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Who to call about a 308B cooperative

Which Minnesota office handles which question for a Chapter 308B cooperative (filings, securities, farmland, taxes), with contact details printed on the official pages we opened and what each office says it cannot do.

Verified against sources: October 15, 2026Last edited: October 16, 2026

Who handles what#

Question Office Contact printed on the source Source
Filing Articles of Organization, an amendment, a registered-office change or an annual renewal; good-standing status Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services 332 Minnesota Street, Suite N201, Saint Paul, MN 55101 (First National Bank Building); staffed 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. Phone lines 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday: metro 651-296-2803; greater Minnesota 1-877-551-6767. Online filing portal: mblsportal.sos.mn.gov/business/search R1; R3; list of forms R2
Securities offered by the cooperative (selling memberships, shares or other interests to investors) Minnesota Department of Commerce, Securities Unit 85 7th Place East, Suite 292, Saint Paul, MN 55101; 651-539-1638; securities.commerce@state.mn.us R15; R14
Minnesota business tax registration (Tax ID) Minnesota Department of Revenue The DOR page explains when a Tax ID is needed and how to register through Business Tax Registration. We did not record a phone number R13
Corporate Farm Program (farmland owned or leased by a business entity) Minnesota Department of Agriculture 625 Robert Street North, Saint Paul, MN 55155-2538; main line 651-201-6000; Corporate Farm line 651-201-6083 R12

What each office says it will and will not do#

Office Statement on the source Source
Commerce Securities Unit Commerce says it cannot offer legal advice or recommend which exemption an issuer should pursue; an issuer's counsel decides R15
Commerce Securities Unit (crowdfunding) MNvest is a statutory registration exemption, not government approval of an investment. The displayed 2025 § 80A.461 requires issuer notice and portal-operator registration with the administrator, and requires advertisements to identify Commerce as Minnesota's securities regulator. Do not read “not administered” wording on a guidance page as eliminating those regulatory filings P4, subds. 3, 7; R14
Department of Agriculture Initial applications may be filled out online but must be printed, signed and mailed; they cannot be submitted electronically. Annual renewal is different: the instructions permit mail or online processing R12
Secretary of State The forms page says many services are available online, and that forms can be mailed or an in-person appointment scheduled R2

When to call a lawyer instead#

Not covered#

We did not verify contact details for the Internal Revenue Service, the Minnesota Attorney General, or any federal cooperative development program, and list none here.

Statute sections referenced

Sources

  • P4 Minnesota Statutes, section 80A.461 (MNvest crowdfunding offering exemption), Office of the Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota. revisor.mn.gov (primary; accessed October 15, 2026)
  • R1 Minnesota Cooperative Association (Chapter 308B) Articles of Organization, form Rev. 7/1/2025, Minnesota Secretary of State. sos.mn.gov (primary; accessed October 15, 2026)
  • R12 Corporate Farm Application Instructions, Minnesota Department of Agriculture. mda.state.mn.us (primary; accessed October 15, 2026)
  • R13 Minnesota Tax ID Requirements, Minnesota Department of Revenue. revenue.state.mn.us (primary; accessed October 15, 2026)
  • R14 MNvest (Securities, Franchises and Subdivided Lands), Minnesota Department of Commerce. mn.gov (primary; accessed October 15, 2026)
  • R15 Securities Issuer: Exemptions, Minnesota Department of Commerce. mn.gov (primary; accessed October 15, 2026)
  • R2 Minnesota Cooperative Forms (list page), Minnesota Secretary of State. sos.mn.gov (primary; accessed October 15, 2026)
  • R3 Minnesota Cooperative Annual Renewal form, Rev. 7/1/2025, Minnesota Secretary of State. sos.mn.gov (primary; accessed October 15, 2026)

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