SF 1258

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:19am

A bill for an act
relating to taxation; modifying mortgage registry tax payments; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 287.08.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 287.08, is amended to read:

287.08 TAX, HOW PAYABLE; RECEIPTS.

(a) The tax imposed by sections 287.01 to 287.12 must be paid to the treasurer of
any county in this state in which the real property or some part is located at or before
the time of filing the mortgage for record. The treasurer shall endorse receipt on the
mortgage and the receipt is conclusive proof that the tax has been paid in the amount
stated and authorizes any county recorder or registrar of titles to record the mortgage. Its
form, in substance, shall be "registration tax hereon of ..................... dollars paid." If the
mortgage is exempt from taxation the endorsement shall, in substance, be "exempt from
registration tax." In either case the receipt must be signed by the treasurer. In case the
treasurer is unable to determine whether a claim of exemption should be allowed, the tax
must be paid as in the case of a taxable mortgage. For documents submitted electronically,
the endorsements and tax amount shall be affixed electronically and no signature by the
treasurer will be required. The actual payment method must be arranged in advance
between the submitter and the receiving county.

(b) The county treasurer may refund in whole or in part any mortgage registry tax
overpayment if a written application by the taxpayer is submitted to the county treasurer
within 3-1/2 years from the date of the overpayment. If the county has not issued a denial
of the application, the taxpayer may bring an action in Tax Court in the county in which
the tax was paid at any time after the expiration of six months from the time that the
application was submitted. A denial of refund may be appealed within 60 days from
the date of the denial by bringing an action in Tax Court in the county in which the tax
was paid. The action is commenced by the serving of a petition for relief on the county
treasurer, and by filing a copy with the court. The county attorney shall defend the action.
The county treasurer shall notify the treasurer of each county that has or would receive a
portion of the tax as paid.

(c) If the county treasurer determines a refund should be paid, or if a refund is
ordered by the court, the county treasurer of each county that actually received a portion
of the tax shall immediately pay a proportionate share of three percent of the refund
using any available county funds. The county treasurer of each county that received, or
would have received, a portion of the tax shall also pay their county's proportionate share
of the remaining 97 percent of the court-ordered refund on or before the 20th day of the
following month using solely the mortgage registry tax funds that would be paid to the
commissioner of revenue on that date under section 287.12. If the funds on hand under
this procedure are insufficient to fully fund 97 percent of the court-ordered refund, the
county treasurer of the county in which the action was brought shall file a claim with the
commissioner of revenue under section 16A.48 for the remaining portion of 97 percent of
the refund, and shall pay over the remaining portion upon receipt of a warrant from the
state issued pursuant to the claim.

(d) When any mortgage covers real property located in more than one county in this
state the total tax must be paid to the treasurer of the county where the mortgage is first
presented for recording, and the payment must be receipted as provided in paragraph (a).
deleted text begin If the principal debt or obligation secured by such a multiple county mortgage exceeds
$1,000,000, the nonstate portion of the tax must be divided and paid over by the county
treasurer receiving it, on or before the 20th day of each month after receipt, to the county
or counties entitled in the ratio that the market value of the real property covered by the
mortgage in each county bears to the market value of all the real property in this state
described in the mortgage. In making the division and payment the county treasurer shall
send a statement giving the description of the real property described in the mortgage and
the market value of the part located in each county. For this purpose, the treasurer of any
county may require the treasurer of any other county to certify to the former the market
valuation of any tract of real property in any mortgage.
deleted text end

(e) The mortgagor must pay the tax imposed by sections 287.01 to 287.12. The
mortgagee may undertake to collect and remit the tax on behalf of the mortgagor. If the
mortgagee collects money from the mortgagor to remit the tax on behalf of the mortgagor,
the mortgagee has a fiduciary duty to remit the tax on behalf of the mortgagor as to the
amount of the tax collected for that purpose and the mortgagor is relieved of any further
obligation to pay the tax as to the amount collected by the mortgagee for this purpose.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end