Sartell MN Sales Tax Rate: Base, Exempt Items, and Jurisdiction

The Sartell MN sales tax rate is 8.125% in the Stearns County portion of the city and 8.375% in the Benton County portion. Both figures start from the same 7.875% base that combines Minnesota’s 6.875% state tax with a Sartell city tax and the St. Cloud Area regional tax; the difference comes from each county’s transit tax layered on top.¹Minnesota Department of Revenue. Local Sales and Use Tax Rate Guide, 2026 Q2

How the 7.875% Base Is Built

Every taxable sale in Sartell carries Minnesota’s 6.875% state sales tax. Two local taxes apply citywide on top of that: the Sartell city tax and the St. Cloud Area regional sales tax, which together bring the combined rate to 7.875% before any county tax is added.¹Minnesota Department of Revenue. Local Sales and Use Tax Rate Guide, 2026 Q2

The St. Cloud Area tax is shared by Sartell, St. Cloud, St. Joseph, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park, and St. Augusta, and funds regional projects including the airport, the St. Cloud regional library, parks, community facilities, and road work.¹Minnesota Department of Revenue. Local Sales and Use Tax Rate Guide, 2026 Q2

Which Rate Applies: Stearns or Benton Side

Sartell sits on the Stearns-Benton county line, and the county where the sale physically happens decides the final rate.

Stearns County adds a 0.25% transit sales and use tax, in effect since January 1, 2018.²Minnesota Department of Revenue. Stearns County 0.25 Percent Transit Sales and Use Tax On that side of the city, the total is 8.125%.

Benton County adds a 0.50% transit tax, in effect since October 1, 2019.³Minnesota Department of Revenue. Benton County 0.5 Percent Transit Sales and Use Tax On that side, the total is 8.375%. The quarter-point gap is small on everyday purchases but noticeable on big-ticket items like furniture or appliances.

If you’re not sure which county a specific address falls in, the Minnesota Department of Revenue runs an online rate calculator that returns the exact combined rate for any street address.⁴Minnesota Department of Revenue. Sales Tax Rate Calculator

What You Won’t Pay Sales Tax On

The headline rate overstates what most households actually pay, because two of the biggest spending categories are exempt statewide.

Clothing

Minnesota exempts clothing suitable for general use: shoes, coats, underwear, uniforms, and ordinary apparel. Accessories such as jewelry, handbags, and sunglasses are taxable, as are sport-specific items like cleated shoes, ski boots, and shin guards, and protective equipment like hard hats, safety goggles, and welding masks.⁵Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 297A.67 – General Exemptions – Section: Subd. 8

Groceries

Food and food ingredients for home consumption are exempt, whether fresh, frozen, canned, or dried.⁶Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 297A.67 – General Exemptions – Section: Subd. 2 Prepared food, candy, soft drinks, and dietary supplements are taxable. A deli sandwich made to order at the grocery store is prepared food; a loaf of bread off the shelf is not. Bakery items like donuts, bread, and cookies stay exempt by specific carve-out.⁷Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 297A.61 – Definitions – Section: Subd. 31

Prepared Food and Beverages Are Taxed Separately

Sartell also charges a food and beverage tax on prepared food and on alcoholic drinks sold ready to consume at restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. It does not apply to grocery store purchases or off-sale liquor. The revenue is dedicated to recreational amenities including parks, playgrounds, and potential aquatic center improvements.⁸City of Sartell. FAQ for the Proposed Food and Beverage Tax It shows up as its own line on the receipt and doesn’t change the general sales tax rate on anything else you buy.

Online and Out-of-State Purchases

If you buy a taxable item from a seller that doesn’t collect Minnesota sales tax, you owe Minnesota use tax at the same rate you’d have paid locally: 8.125% or 8.375%, depending on your Sartell address. Most large online retailers now collect at checkout, but when they don’t, individuals can report and pay through the Department of Revenue’s e-Services portal or on a paper form.⁹Minnesota Department of Revenue. Sales and Use Tax Underpayment attributed to negligence or intentional disregard of the rules can carry a penalty of 25% of the unpaid amount.¹⁰Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes 289A.60 – Penalty Provisions

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  Minnesota Department of Revenue. Local Sales and Use Tax Rate Guide, 2026 Q2
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  Minnesota Department of Revenue. Stearns County 0.25 Percent Transit Sales and Use Tax
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  Minnesota Department of Revenue. Benton County 0.5 Percent Transit Sales and Use Tax
• 4
  Minnesota Department of Revenue. Sales Tax Rate Calculator
• 5
  Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 297A.67 – General Exemptions – Section: Subd. 8
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  Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 297A.67 – General Exemptions – Section: Subd. 2
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  Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 297A.61 – Definitions – Section: Subd. 31
• 8
  City of Sartell. FAQ for the Proposed Food and Beverage Tax
• 9
  Minnesota Department of Revenue. Sales and Use Tax
• 10
  Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes 289A.60 – Penalty Provisions