Minnesota Renter's Property Tax Refund

Trying to get the Minnesota rent refund?

Minnesota changed the renter filing process.

For current tax years, renters do not file a separate original Renter’s Property Tax Refund return on Form M1PR. Starting with rent paid in 2024, Minnesota renters use the Renter’s Credit on the Minnesota Individual Income Tax Return, Form M1.

You still need your rent information. In most cases, that means a Certificate of Rent Paid, often called a CRP. Your property owner or managing agent is supposed to give you a completed CRP by January 31.

If you are looking for the old renter property tax refund, the safest first step is this: check whether you are filing for 2024 or later, or trying to fix a 2023-or-earlier return. The forms and deadlines are not the same.

The name changed, but the problem is the same

Many renters still call this the Minnesota renter’s property tax refund. That is understandable. The old name was used for years.

Today, the current renter relief is the Minnesota Renter’s Credit. It is a refundable credit on your Minnesota income tax return. A refundable credit can reduce what you owe or add to your refund.

This page uses both terms because people search for both. But when you file a current return, use the current Minnesota Department of Revenue instructions for the Renter’s Credit.

What changed for Minnesota renters

Before the change, renters generally used Form M1PR to file for the renter’s property tax refund. The Minnesota Department of Revenue says renters can no longer file an original Renter’s Property Tax Refund return for current years.

For 2024 and later rent, renters claim the Renter’s Credit as part of Form M1, the Minnesota Individual Income Tax Return. If you file by mail, Minnesota says to use Form M1, Schedule M1REF, and Schedule M1RENT, and to include copies of all CRPs from the year.

This is important because using the wrong form can delay the result. Minnesota also says the online Property Tax Refund filing system is not for renters.

Do not file a homestead exemption

Renters should not try to file a homestead exemption for a rental unit they do not own. Homestead rules are for property classification and homeowner relief. Minnesota renter relief usually starts with your income tax return and your CRP information.

Quick path for an ordinary Minnesota renter

If you rented in Minnesota during the tax year, this is the usual path:

Wait for your CRP from each Minnesota rental place where you lived during the year.
Check the CRP for your name, address, rental dates, and rent paid.
Gather your income records, Social Security number or ITIN, and filing information.
File your Minnesota income tax return, Form M1.
Use Schedule M1RENT for the Renter’s Credit and Schedule M1REF for refundable credits if you are filing by mail.
Include your CRP copies if you mail the return.
Use Minnesota’s Where’s My Refund? tool after filing if you need to check status.

If you already filed your Minnesota income tax return and forgot the renter credit, you usually do not file a separate M1PR for the current year. Minnesota says to amend your income tax return.

Who may qualify for the Minnesota Renter’s Credit

Minnesota’s current Renter’s Credit rules are listed by the Minnesota Department of Revenue. As of this review, the state says all of these must be true:

You have a valid Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
You were a full-year or part-year Minnesota resident.
You lived in and paid rent on a Minnesota building where the owner was assessed property tax or made payments in place of property tax.
Your household income is below the current state limit. For the 2025 return information posted by Minnesota, the listed limit is $77,570.
You cannot be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return.

Do not assume you qualify just because you rented. The credit depends on your rent, your income, your household situation, the type of housing, and the official rules for the tax year.

How income affects the renter credit

Income matters. Minnesota uses household income for this credit, not just rent paid.

The Department of Revenue describes household income for the renter credit as adjusted gross income minus certain allowed subtractions. Some subtractions may apply for older adults, disabled people, and dependents.

For the 2025 tax year information posted by Minnesota, the state lists a maximum credit of $2,720. That does not mean every renter receives that amount. The amount depends on the person’s filing situation.

If your income looks lower than your rent

This can happen for real reasons. A person may have savings, help from family, or other support. Minnesota has warned renters that if Schedule M1RENT income does not match Form M1 income, or if income is less than rent paid, an explanation may be needed. Do not make up numbers. Explain the facts if the form or software asks.

What a Certificate of Rent Paid does

A Certificate of Rent Paid is the document that shows how much rent was paid for the previous year. You may see it called a CRP.

For the current renter credit process, the CRP matters because your Minnesota income tax return uses CRP information. If you file by mail, Minnesota says to include copies of your CRPs or the refund may be delayed or denied.

Property owners and managing agents must issue a CRP to each adult renter when the rental property had property tax payable, or when the property was tax-exempt but the owner made payments in place of property taxes. The official CRP instructions explain the owner and manager rules in detail.

When you should receive the CRP

Property owners or managing agents must provide the CRP by January 31 each year. They may provide it electronically or on paper.

