Part of homeownership is dealing with property taxes. But with rates that vary from place to place and change with market fluctuations, it can be hard to interpret your tax responsibilities.

That’s why home and

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is here to walk you through the ins and outs of property taxes in your area. In this article, we’ll cover Hennepin County property tax information, including how and when to pay your property taxes in

Minnesota’s

most populous county.

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Property tax 101

If you’ve never paid property taxes before, here’s what you need to know:

Property taxes are assigned by local government to pay for public works and community services (think law enforcement, education, fire safety, and libraries)

Most property taxes apply to real property like land, buildings, and homes

Your property taxes will be determined by a local tax assessor who assigns rates based on market values and a local tax rate

Property taxes are subject to frequent change based on market conditions and local budgets

Basically, property taxes are how local governments collect funding from people who’ve put down roots in a community.

MORE: Is car insurance tax deductible?

What is the property tax rate in Hennepin County?

Hennepin County’s average tax rate is 1.28% of assessed home values—just above the state average of 1.08%. Based on that rate, you can expect to pay an average of $3,336 a year in property taxes.

You can check out a detailed breakdown of the 2022 proposed tax rates on the

Hennepin County website

How Hennepin County property taxes are determined

All property in Hennepin County is located in multiple taxing districts at the county, school district, and city levels.

Each of the county’s 70+ local governments sets a budget each year and levies taxes accordingly, with a county auditor determining the tax rate for each district.

The value of your property, on the other hand, is determined by

your local tax assessor

based on the property’s fair market value. If you think your property’s value has been calculated incorrectly, you’ve got the option of

appealing the assessment

at the local office.

If you own your property and use it as a primary residence, you may qualify for a

Homestead Market Value Exclusion

or other tax reduction under Minnesota law.

What do Hennepin County property taxes pay for?

Hennepin County directs revenues from property taxes towards a variety of services, including the following:

Transportation

Roads and highways

Libraries

Law enforcement

Public health

Building safety

Public libraries

K-12 and community education

Regional sewer system

Mosquito control

Watershed management

Public housing

Museums

If you’re not happy with the way your property taxes are being allocated, you can attend a

Truth in Taxation

budget meeting for a chance to influence budget decisions.

MORE: How to deduct a car accident from your taxes

How to pay property taxes in Hennepin County

Hennepin County property taxes are due each year on May 15 and October 15. Should those dates fall on a holiday or weekend, your taxes will be due the following business day.

Taxpayers in Hennepin County have a

few convenient options

for paying property taxes. You can pay online, by mail, in person, or through your mortgage payment. Here’s how:

Online: You can use an

e-check

direct deposit

, or a

credit or debit card

to pay Hennepin County property taxes—just be aware that card payments will be subject to a convenience fee.

By mail: Make your check payable to the Hennepin County Treasurer and send it to: Hennepin County Treasurer, A-600 Government Center, 300 S 6th Street Minneapolis MN 55487-0060.

In person: Head to the sixth floor of the Hennepin County Government Center at 300 South Sixth Street in Minneapolis and pay at the property tax counter—or leave your payment in the drop box.

Through your mortgage: Hennepin County will send tax information to your mortgage lender if you choose to include your property taxes in your mortgage payment. Check with your lender to set this up.

MORE:

Minnesota car insurance laws—all you need to know

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