The sales tax rate in White Bear Lake, Minnesota is 8.375 percent, and it is the same whether you shop on the Ramsey County side of the city or the Washington County side. The city does not levy its own local sales tax, so the full rate comes from the state, two metro-area taxes, and the county.
How the 8.375 Percent Breaks Down
Four layers add up to the rate you see at the register:
- Minnesota state sales tax: 6.875 percent1Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 297A.62 – Tax
- Metro area housing tax: 0.25 percent, applied across the seven Twin Cities metro counties2Minnesota Department of Revenue. Metro Area Sales and Use Tax for Housing 0.25%
- Metro area transportation tax: 0.75 percent, effective October 1, 20233Metropolitan Council. Regional Transportation Sales and Use Tax
- County tax: 0.5 percent, imposed separately by Ramsey County (a transit improvement tax) and Washington County (a local option tax split between roads and transit)4Washington County, MN – Official Website. Local Option Sales Tax
The two county taxes fund different programs, but the rate charged to shoppers is identical. Business owners filing returns do need to apply the correct county code for their location.
What’s Taxed in White Bear Lake
The 8.375 percent rate applies to most retail sales of physical goods: electronics, furniture, appliances, building materials, and the like. Services are a different story. In Minnesota, a service is taxable only if the statute specifically lists it. The taxable list includes laundry and dry cleaning, telecommunications (mobile phone plans, cable, internet), pet grooming, lawn care, and parking.5Minnesota House of Representatives House Research Department. Minnesota Sales and Use Tax If the service you’re paying for isn’t on the list, there’s no sales tax on it.
What’s Exempt
Clothing and Shoes
Most clothing and footwear are exempt in Minnesota, with no price cap. Coats, jeans, dress shoes, kids’ clothes all ring up tax-free. The exemption does not cover sporting equipment, protective gear, fur clothing, jewelry, accessories, or footwear built for use with athletic equipment like ski boots.6Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 297A.67 – General Exemptions
Groceries
Food and food ingredients bought for home preparation are exempt. That covers bread, milk, produce, meat, canned goods, and frozen meals. It does not cover candy, soft drinks, dietary supplements, or prepared food. The hot bar and the bakery counter in a grocery store are where the line gets blurry: the same store sells both exempt groceries and taxable prepared items.6Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 297A.67 – General Exemptions
Drugs and Medical Equipment
All drugs for human use are exempt, including over-the-counter medications. Prosthetic devices are always exempt. Durable medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators, hospital beds, and CPAP machines qualifies when it’s bought for home use or covered by Medicare or Medicaid. A prescription from your doctor does not, by itself, make a normally taxable item exempt. A prescribed exercise bike is still taxable, because exercise bikes aren’t classified as medical equipment.7Minnesota Department of Revenue. Durable Medical Equipment
Buying a Car Works Differently
Vehicle purchases don’t follow the 8.375 percent rate. The motor vehicle sales tax is 6.875 percent, matching the state rate, and the local metro and county taxes do not apply.8Minnesota Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicle Sales You pay it when the title is transferred through a deputy registrar or Driver and Vehicle Services, not at the dealership checkout. Some jurisdictions add a separate local vehicle excise tax, which is its own charge rather than part of the general sales tax.
Online and Out-of-State Purchases
When a seller doesn’t collect Minnesota sales tax at checkout, you still owe use tax at the same combined rate that would have applied locally. For White Bear Lake, that’s 8.375 percent. Large online retailers generally collect it automatically now, but smaller sellers and private-party sales often don’t. You can report and pay use tax electronically through the Minnesota Department of Revenue or by paper return.9Minnesota Department of Revenue. Sales and Use Tax
Hotel Stays Carry an Added Tax
Short-term lodging in White Bear Lake comes with an extra local tax on top of the 8.375 percent sales tax. Under Minnesota’s general authority, cities can impose up to a 3 percent lodging tax on hotel and motel rooms rented for 30 days or less. At least 95 percent of that revenue funds a local convention or visitors bureau, with up to 5 percent available for administration.10Minnesota House of Representatives. Local Lodging Taxes in Minnesota Expect both charges to appear on a hotel bill.