Charges for copies are taxable, including copies from coin-operated machines.

A consignment sale takes place when a retailer sells items owned by others in the normal course of business. The retailer may also sell their own property. When selling taxable items on consignment, the person collecting the payment is responsible for charging sales tax on the item sold. Examples of consignment sales:

• Cookbooks
• Books
• Decorations

For more information, see Isolated and Occasional Sales.

Sales of taxable goods are subject to sales tax.

Examples include:

• Collector coins, coin sets, etc.
• Premiums or incentives (toasters, blankets, etc.)

You may buy items exempt from sales tax for resale. Give your supplier a completed Form ST3, Certificate of Exemption. Specify the Resale exemption.

The only taxable foods sold through vending machines are prepared food, soft drinks, candy, and dietary supplements. Previously, all food sold through a vending machine was taxable. For more information, see Vending Machine and Other Coin-Operated Devices. 

Generally, the printing company bills the bank customer’s account directly, including the sales tax.

If the check printing company does not bill the customer directly, the financial institution must collect and remit sales tax on the checks.

Sales of repossessed items are taxable when sold at retail or auction. Examples include:

• Boats
• Business equipment
• Business inventory
• Household goods
• Snowmobiles

Do not collect or report sales tax on repossessed motor vehicles when you sell them. The sales tax on motor vehicles is reported to the Department of Public Safety’s Driver and Vehicle Services Division when the vehicle is registered by the purchaser.

For more information, see Motor Vehicle.

If you sell equipment or other items used in your business, the sale may be taxable. For more information, see Isolated and Occasional Sales.

Financial institutions often enter into agreements with clients to purchase lease contracts and administer them. The financial institution must collect and remit sales tax on the lease contract.

If a buy-out option is exercised on a lease, the entire buy-out payment is taxable.

Leasing repossessed items prior to reselling or disposing of them is taxable.

The rental of a safe deposit box is a rental of real property and not subject to Minnesota Sales or Use Tax.

The bank or other financial institutions must pay sales tax on all purchases to maintain the system.

Sales of precious metal bullion are exempt from sales tax.

Precious metal bullion is a bar or round at least 99.9% (by weight) of the following metals:

• Gold
• Silver
• Platinum
• Palladium

The bars or rounds must be marked with weight, purity, and content to qualify for the exemption.

Note: This exemption does not apply to sales of coins, jewelry, works of art, and scrap metal.

Purchases made by federally chartered banks and savings and loans and state chartered credit unions, banks, and savings and loans are taxable.

Items you use to operate your business are taxable unless an exemption applies. Several services are also taxable. If you do not pay sales tax on a taxable purchase, then use tax is due. See below for specific examples.

• 297A.61, subd. 14a, Lease or Rental
• 297A.67, subd. 34, Precious metal bullion
• 297A.70, Exemptions for governments and nonprofit groups

• 97-14, Leases of Tangible Personal Property

• Advertising
• Computer Software
• Detective and Security Services
• Isolated and Occasional Sales
• Lawn and Garden Maintenance, Tree and Shrub Services
• Minneapolis Special Local Taxes
• Special Local Taxes
• Use Tax for Businesses

• Building Cleaning and Maintenance
• Local Sales and Use Tax
• Motor Vehicle
• Vending Machines and Other Coin-Operated Devices