Taxes in Moorhead
Moorhead's tax picture combines a genuinely elevated, disclosed-as-an-outlier property tax rate with Minnesota's real, genuine 4-bracket state income tax.
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Learn moreA real, disclosed property tax outlier
Moorhead's own median effective property tax rate ran a real 1.47% per Ownwell (2026) -- the highest rate in Clay County (versus Pelican Rapids' 0.70% low), and genuinely above both the Minnesota statewide median (1.13%) and the national median (1.02%). This record does not soften that fact.
Minnesota's real 4-bracket income tax
Minnesota's real, genuine 4-bracket state income tax runs 5.35% to 9.85% (on income over ~$193,240 for single filers, 2026), applying statewide including in Moorhead, with NO local or county piggyback income tax layer.
A real, disclosed Social Security outlier
Minnesota is a genuine, current outlier in still taxing Social Security above an income-based exemption ($86,410 single/HOH, $110,780 joint) -- a real, honestly disclosed factor for higher-income Moorhead retirees specifically.
Key takeaways
- Moorhead's own effective property tax rate (1.47%) is a real, disclosed outlier -- Clay County's highest.
- Minnesota's flat-bracket 4-tier state income tax (5.35%-9.85%) applies statewide, including in Moorhead.
- Minnesota genuinely still taxes Social Security above an income-based exemption -- relevant to higher-income retirees.
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