The deadline to apply is October 1st for taxes payable in the following year. For more information please review the Minnesota Department of Revenue fact sheet.A homestead exemption can benefit homeowners if one spouse in a twoincome household dies. You must be a Minnesota resident. To qualify for a homestead, you must: Own a property, Occupy the property as your sole or primary residence, Be a Minnesota resident. Apply for homestead as soon as possible. The exempted property can't exceed one lot within a city or 40 acres in a rural area. State law (MS 273.124, subd. To apply for the homestead classification, you must fill out an application (click to print application). You may only have one homestead per married couple in the state of Minnesota.