional before you act.