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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 S/Q8P9WJTM0DuLDmt0e7lIFHsSe7/0lkkUPLAJdmNPQZ72auv7trOI4BRoChlmMe
 hIFjmlpDwf89pWwhght1Sw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-051916.txt : 20041110
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-051916.hdr.sgml : 20041110
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041109163206
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-051916
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041109
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041109

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MACFARLANE JOHN C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001191494

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-00368
		FILM NUMBER:		041130028

	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>2004-11-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001191494</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MACFARLANE JOHN C</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>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>40</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.65</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2530</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares are held jointly with his wife.  See below for other holdings:
1.  Indirect holding of 19,067.1529 shares held by ESOP.
2.  Indirect holding of 3,241.7220 shares by IRA.
3.  Direct holding of 21,992.3106 shares held in Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
4.  Direct holding of 2,210.7983 shares held in Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
5.  Direct holding of 2,675 shares which is a grant of Restricted Stock.
6.  Direct holding of 7,276 shares which no longer carries the restriction.
7.  52,000 stock options with expiration date of 2/22/2009.
8.  100,000 stock options with expiration date of 4/9/2010.
9.  100,000 stock options with expiration date of 4/8/2011.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/  John C MacFarlane by Debra J Lill - POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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