Name: Board of Commissioners Meeting
Start: 2025-01-28T08:00:00-06:00
End: 2025-01-28T17:00:00-06:00
Location: Historic Courthouse

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Auditor-Treasurer Home

The Auditor-Treasurer receives payment of all current and delinquent property taxes. This department also calculates the tax rates, prepares the Truth in Taxation Notices and Property Tax Statements. This department handles all information regarding land transfers, elections and business license.

The Auditor-Treasurer calculates tax rates and taxes due based on the levy request submitted by the county, cities, school districts and special taxing districts. After payment, apportions and disburses the proceeds to the various governmental subdivisions.
Prepared the Truth in Taxation Notices and Property Tax Statements for every taxable real and personal property in Houston County.
Maintains and collects property taxes and spreads the tax collections to the proper taxing district
Works with tax credits and special tax deferments
Maintains special assessments for cities and townships, applies the payments for collection and remits the annual installments to the proper taxing district
Administers Tax increment Financing as it pertains to tax calculation
Conducts Tax Forfeiture Land Sales on behalf of the county
Maintains the tax roll through updates to ownership, splits, transfers and the combining parcel process
Chief Elections Administrator for Houston County
Serves as Deputy Registrar (License Center) for the county
Processes liquor, auctioneer, transient merchants and peddlers license
Acts as the bank and custodian of all County funds and cash assets
Invest idle cash reserves into such banking instruments as CD’s (certificate of deposit) and Money Market (savings account)
The department is required by law to maintain a set of records for all funds received and expended. Similar records are kept by the Houston County Finance Department. This provides a system of checks and balances necessary in all financial administration.
The Auditor-Treasurer is elected by the citizens of Houston County to serve a four year term

Property Taxes

Send Tax Payments by mail (including tax stub(s) to:
Houston County Auditor-Treasurer
304 S. Marshall St. Room 112
Caledonia MN 55921
Pay Taxes On-Line
- To pay by credit/debit, a 2.5% convenience fee will apply
- To pay be eCheck, a $1.50 convenience fee will apply
Direct Payment Signup Form (ACH)
Payment Box:
- Located at front door of Historic Courthouse at 304 S. Marshall St. in Caledonia (door facing the west)
- Please ensure your payment (check or money order made payable to Houston County Auditor-Treasurer) is clearly marked on outside of envelope with ‘Auditor-Treasurer’. The tax stub(s) should also be included with payment.
Pay in Person:
- To pay in person, our office hours are 8 AM – 4:30 PM Monday – Friday
  - Please bring in your tax stub to:
    Historic Courthouse – Room 112
    304 S. Marshall St.
    Caledonia MN 55921

Parcel Search & GIS Information
When are taxes due?
Real Estate and Personal Property: First ½ due May 15^th
Real Estate and Personal Property: Second ½ due October 15^th
Property classed as Agricultural: First ½ due May 15^th
Property classed as Agricultural: Second ½ due November 15^th
Manufactured Homes: First ½ due August 31^st
Manufactured Homes: Second ½ due November 15^th
Please check the due dates printed on your tax statements

How do I calculate the penalty for a late tax payment?
On the back of your tax statement is a ‘Schedule of Penalties for late Payment of Property Tax’. The penalty rate changes on the day after due dates and the first day of every month. The schedule is complex and confusing: if you have any questions, please call the Auditor-Treasurer’s office at 507-725-5815

My property tax estimated market value is wrong: who can help me?
The Houston county Assessor’s office will assist you in determining the correct estimated market value. (507) 725-5801

Where do I change my Homestead status?
The office of the Houston County Assessor maintains all Homestead applications. Forms may be obtained by phone at (507) 725-5801

How do I change the owner’s name on my tax statement?
Real Estate Tax: A legal document transferring ownership of the property must be recorded in the Houston County Recorder’s office. It is advisable that the document be prepared by an attorney to ensure proper form and legality.

Manufactured Home Tax: A photo copy of the Certificate of Title with the new owner’s name must be sent to the Houston County Assessor’s office.

