The sales tax rate in Wayzata, Minnesota is 8.525% as of the second quarter of 2026.1Minnesota Department of Revenue. Local Sales and Use Tax Rate Guide Q2 2026 That figure combines the Minnesota state rate, two Hennepin County taxes, and a regional area-wide tax. Wayzata itself does not add a city sales tax, so the rate you pay there is lower than in Minneapolis, Edina, or Excelsior, each of which tacks on a 0.5% municipal surcharge.
What Makes Up the 8.525%
The Minnesota Department of Revenue publishes a quarterly rate guide listing each component for every city. For Wayzata, the stack looks like this:1Minnesota Department of Revenue. Local Sales and Use Tax Rate Guide Q2 2026
- Minnesota state sales tax: 6.875%
- Hennepin County transit tax: 0.50%
- Hennepin County other local tax: 0.15%
- Regional area-wide tax: 1.00%
- Wayzata city tax: none
The 6.875% state rate is set by statute: a 6.5% base plus a 0.375% constitutional addition that voters approved in 2008 for environmental and arts funding. That constitutional piece is currently scheduled to expire on July 1, 2034.2Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 297A.62 – Sales Tax Imposed; Rates
The 0.50% Hennepin County transit tax took effect in October 2017 to fund county transit and transportation improvements.3Hennepin County. Transportation Sales and Use Tax Resolution The 0.15% county tax dates to 2007 and originally funded Target Field; it now supports ballpark capital reserves, youth sports, and extended library hours, and under state law it has to end once the related bonds are paid off.4Minnesota House of Representatives. Bill Summary – H.F. 4841 The 1.00% area-wide rate applies across all Hennepin County cities per the Department of Revenue guide.1Minnesota Department of Revenue. Local Sales and Use Tax Rate Guide Q2 2026
How Wayzata Compares to Nearby Cities
Because Wayzata has no municipal sales tax, its 8.525% matches other Hennepin County cities in the same position, including Minnetonka and Plymouth. Cities that layer on their own tax land higher: 9.025% or more in several Hennepin communities, with Golden Valley topping the county at 9.775% after its 1.25% city rate.1Minnesota Department of Revenue. Local Sales and Use Tax Rate Guide Q2 2026
Wayzata has been looking at a food and beverage sales tax as a legislative priority, but there is no active request before the legislature at this time.5City of Wayzata. Exploration of a Food and Beverage Sales Tax Any such tax would still need state authorization and a city council vote before it could take effect.
What You Pay the 8.525% On
Minnesota applies sales tax broadly. The full rate hits most tangible goods a Wayzata shopper buys at retail: electronics, furniture, household items, and so on. Prepared food is taxable, which means restaurant meals, takeout, and catered food all carry the 8.525%, even though unprepared groceries do not.6Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 297A.67 – General Exemptions
Some services are taxable too. Laundry, car washing, pet grooming, and building cleaning fall in that bucket, and hiring someone to repair or maintain tangible property is generally taxable as well.
Digital Purchases
Minnesota taxes many digital goods at the same rate as physical ones. That covers music and audiobook downloads, movies and streaming video purchases, digital books, e-greeting cards, and online or video games.7Minnesota Department of Revenue. Computer Software and Digital Products Prewritten software is taxable whether you download it or receive it on a disc.
Cloud-hosted software you access without ever downloading is not taxable, and custom-built software made specifically for your business is also exempt.7Minnesota Department of Revenue. Computer Software and Digital Products Digital news articles, data reports, and digital photographs are not taxed either.
What’s Exempt
Several everyday categories are exempt statewide, and the exemptions apply the same way in Wayzata.
Clothing. Most clothing designed for everyday wear is tax-free: shirts, pants, shoes, coats, and similar items for general use. The carve-outs catch people off guard. Fur clothing is taxable. So is sports and recreational gear such as cleated shoes, ski boots, and wetsuits. Accessories like jewelry, handbags, sunglasses, and watches are taxable, along with protective equipment like hard hats and safety goggles.6Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 297A.67 – General Exemptions
Groceries. Food and food ingredients sold for home preparation are exempt. That covers produce, dairy, meat, bread, and other staples. The exemption drops away for candy, soft drinks, dietary supplements, and prepared foods, which is why your weekly grocery haul is tax-free but the deli sandwich at the checkout counter is not.6Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 297A.67 – General Exemptions
Medications and medical devices. All drugs intended for human diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease are exempt, including over-the-counter medications. Insulin, medical devices, therapeutic devices, and prosthetics are also tax-free.6Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 297A.67 – General Exemptions
Out-of-State and Online Purchases
If you buy a taxable item from a seller that doesn’t charge Minnesota sales tax, you owe use tax at the same rate. For a Wayzata resident, that’s 8.525% on the purchase price, self-reported to the Department of Revenue.8Minnesota Department of Revenue. Sales and Use Tax Most large online retailers now collect Minnesota tax automatically, so use tax typically comes up with very small out-of-state sellers or private-party transactions. You can file electronically or on paper.