Minnesota § 279.03 - INTEREST ON DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES
Full text of Minnesota Minnesota Statutes § 279.03 — INTEREST ON DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 279.03. INTEREST ON DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES
Subdivision 1.Interest calculation.
Section 549.09 applies with respect to judgments arising out of petitions for review filed pursuant to chapter 278.
Interest shall commence on the first day of January following the year in which the taxes become due, but the county treasurer need not calculate interest on unpaid taxes and penalties on the tax list returned to the county auditor pursuant to section 279.01.
If interest is payable for a portion of a year, the interest is calculated only for the months that the taxes or penalties remain unpaid, and for this purpose a portion of a month is deemed to be a whole month.
Subd. 1a.Rate.
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), interest on delinquent property taxes, penalties, and costs unpaid on or after January 1 is payable at the per annum rate determined in section 270C.40, subdivision 5. The maximum per annum rate is 14 percent if the rate specified under section 270C.40, subdivision 5, exceeds 14 percent. The rate is subject to change on January 1 of each year.
(b) If a person is the owner of one or more parcels of property on which taxes are delinquent, and the delinquent taxes are more than 25 percent of the prior year's school district levy, interest on the delinquent property taxes, penalties, and costs unpaid is payable at twice the rate determined under paragraph (a) for the year.
(c) A county board, by resolution, may establish an interest rate lower than the interest rate determined under paragraph (a).
Subd. 2.Composite judgment.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), amounts included in composite judgments authorized by section 279.37, subdivision 1, are subject to interest at the rate calculated under subdivision 1a. During each calendar year, interest shall accrue on the unpaid balance of the composite judgment from the time it is confessed until it is paid. The interest rate established at the time the judgment is confessed is fixed for the duration of that judgment.
(b) A confession of judgment covering any part of a parcel classified as 1a or 1b, and used as the homestead of the owner, is subject to interest at the rate provided in section 279.37, subdivision 2, paragraph (b). This paragraph does not apply to a relative homestead under section 273.124, subdivision 1, paragraph (c).
History:
(2105-1) 1931 c 315; 1933 c 121 s 3; 1943 c 281 s 2,3; 1979 c 50 s 34; 1980 c 437 s 11; 1Sp1981 c 1 art 8 s 14; 1982 c 523 art 39 s 2; 1990 c 480 art 8 s 11,12; 1991 c 265 art 9 s 67; 1991 c 291 art 1 s 32; 1992 c 511 art 4 s 16; 2005 c 151 art 2 s 17; 2014 c 308 art 2 s 12; art 9 s 39,40; 2023 c 64 art 15 s 8
Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes
Source: official Minnesota text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Minnesota § 279.03
What does Minnesota Statutes § 279.03 cover?
Section 279.03 ("INTEREST ON DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES") is part of the Minnesota Statutes, the codified statutory law of Minnesota. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Minnesota § 279.03?
A common citation format is "Minnesota Statutes § 279.03" (Minnesota). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Minnesota law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Minnesota official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Minnesota attorney.
How does Minnesota § 279.03 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Minnesota can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Minnesota.