How do I remove my deceased spouse’s name from my tax statement?
Real Estate: A legal document such as an Affidavit of Survivorship or a document transferring ownership of the property must be recorder in the Houston Count Recorder’s office. A death certificate will not work. It is advisable that the document be prepared by an attorney to ensure proper form and legality.

Manufactured Homes: You must apply for a new Certificate of Title from a Deputy Registrar for MN Dept. of Motor Vehicle and present a photocopy of the new title to the Houston County Assessor’s office. The sellers name must remain on the tax rolls until the County receives the new title.

How are state Deed and Mortgage Registry taxes calculated?
State Deed tax is the selling price X .0033, or a fraction thereof, or total consideration conveyed by the deed. The seller is legally responsible for paying the deed tax. The deed tax is due upon the execution and delivery of the deed, not the recording.

Mortgage Registration tax is the selling price X .0023, or fraction thereof, of the principal debt which is secured by the mortgage. The MRT is to be imposed on the recording of the document. The MRT laws do not specifically address the question of who is legally responsible for paying the MRT. However, the laws are clear that a mortgage cannot be recorded until the MRT is paid.

Where can I get the dimension of my property? How can I tell where my property lines are?
The tax rolls contain summary descriptions of the property: complete legal descriptions should be obtained from the latest recorded deed.

It may be necessary for you to contract with a private surveyor to determine the actual property lines of your property. Houston County does not have surveys of all parcels in the county.

The Houston County Assessor’s office has detailed information on all property in the county including acreage, property dimensions, building square footage, type of construction, etc.

Where do I get a copy of my deed?
The Houston County Recorder’s office. (507) 725-5813

The amount of taxes on a certain piece of property?
Check this website, from the home page click on Property Search

Is tax information available on our website?
Yes, from this website’s home page, click on Property Search

Houston County Newspaper Bid Form

Official Newspaper Advertisement

Tax Supplemental Budget Information
Township - ISD 238
Township - ISD 239
Township - ISD 294
Township - ISD 297 (1)
Township - ISD 297 (2)
Township - ISD 299
Township - ISD 300
City of Houston - ISD 294
City of Spring Grove - ISD 297
City of Brownsville - ISD 299
City of Caledonia - ISD 299
City of Eitzen - ISD 299
City of Brownsville - ISD 300
City of La Crescent - ISD 300

Passports

To apply for a Passport or Renew a Passport, visit the Auditor-Treasurers Office in the Historic Courthouse at 304 S. Marshall St. in Caledonia– Room 112 – 1^st Floor

To obtain a Passport Photo, visit the Recorders Office in the Historic Courthouse in the Historic Courthouse at 304 S. Marshall St. in Caledonia – Room 111 – 1^st Floor

Items to bring along when applying for a Passport in person: (for most common types of requests)

Valid Drivers License
Certified Birth Certificate (not the one the hospital issues)
At least three check blanks

Please bring Marriage License (in addition to the items listed above) if the name on Drivers License is still in maiden name and you are requesting the Passport to be issued in your married name

For additional information, visit the links below:

Business License

Auctioneer License

Minnesota Statute 330 requires that auctioneers in the state of Minnesota be licensed. Application for an auctioneer license is made in Houston County. Licenses are valid for one year.

Resident – Visit the Auditor-Treasurer’s Office in the Historic Courthouse – Room 116 – First Floor or call 507-725-5803 for more information
Non-Resident – Visit the Auditor-Treasurer’s Office in the Historic Courthouse – Room 116 – First Floor or call 507-725-5803 for more information

Canvasser/Solicitor License (30 day)

A canvasser or solicitor includes any person going from place to place taking or attempting to take orders for sale of goods or services for future delivery. This will not apply to salespeople who solicit orders from or sell to retail dealers for resale or to manufacturers for manufacturing purposes or to bidders for public works or supplies. A canvasser or solicitor also includes any person going from place to place requesting financial assistance of any kind for charitable, political, religious or other causes.