Thank you for all your hard work helping Minnesotans accurately prepare and file their taxes.

With the tax filing deadline behind us, we’re busy processing returns and issuing refunds. As of April 13, we’ve processed more than 1.9 million individual income tax returns and issued more than 1.4 million refunds for tax year 2025. 

In this issue, we have reminders to file your own tax returns by the extension due date, tips to help protect you from cybercriminals, the impact of USPS postmark changes on tax filings, upcoming courses, and a few new local taxes.

With the legislative session ending, we’re watching closely for any changes to tax law. We’ll share any law changes with you and the public on our website and through email updates.

Be sure to follow our Tax Law Changes page and subscribe to our Tax Law Changes email list to get the latest information.

Remember to File Your Own Tax Returns

We noticed that taxpayers with Preparer Tax Identification Numbers are missing filing deadlines for their own tax returns or not filing their return by the extension due date.

Please remember your responsibility as a Minnesota taxpayer is to file returns and pay your taxes in a timely manner. Your return is just as important as your clients’ returns.

Protect Yourself and Your Clients from Cybercriminals

Cybersecurity is an ongoing responsibility since tax professionals remain high value targets for cybercriminals.

Here are tips to help protect your clients, your practice, and the integrity of the tax system.

Encourage Clients to Get an IP PIN

One of the strongest tools available to protect both you and your clients is the IRS Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN). It’s a six-digit code that stops criminals from filing a tax return using a taxpayer’s Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

Anyone with an SSN or ITIN can get one, and it’s especially important for clients who have experienced identity theft or had data exposed in other breaches.

Tell Clients to Keep Their IP PIN Private Until Filing

Clients should not provide their IP PIN to their preparer until the return is ready to file. 

Most tax software automatically saves the IP PIN once it’s entered. If your system is breached, attackers gain both:

• Client identity data
• The exact IP PIN needed to file a fraudulent return

Delaying entry of the IP PIN until final review keeps it out of your system longer—and reduces your exposure.

Communicate expectations clearly to clients. You may tell them, “For your protection, please do not send your IRS Identity Protection PIN until we are ready to file your return.”

Strengthen Your Internal Security Practices

To keep your internal security practices strong:

• Monitor daily e-file acknowledgements.
• Review weekly usage of your Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) and Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).
• Keep Centralized Authorization File (CAF) authorizations current. See IRS Publication 947 for more information on representing taxpayers before the IRS and what’s needed to authorize a representative.
• Use Secure Access for all IRS online accounts. 

Review Data Breach Prevention Guidance

Review our Tax Professional Tip #16 – Preparer Data Breaches from 2025 as it remains highly relevant.

Act Immediately If You’re Affected by a Data Breach

Taking swift action protects your practice and your clients:

1. Notify your employees and clients. Transparency helps clients take protective steps quickly.
2. Contact the Minnesota Department of Revenue. Email the fraud protection coordinator at IncomeTax.fraud@state.mn.us. 
3. Contact your local IRS Stakeholder Liaison.

Changes to USPS Postmark Policy and Impact to Tax Filings

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is changing how their postmarks work, and it could affect tax filings in 2026.

Postmarks will still show the date mail is first processed by USPS, but they may not show the date you dropped something off at a post office or put it in a mailbox. That means time-sensitive items like tax returns, payments, appeals, and information submissions could be impacted.

If you plan to mail your tax return, payment, appeal, or other time-sensitive information, we recommend:

• Sending it several business days before the deadline
• Bringing it to a USPS retail counter and asking for a manual postmark

Alternatively, you and your clients may file tax returns and make payments electronically in our e-Services system. We also offer other options to make payments.

Training Opportunities

Coming Soon: Learn About Revenue’s Collection Division

Look for a new webinar coming later this summer about working with the Collection Division at Revenue. We’ll talk about common letters, payment plans, collection actions, and more for both individual and business taxpayers.

Sales Tax Course: Minnesota/Wisconsin Border Issues

The Minnesota/Wisconsin Border Issues course is a free, in-person course that provides an overview of Minnesota and Wisconsin sales and use tax laws for companies that do business in both states.

It’s for business owners, bookkeepers, purchasing agents, and accountants who need a working knowledge of each state’s laws and how to meet their obligations.
This course is offered from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on these dates and in these cities:

• May 12 – La Crosse, WI
• May 21 – Superior, WI
• May 26 – Afton, MN

Registration is required. To register and view course materials, go to Minnesota/Wisconsin Border Issues Course.

Want to learn more about Sales and Use Tax? Check out our other Sales Tax Education courses.

Free Seminars on State Employment Taxes 

Attend a free, in-person seminar to learn more about state employment taxes and other employer responsibilities. These seminars will have experts from the Minnesota Department of Revenue, the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program, and the Minnesota Workers' Compensation Insurers Association.

Seminars cover worker status, Withholding Tax, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation requirements. You may receive continuing education credit for attending.

Seminars are available now from May to August. For dates, locations, and registration information, visit Educational Seminars on the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance website.

New Local Sales, Use, and Excise Taxes

Here are new local taxes that will take effect this summer:

• Meeker County has implemented a new 0.5% transportation sales and use tax. The tax applies to sales and purchases on or after July 1, 2026. Revenues will fund transportation projects in the county.
• The Chisago Lakes Area has implemented a new 3% local lodging tax. The tax applies to sales and purchases on lodging on or after July 1, 2026. Revenues will fund a local tourism bureau for the purpose of marketing and promoting the Chisago Lakes Area as a tourist center.
• Fairmont has implemented a new 3% local lodging tax. The tax applies to sales and purchases on lodging on or after July 1, 2026. Revenues will fund a local tourism bureau for the purpose of marketing and promoting the city of Fairmont as a tourist center.
• Waseca has implemented a new 3% local lodging tax. The tax applies to sales and purchases on lodging on or after July 1, 2026. Revenues will fund a local tourism bureau for the purpose of marketing and promoting the city of Waseca as a tourist center.

To stay up-to-date on new local sales, use, and excise taxes, visit Local Sales Tax Information.