-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-034645.txt : 20040702
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-034645.hdr.sgml : 20040702
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040702174524
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-034645
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040702

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SPIES GARY J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001191500

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-00368
		FILM NUMBER:		04900946

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		215 S CASCADE ST
		CITY:			FERGUS FALLS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			56537

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OTTER TAIL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000075129
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		IRS NUMBER:				410462685
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		215 S CASCADE ST
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 496
		CITY:			FERGUS FALLS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			56538-0496
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8664108780

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		215 S CASCADE ST
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 496
		CITY:			FERGUS FALLS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			56538-0496

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	OTTER TAIL POWER CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000075129</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OTTER TAIL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OTTR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001191500</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SPIES GARY J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>215 S CASCADE ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FERGUS FALLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>56537-2801</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>418.1379</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.905</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>418.1379</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4897.4639</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These are Restricted Stock Units and have no conversion or exercise price at this time.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">There is no specific &quot;Exercisable Date&quot; on these Restricted Stock Units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">There is no specific &quot;Expiration Date&quot; on these Restricted Stock Units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Restricted Stock Units of Common Stock acquired under the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan at fair market value as part of the Compensation Program for Outside Directors.  See below for other holdings:
1.  Direct holding of 1,040 shares of Common Stock, 1,000 of this total are held jointly with his wife in &quot;street name&quot; through Piper Jaffray.
2.  Direct holding of 613.2513 shares of Common Stock held in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
3.  Direct holding of 2,675 shares of Common Stock which is a grant of Restricted Stock.
4.  Direct holding of 825 shares of Common Stock which no longer carries the restriction.
5.  2,000 stock options with expiration date of 4/8/2011.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gary J Spies by Debra J Lill -POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----