ST. PAUL, MN – State Representative David Bly (DFL – Northfield) says time is running out for Minnesota homeowners and renters to apply for a property tax refund.
Applications must be submitted to the Minnesota Department of Revenue by Friday, August 15.
“I’m pleased the legislature was able to make new investments in property tax refunds without sacrificing our high quality of life or the vital services our communities depend on every day such as police officers and firefighters,” said Bly. “We made meaningful progress toward building a more progressive tax system in which we pay for our needs without placing an unfair burden on those who can least afford it.”
A recent report from the non-partisan House Research Department report found that property taxes will drop by $49 million this year – the first decrease since 2002. Homeowners will see the most significant decrease. Statewide, homeowner property taxes are decreasing by $171 million in 2014, a 5.2% decrease from 2013.
Before factoring in property tax refunds, Northfield homeowners saw their property tax rate drop by 1.9 percent, Lonsdale homeowners saw their rate drop by 2.3 percent, Montgomery homeowners saw their rate drop by 8.5 percent and Dundas homeowners saw their rate drop by 9.9 percent.
In Rice County, about 5,000 homeowners and over 3,000 renters are eligible for larger refunds this year compared to last year. In Le Sueur County, over 2,000 homeowners and nearly 1,000 renters are eligible for larger refunds.
To look up eligibility requirements and application instructions, Minnesotans can visit www.revenue.state.mn.us or by calling the Department of Revenue at 651-296-3781 or 1-800-652-9094.
Information for homeowners:
You may be eligible for a property tax refund of up to $2,580 if you are a homeowner and your household income was less than $105,500 in 2013. To apply for the Homestead Credit Refund, complete Form M1PR (click here to download) and submit to the Department of Revenue by August 15, 2014.
-You must be a full-year or part-year Minnesota resident.
-You must have owned and lived in your home on January 2, 2014.
-Your property must be your homestead.
-You cannot be a dependent.
Information for renters:
You may be eligible for a property tax refund of up to $2,000 if you are a renter and your household income was less than $57,170. To apply for the Renter's Property Tax Refund, complete Form M1PR (click here to download) and submit along with a Certificate of Rent Paid to the Department of Revenue by August 15, 2014.
-You must be a full-year or part-year Minnesota resident.
-You must live in a building on which property taxes are paid.
-You must have a Certificate of Rent Paid (CRP) for each rental unit you lived in during 2013.
-You cannot be a dependent.
Contact Rep. David Bly with questions:
With any questions, Rep. Bly can be reached by phone at (651) 296-0171, by email at rep.david.bly@house.mn or by postal mail at 559 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.