Education for Justice FACT SHEET H-21 for tax year 2009

“THE RENTER’S REFUND”

PROPERTY TAX REFUND

WHAT IS THE RENTER’S REFUND (PROPERTY TAX REFUND)?

Many renters and homeowners can get a refund every year from the State of Minnesota. The amount of your refund depends on: how much rent you paid, your income, and how many dependents you have.

WHO CAN GET A REFUND?

You can get a refund if:

· Your household income in 2009 was $53,030 or less if you rent and $98,290 or less if you own and

· You aren’t a dependent on someone else’s 2009 federal tax return, and

· You were a full or part year resident of Minnesota in 2009 and

· You paid rent in a building which was taxed OR you own your home.

NOTE: If you are a homeowner you MUST have a valid social security number to get the property tax refund.

HOW DO I GET MY REFUND?

· If you rent, your landlord must give you a Certificate of Rent Paid (CRP) by January 31, 2010.

· Get the tax form called the 2009 Minnesota Property Tax Refund Return, Form M-1PR. You can get it from a library or call (651) 296-3781. You can also get all forms and information to file online at www.taxes.state.mn.us.

· If you want to file by regular mail, fill out the form, attach the CRP if you rent, and send it in starting June 15, 2010. You can send it in up until August 15, 2010. Send it to:

Minnesota Property Tax Refund

St. Paul, MN 55145-0020.

· You should get your refund within 60 days after August 15, 2010.

· You can get your refund up to 30 days earlier if you file electronically and do the following things:

File by June 15^th if you rent or own a mobile home. File by August 1^st if you own your home.

Choose direct deposit option. This means the money will be put directly into your bank account.

You have to have filed an M1PR last year

You have to have gotten your CRP from your landlord if you rent.

WHAT IF MY LANDLORD DOESN’T GIVE ME THE CRP?

· Call the landlord and ask for one. If that does not work, write a letter to the landlord to ask for it and say that s/he can be fined $100 for each CRP not provided. State the amount of rent you paid in 2009. Keep a copy of your letter.

· If your landlord still won’t give you the CRP, call the Department of Revenue at (651) 296-3781. Ask them to contact the landlord and charge a fine if the landlord still does not send it to you.

· The Department of Revenue can give you a Rent Paid Affidavit to fill out instead of a CRP. You will need receipts or some other proof of how much rent you paid. If you don’t have receipts, use a lease, mail that you have gotten, or anything else that shows you lived there and paid the rent. If you can show that you lived there, and what the rent amount was, argue that the state should assume the rent was paid.

WHERE CAN I GET HELP WITH TAX FORMS?

If you have a low income, a disability, or are a senior citizen, you can get free help. To find a help site near you, call the Department of Revenue at (651) 297-3724 or United Way, statewide, at 211 (or (651) 291-0211 from a cell phone).

Minneapolis Legal Aid – CLE MN Legal Services Coalition 2324 University Avenue W. – Suite 101B St. Paul, MN 55114

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