Minnesota surplus funds list
Unclaimed overages from tax deed and foreclosure sales.
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Minnesota surplus funds rules
- Sales that create surplus
- Tax-forfeited land sale by county (ch. 282; Mortgage foreclosure by advertisement; Judicial mortgage foreclosure (ch. 581); HOA/common-interest lien foreclosure by advertisement (515B.3-116)
- Who holds the money
- Tax: county auditor (minimum bid to forfeited tax sale fund; excess available for distribution, 282.005 subd. 5). Mortgage: sheriff holds surplus >= $100 for the redemption period (580.10 subd. 1).
- Unclaimed funds go to
- Tax: if no interested party claims within the claim period (or court finds none entitled), proceeds return to the county forfeited tax sale fund (282.005 subds. 6(c), 9); unclaimed mineral payments cancel to general fund. Mortgage: not addressed in 580.10; court order under 580.28 for disputes.
- How owners claim
- Tax: auditor mails notice + Commissioner of Revenue claim form within 60 days of sale (certified mail; second first-class notice 90-120 days after sale; notice to occupants); interested party (owner, lienholder, or person registered under 276.041) files claim with county auditor. Mortgage: written demand to sheriff; owner may apply surplus to redemption (580.10 subd. 3); junior lienholders demand within redemption period with affidavit. — deadline: Tax: within 6 months after the notice is first mailed (282.005 subd. 6(a)); county pays only after claim period expires. Mortgage: junior creditors must demand within redemption period; owner then gets remainder.
- Agent / finder fee cap
- No finder/fee cap provisions in 282.005 or 580.10. State unclaimed property finder rules (ch. 345): . verify
- Waiting period
- None in 282.005; county cannot pay before 6-month claim period ends.
- Registration
- None found.
- Getting the list
- 282.005 subd. 7 requires each county to post on its website a list of sales with unexpired claim periods within 60 days of sale. verify
Law: Minn. Stat. 282.005 (2024 c 127 art 70 s 4); 580.10 (am. 2025 c 35 art 10 s 4)
Questions
Is there a free Minnesota surplus funds list?
Counties publish or provide lists on request; Surplus Funds HQ links to the official sources and is adding Minnesota lists.
Who gets surplus funds in Minnesota?
The former owner first (and lienholders in order of priority). The money is held by: Tax: county auditor (minimum bid to forfeited tax sale fund.
What is the recovery agent fee cap in Minnesota?
No finder/fee cap provisions in 282.005 or 580.10. State unclaimed property finder rules (ch. 345): .