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State Representative Tom Hackbarth
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-2439
For more information contact: Austin Bleess 651-296-5529
OP/ED COLUMN
DON’T FORGET TO FILE FOR YOUR REFUND
By Tom Hackbarth
State Representative
This past session I, along with my House Republican Colleagues, put property tax relief at the top of our agenda. We offered bills that would have used the $2 billion tax surplus and given it back to you. After all, you paid more in taxes than you should have and you deserve to have the money returned. However, House Democrats only wanted to give property tax relief if they could raise countless other taxes and no compromise was reached.
Until we can make the necessary changes in the property tax system, I want to make sure you know about the different forms of meager property tax relief that is currently out there. Every year, thousands of Minnesotans are eligible for property tax relief and I want to make sure as many people in our district who can take advantage of it do so.
There are two property tax refund programs that you may be qualify for through the Minnesota Property Tax Refund Program. The first program, the Special Property Tax Refund, applies to homeowners who owned their homes on both January 2, 2006 and January 2, 2007, and saw their net property tax on their homestead increase by more than 12% and at least $100 from 2006 to 2007. The increase cannot be due to improvements in the home and the refund does not depend on income.
The second program applies to both homeowners and renters and does have income limits. To be eligible you must be a homeowner with a household income of less than $91,120; or you must be a renter with a household income less than $49,160. Higher income limits apply for those with dependents, for senior citizens or for the disabled. Your refund will depend on how high your property taxes or rents are relative to your income. The maximum refund for homeowners is $1,700, and the maximum refund for renters is $1,400.
Another program designed specifically for senior citizens called the Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral Program. This program allows property taxpayers who are 65 years or older to defer a portion of their homestead property taxes until a later time and can still file for a property tax refund that may be adjusted to the deferral amount.
The deadline to apply for these programs is August 15th. If you have any questions about these programs, the program requirements, or would like a copy of the necessary forms you can find it all by calling the Minnesota Department of Revenue at 800-657-3676 or by visiting their website at www.taxes.state.mn.us/prop_refund/index.shtml.
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