Legislative Update: Property Tax Rebate Deadline is August 15

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you’re having a great summer and this email finds you and your loved ones well. I wanted to touch base and give a bit of a summer update on our recent work at the legislature, with particular focus on the opportunity to get a rebate on your property taxes.

Here’s an update from Saint Paul:

Property Tax Refund Filings Due August 15 

I know that property taxes have been rising for many households in recent years. Because of this, I prioritized using some of the state’s surplus to offer property tax cuts at the state level and put money back in the pockets of Minnesotans.

Here are some of the highlights:

• We adjusted the special property tax refund so that if your property taxes increased by more than 6% from 2022 to 2023, you’ll qualify for a refund of up to $2,500, regardless of your income level.
• We increased the Homestead Credit Refund and Renter’s Property Tax Refund by 20.572%.
• We permitted homeowners who have an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) to qualify for homestead status and claim the Homestead Credit Refund.
• We expanded the eligibility for the Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral program so more seniors can age in their homes.

I provide more detail about each program below. In some cases, you must file a Form M1PR by August 15 to qualify. In other cases, the Minnesota Department of Revenue will automatically adjust your refund to the higher amount.

If you have questions, concerns, or have any difficulty applying for your rebate, please reach out to my office.  We’re happy to help!

Qualifying for the Special Property Tax Refund, Homestead Credit Refund, and Renter’s Property Tax Refund

Many taxpayers file Form M1PR when they submit their income tax return (Form M1) by the April 15 income tax filing deadline, but Form M1PR is not due until August 15.

If you have not filed 2022 Form M1PR yet: Review the 2022 Form M1PR instructions at bit.ly/2022M1PRinst to see if you qualify for these refunds. If you qualify, complete the 2022 Form M1PR. You should file, postmark, or drop off the form by August 15, 2023.

If you filed a 2022 Form M1PR before June 14, 2023: Whether you need to take any action depends on how you filed your return.

You can find more information on how to file for the Property Tax Refund on the Department of Revenue webpage.

ITIN Homeowners and Mobile Homeowners

If the property is not classified as homestead on your property tax statement or you bought your home in 2022, you must apply for homestead status with the Anoka County Assessor’s Office and submit the application on or before December 31, 2023. At the time you apply for homestead status, request a signed statement saying that your application was approved. Include it with your Form M1PR.

Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral Program

This program allows senior citizens to defer a portion of their property taxes. It’s not a tax forgiveness program, but it does limit the maximum amount of property tax paid each year to 3% of total household income.

At the Capitol, my colleagues and I recently modified the program so more people can qualify. This includes increasing the household income limit from $60,000 to $96,000 and reducing the number of years a homeowner must own and occupy the property from 15 years to 5 years.

These changes will apply for taxes payable in 2024 and beyond.

New Laws Taking Effect August 1

On August 1st, many of the laws we passed this year will take effect, including the legislation I authored to legalize adult-use cannabis in Minnesota. I recently interviewed with WCCO radio where I discussed the specifics of this bill. You can listen here.

Over the last three years, the legislature has worked and listened to build a Minnesota-specific model for cannabis legalization. This bill creates a safe, well-regulated legal marketplace, and includes best practices for consumer protection, health, and public safety. It also prioritizes a robust expungement program, so thosewho have been disproportionately impacted by our current cannabis laws can move on with their lives.

You can find a comprehensive list of every new law from the nonpartisan office of House of Representatives Public Information here.

Keep in Touch

Please continue to reach out anytime if you need assistance or have questions at rep.zack.stephenson@house.mn.gov or 651-296-5513.

It’s an honor to represent our Coon Rapids and Anoka families in St. Paul.

Sincerely,

Rep. Zack Stephenson

Minnesota House of Representatives