Minnesota Justices Reject Homestead Tax Break for Vacant House

A Minnesota woman failed to convince the state’s top court that she occupied a house she owned west of Minneapolis in order to qualify for reduced taxes on the property.

Some evidence introduced by Renee Vasko—mail and a driver’s license listing the address, and energy bills for the property—offers support for her argument that she used the McLeod County home as her primary residence, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. “The tax court, however, weighed this evidence against the fact that there was no measurable water usage at the property and determined that Vasko had not proved use and occupancy ...