State laws / Minnesota
Minnesota tax sales: liens, deeds, rates & redemption
Quick answerMinnesota sells tax deeds for unpaid property taxes. Redemption: Generally 3 years from the tax judgment sale (at which the county bids in the parcel for the State on the second Monday in May); 1 year for certain targeted-community and other specified properties, and 5 weeks for judicially abandoned / vacant properties (Minn. Stat. 281.17). Once the period expires the property forfeits absolutely to the State; there is no redemption after the public tax-forfeited land sale, though a former owner may apply to repurchase before that sale (Minn. Stat. 282.241). Sales: County public auctions of newly forfeited land are typically held within about six months after forfeiture and recur year-round by county; parcels are first offered at an initial price based on estimated market value, and unsold parcels are re-offered at a minimum-bid price based on the taxes, penalties, interest and costs. Governing law: Minnesota Statutes chs. 279-282, esp. 281.17 (redemption period), 282.01 and 282.005 (sale of tax-forfeited land).
Where to bid: Public Surplus is used by many counties for online tax-forfeited land sales; other counties (e.g., Washington County) hold in-person auditor-treasurer auctions or sealed-bid sales. County-specific, no statewide platform.
| What is sold | Tax deeds |
|---|---|
| Interest / penalty | n/a - Minnesota sells no lien certificates to private investors; delinquent parcels are bid in for the State and later sold as tax-forfeited land. Interest and penalties on delinquent taxes accrue to the State/county, not to a buyer. |
| Redemption period | Generally 3 years from the tax judgment sale (at which the county bids in the parcel for the State on the second Monday in May); 1 year for certain targeted-community and other specified properties, and 5 weeks for judicially abandoned / vacant properties (Minn. Stat. 281.17). Once the period expires the property forfeits absolutely to the State; there is no redemption after the public tax-forfeited land sale, though a former owner may apply to repurchase before that sale (Minn. Stat. 282.241). |
| When sales happen | County public auctions of newly forfeited land are typically held within about six months after forfeiture and recur year-round by county; parcels are first offered at an initial price based on estimated market value, and unsold parcels are re-offered at a minimum-bid price based on the taxes, penalties, interest and costs. |
| Governing law | Minnesota Statutes chs. 279-282, esp. 281.17 (redemption period), 282.01 and 282.005 (sale of tax-forfeited land) |
| Investor notes | Title vests in the State in trust for the taxing districts and the county sells by state deed; mineral interests are severed and retained by the State. Following Tyler v. Hennepin County, former owners and interested parties may claim surplus proceeds from the initial public sale of tax-forfeited land. |
Sources
- https://www.normanmn.gov/departments/auditor-treasurer/tax_forfeiture.php
- https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/what-happens-if-i-dont-pay-property-taxes-minnesota.html
- https://www.washingtoncountymn.gov/1140/Tax-Forfeited-Land
- https://www.stearnscountymn.gov/tax-forfeited-property
- https://taxlien.io/rankings/
Law verified 2026-10-30 against the sources above. Confirm current details with the county tax collector / clerk before bidding — counties can change dates and procedures.