Credit card processing and merchant services in St. Paul, MN
St. Paul's general sales tax rate is 9.875% in Minnesota's October 2026 rate guide, 0.85 points above Minneapolis, so a business with stores in both cities needs two tax settings.
St. Paul's general sales tax rate is 9.875%, according to the Minnesota Department of Revenue's local rate guide effective October 1, 2026. That's the 6.875% state rate plus the local taxes that apply in the city.
The same guide puts Minneapolis at 9.025%, and that 0.85-point gap is where Twin Cities businesses slip. A St. Paul store set up with a Minneapolis store's tax settings under-collects on every taxable sale: on $50,000 a month, that's $425 short each month, and the state still expects it. Minneapolis has its own wrinkles, including special taxes on downtown restaurants, liquor and entertainment, which our Minneapolis page lists.
The Department of Revenue's sales tax rate calculator gives the general state and local rate for any Minnesota address. Run every location through it before you open, since a few blocks can put a store in a different city with a different rate.
Card fees fall under Minnesota's own surcharge statute. It allows up to 5% on credit cards if you give the right notice for the channel, spoken and posted in person, and the state's price transparency law shapes how you advertise fees. Visa's 3% and Mastercard's 4% caps are lower than the state's, so they're the limits you'll actually run into. The Minnesota page has the statute, the notice rules and the sources.
The Census Bureau estimated St. Paul's population at 306,684 on July 1, 2025. Clearo sets up POS terminals and online payments for St. Paul businesses on interchange-plus pricing, with a dedicated rep and no cancellation fee. A free statement review puts your effective rate on one page.
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Common questions
What is the sales tax rate in St. Paul?
9.875% on general taxable sales, according to the Minnesota Department of Revenue's local sales and use tax rate guide effective October 1, 2026. That includes the 6.875% state rate. Special local taxes, where they apply to your kind of business, are listed separately by the department.
Why is St. Paul's sales tax higher than Minneapolis'?
The two cities have different local taxes. In the rate guide effective October 1, 2026, St. Paul's general rate is 9.875% and Minneapolis' is 9.025%. If you have stores in both, set each one up separately, and remember that Minneapolis adds special taxes downtown and on entertainment.
How do I tell St. Paul customers about a credit card surcharge?
Minnesota's statute spells it out. In person, say it at the time of sale and post a sign; online or in an app, show a notice during checkout; on the phone, say it out loud. A St. Paul business can surcharge up to 5% under state law, but Visa caps surcharges at 3% and Mastercard at 4%, and no surcharge is allowed on debit cards.
How can I check the sales tax rate for a Twin Cities address?
Use the Minnesota Department of Revenue's sales tax rate calculator, which finds the general state and local rate for any address in the state. It's the quickest way to confirm whether an address falls in St. Paul, Minneapolis or a nearby city with a different rate.
Disclaimer: general information, not professional advice
This page is general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Rules and rates vary by place and change, so confirm them with the official source and a qualified professional before you act. Full terms are in our Terms of Service.
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