If you moved during the year, the owner may give you the CRP when you move or by January 31 of the next year. If you moved and did not leave a forwarding address, the owner may send it to your last known address.

What to check on your CRP

Before filing, look over the CRP carefully. Check these basics:

Your legal name and rental address are correct.
The months rented are correct.
The rent amount looks reasonable based on what you paid and the official rent rules.
Each adult renter received a separate CRP.
If you moved or had roommates, the dates and rent split look right.

If something looks wrong, ask the property owner or managing agent to correct it before you file.

What counts as rent paid

Minnesota’s CRP rules do not treat every housing payment the same way.

In general, rent is the amount paid for the right to occupy the rental unit as your principal residence. Some items count only when they are part of the rental agreement.

But some amounts do not count. Minnesota’s CRP instructions say rent does not include items such as a damage deposit unless it is used to pay rent, late charges, rent paid after December 31, separately paid utilities, emergency rental assistance, rent paid by certain federal housing programs such as Section 8 or HUD, rent paid by charitable organizations, charges for medical services, charges for food or laundry not provided as part of the rental agreement, and rent paid for farmland.

This is one reason a CRP may not match the total checks you wrote during the year. If you paid a deposit, separate utilities, late fees, or other charges, those may be handled differently.

Subsidized rent can be confusing

If part of your rent was paid by a housing voucher, another program, a charity, or someone who did not live in the unit, the CRP may not count it the way you expect. Do not guess. Check the CRP and ask the property owner, tax preparer, or Minnesota Revenue if you are not sure.

Multiple renters, roommates, and married renters

Minnesota requires separate CRPs for adult renters who lived in the unit. The CRP should have only one name on it.

If multiple adult renters lived together under one agreement, Minnesota’s instructions generally split the rent evenly among the adult renters. If each adult renter had a separate agreement and paid the owner directly, the CRP may use the actual amount each person paid.

Married couples must receive separate CRPs showing each spouse’s share of rent. This can surprise people who expect one household document.

If an adult renter moved in or out during the year, the rent split should reflect the months each person lived there.

If you did not get a CRP

First, ask your property owner or managing agent for the missing CRP. If you received one but it is wrong, ask for a corrected CRP.

If the owner or manager does not provide or correct it by February 1, Minnesota says you may request a Rent Paid Affidavit, called an RPA, from the Department of Revenue.

Minnesota begins issuing RPAs on February 1 each year. If you use an RPA, Minnesota says you must include the RPA and proof of rent paid with your return, even if you later receive a CRP.

To request an RPA, Minnesota says you need information about yourself, your landlord, and the rental unit. That includes the rental address, county, number of renters, dates rented, total rent paid for the year, and rent subsidies received.

Do not email full Social Security numbers

Minnesota says that if you request an RPA by email, include only the last four digits of any Social Security numbers. Use the official Renter’s Credit page for current contact instructions.

How to file for current years

For current tax years, the renter path is tied to the Minnesota income tax return.

You can file electronically, work with a tax preparer, or print and mail forms. Minnesota’s income tax filing page says you can file the Minnesota Individual Income Tax return electronically or by mail.

If you file by mail for the Renter’s Credit, Minnesota says to complete Form M1, Schedule M1REF, and Schedule M1RENT. Include copies of all CRPs from the past year.

If you file electronically, use tax software that supports Minnesota forms and renter credit information. The software should ask for your CRP details.

Current timing for 2025 returns

For most people, the 2025 Minnesota income tax return was due April 15, 2026. That date matters because the Renter’s Credit is now part of the income tax return.

If you missed the April 15 due date, Minnesota says to file as soon as you can. The state says you automatically have until October 15 to file before it charges a late filing penalty. But this is not an extension to pay tax. If you owe tax, penalties and interest can apply after the regular due date.

If you are reading this after the regular deadline and you have not filed, do not send an incomplete return. Gather the CRP or RPA, your income records, and other required forms. Then file a complete return.

If you already filed and forgot the renter credit

If you already filed your Minnesota income tax return but did not include the renter credit, Minnesota says to amend the income tax return.

The official amending page says to use Form M1X to correct a Minnesota individual income tax return. Minnesota also says that, to claim a refund, Form M1X must be filed within 3 1/2 years of the original due date for the return.

Do not file a separate current-year renter property tax refund return just because you forgot the credit. That old path can cause confusion for current years.

If you are filing for 2023 or earlier

Older years are different.

For 2023 and earlier, renters used Form M1PR for the Renter’s Property Tax Refund. Minnesota says the due date was August 15, and renters had up to one year after the due date to file the return. Minnesota also says the last day to file for 2023 was August 15, 2025.

That means you generally cannot file a new original 2023 renter property tax refund return now. But Minnesota says you can still amend a Renter’s Property Tax Refund return for 2023 or earlier using Form M1PRX.

If you are dealing with an older year, use the official Renter’s Property Tax Refund page instead of current-year renter credit instructions.

Common mistakes that slow down or block the renter credit

Most problems are not about a person trying to do anything wrong. They are paperwork problems.

Problem	Why it matters	What to do
Using Form M1PR for a current renter credit	Current renters use the income tax return process, not a separate original renter property tax refund return.	Use Form M1 and the renter credit forms or electronic software for the current tax year.
Missing CRP	The CRP supports the rent information used for the credit.	Ask the owner or manager. If not fixed by February 1, ask Minnesota Revenue about an RPA.
Wrong name, address, dates, or rent amount	Incorrect CRP information can delay or reduce the credit.	Request a corrected CRP before filing when possible.
Forgetting to include CRP copies on a paper return	Minnesota says a paper return may be delayed or denied without CRP copies.	Attach copies of all CRPs when mailing.
Confusing rent with deposits or late fees	Some payments do not count as rent paid under CRP rules.	Compare your records with the CRP rules and ask for help if something looks wrong.
Roommate split looks wrong	Minnesota has rules for splitting rent among adult renters.	Ask the owner or manager how the CRP was prepared and request correction if needed.

Special rental situations

Some housing situations need extra care.

Mobile homes and lot rent

Mobile home situations can involve renter and homeowner rules. If you own the mobile home but rent the lot, check the official CRP instructions before filing.

Assisted living, nursing homes, adult foster care, and similar facilities

Care settings have special CRP rules. Medical services, assistance payments, and facility type can affect the rent amount used.

Hotels, motels, and short-term housing

Minnesota says a motel, hotel, or short-term rental can qualify for a CRP if it is the person’s permanent residence and the stay is 30 consecutive days or more. Campgrounds, travel trailers, and campers are treated differently.

Where renters can get help

Some renters need help because of missing CRPs, disability, caregiving, older tax years, or mixed housing situations.

Minnesota lists free tax preparation sites through VITA and AARP Tax-Aide. These sites can help with federal and state income tax returns. Check the site rules before you go.

Avoid relying on old blog posts, social media tips, or outdated tax software screens for the form year you are filing.

What to do if the credit is delayed, denied, or questioned

A delay or denial does not always mean the state thinks you did something wrong. It may mean the state needs more information.

Start with these steps:

Check whether you filed the right current-year forms.
Make sure you included every CRP for the year.
Review the income amount used for Schedule M1RENT.
Look for notices from Minnesota Revenue and answer by the date listed.
Use the official refund status tool for basic status information.
If the CRP was wrong, ask the owner or manager for a corrected CRP.
If you filed without the credit, review the amended return process.

If Minnesota sends you a letter, have the letter, your return, CRPs, rent records, and income records in front of you before you call.

How this is different from other property tax relief

Property tax relief terms can sound alike. They are not the same.

Term	What it usually means	How it relates to Minnesota renters
Exemption	Removes part of a property’s value from tax.	Usually a homeowner or property classification issue, not the ordinary renter path.
Rebate or refund	Money returned after a tax or rent-related calculation.	The old renter property tax refund used this idea. Current renters use the Renter’s Credit on Form M1.
Credit	Reduces tax owed or increases a refund on a tax return.	The current Minnesota Renter’s Credit is this type of relief.
Deferral or postponement	Delays paying property tax, often with repayment rules.	Not the ordinary renter path. Deferrals usually involve homeowners and may create repayment risks.
Freeze	Limits future increases for certain eligible owners.	Not the Minnesota renter credit process.
Appeal	Challenges a property’s value or classification.	Usually handled by property owners, not renters filing the renter credit.

Small checklist before you file

Before you submit the return, pause and check:

Are you filing for 2024 or later? Use the current Renter’s Credit process.
Are you dealing with 2023 or earlier? Check the old Renter’s Property Tax Refund rules.
Do you have a CRP from each rental place?
Are your name, dates, address, and rent amounts reasonable?
Did you have roommates, rent assistance, or payments from someone else?
If you already filed, do you need an amended return?

Editorial note

This guide was written as an independent plain-English explanation for Property Tax Relief Guide. It uses official Minnesota Department of Revenue sources and other high-trust tax assistance information where helpful. It is not a government page, law firm, tax office, or tax-prep service. Rules, forms, limits, and deadlines can change. Before filing, amending, or relying on a deadline, confirm the details with the official Minnesota Department of Revenue page or a qualified tax professional.