Like all Minnesotans, Minnesota’s renters want safe, affordable homes for themselves and their families. But some Minnesotans earning low wages or on fixed incomes struggle to afford the cost of housing and other basic necessities.
Minnesota has a successful tax policy called the Property Tax Refund (or PTR) that puts a limit on how big a piece of Minnesotans’ family budgets can go to property taxes. The Property Tax Refund for homeowners is often called the Circuit Breaker, and the Property Tax Refund for renters is often called the Renters’ Credit. The Renters’ Credit provides a tax refund to low- and moderate-income renters whose property taxes are considered high for their income level. The Renters’ Credit refunds a portion of the property taxes that renters have paid through their rents.
In 2015, about 328,000 Minnesota households received the Renters’ Credit.[1] Qualifying households had incomes of $58,500 or less; however, a substantial majority of households receiving the credit have incomes about $31,000 or less.
The average amount of Renters’ Credit received in 2015 was $636. Twenty-eight percent of the households receiving the Renters’ Credit included senior citizens and/or people with disabilities; they received an average credit of $702. The share of participating households that include seniors or people with disabilities tends to be higher in Greater Minnesota. In fact, in 12 Greater Minnesota counties, at least one-half of participating households included seniors and/or persons with disabilities.[2]
Minnesotans in every county receive the Renters’ Credit. The table below illustrates the importance of the Renters’ Credit to residents of each Minnesota county and for the state as a whole.
Renters' Credits Received by County of Residence, Tax Year 2015
Aitkin
Total Renters’ Credits: $241,288
Number of participating households: 484
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 52%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $499
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $544
Anoka
Total Renters’ Credits: $11,694,302
Number of participating households: 16,066
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 27%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $728
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $816
Becker
Total Renters’ Credits: $708,694
Number of participating households: 1,300
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 39%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $545
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $639
Beltrami
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,098,968
Number of participating households: 2,028
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 38%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $542
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $686
Benton
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,723,063
Number of participating households: 3,063
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 29%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $563
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $702
Big Stone
Total Renters’ Credits: $85,512
Number of participating households: 174
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 62%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $491
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $581
Blue Earth
Total Renters’ Credits: $2,148,210
Number of participating households: 4,163
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 28%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $516
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $647
Brown
Total Renters’ Credits: $592,903
Number of participating households: 1,214
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 44%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $488
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $578
Carlton
Total Renters’ Credits: $867,928
Number of participating households: 1,425
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 47%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $609
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $696
Carver
Total Renters’ Credits: $2,541,643
Number of participating households: 3,713
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 27%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $685
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $767
Cass
Total Renters’ Credits: $381,234
Number of participating households: 752
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 42%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $507
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $577
Chippewa
Total Renters’ Credits: $242,520
Number of participating households: 562
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 44%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $432
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $493
Chisago
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,171,432
Number of participating households: 1,784
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 36%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $657
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $687
Clay
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,844,070
Number of participating households: 3,351
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 31%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $550
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $669
Clearwater
Total Renters’ Credits: $128,880
Number of participating households: 271
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 48%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $476
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $559
Cook
Total Renters’ Credits: $80,516
Number of participating households: 178
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 30%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $452
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $527
Cottonwood
Total Renters’ Credits: $183,756
Number of participating households: 432
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 43%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $425
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $471
Crow Wing
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,916,150
Number of participating households: 3,397
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 35%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $564
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $650
Dakota
Total Renters’ Credits: $17,159,630
Number of participating households: 23,828
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 23%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $720
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $803
Dodge
Total Renters’ Credits: $329,201
Number of participating households: 632
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 33%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $521
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $604
Douglas
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,146,292
Number of participating households: 2,109
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 39%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $544
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $656
Faribault
Total Renters’ Credits: $201,323
Number of participating households: 476
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 42%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $423
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $474
Fillmore
Total Renters’ Credits: $326,281
Number of participating households: 711
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 42%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $459
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $552
Freeborn
Total Renters’ Credits: $854,009
Number of participating households: 1,650
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 41%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $518
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $626
Goodhue
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,315,017
Number of participating households: 2,266
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 39%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $580
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $667
Grant
Total Renters’ Credits: $97,300
Number of participating households: 217
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 49%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $448
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $506
Hennepin
Total Renters’ Credits: $66,718,876
Number of participating households: 97,878
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 22%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $682
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $744
Houston
Total Renters’ Credits: $270,267
Number of participating households: 638
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 35%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $424
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $449
Hubbard
Total Renters’ Credits: $352,621
Number of participating households: 714
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 46%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $494
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $550
Isanti
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,009,218
Number of participating households: 1,487
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 31%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $679
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $747
Itasca
Total Renters’ Credits: $990,342
Number of participating households: 1,766
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 43%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $561
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $647
Jackson
Total Renters’ Credits: $116,094
Number of participating households: 288
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 40%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $403
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $495
Kanabec
Total Renters’ Credits: $341,386
Number of participating households: 611
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 44%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $559
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $590
Kandiyohi
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,481,276
Number of participating households: 2,699
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 31%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $549
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $652
Kittson
Total Renters’ Credits: $47,679
Number of participating households: 118
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 75%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $404
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $421
Koochiching
Total Renters’ Credits: $251,973
Number of participating households: 584
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 49%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $431
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $494
Lac Qui Parle
Total Renters’ Credits: $93,878
Number of participating households: 228
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 57%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $412
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $453
Lake
Total Renters’ Credits: $209,527
Number of participating households: 377
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 45%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $556
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $638
Lake of the Woods
Total Renters’ Credits: $52,402
Number of participating households: 118
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 32%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $444
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $530
Le Sueur
Total Renters’ Credits: $508,564
Number of participating households: 952
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 34%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $534
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $568
Lincoln
Total Renters’ Credits: $50,003
Number of participating households: 133
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 53%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $376
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $458
Lyon
Total Renters’ Credits: $812,921
Number of participating households: 1,721
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 33%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $472
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $584
McLeod
Total Renters’ Credits: $956,071
Number of participating households: 1,899
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 33%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $503
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $624
Mahnomen
Total Renters’ Credits: $44,630
Number of participating households: 99
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 63%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $451
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $498
Marshall
Total Renters’ Credits: $94,397
Number of participating households: 218
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 44%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $433
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $520
Martin
Total Renters’ Credits: $465,902
Number of participating households: 1,022
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 45%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $456
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $532
Meeker
Total Renters’ Credits: $466,488
Number of participating households: 949
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 37%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $492
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $570
Mille Lacs
Total Renters’ Credits: $600,986
Number of participating households: 1,121
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 40%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $536
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $578
Morrison
Total Renters’ Credits: $776,242
Number of participating households: 1,491
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 49%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $521
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $581
Mower
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,155,178
Number of participating households: 2,032
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 40%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $568
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $675
Murray
Total Renters’ Credits: $82,915
Number of participating households: 193
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 38%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $430
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $572
Nicollet
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,029,416
Number of participating households: 1,835
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 27%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $561
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $698
Nobles
Total Renters’ Credits: $460,062
Number of participating households: 967
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 34%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $476
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $538
Norman
Total Renters’ Credits: $79,192
Number of participating households: 152
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 60%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $521
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $628
Olmsted
Total Renters’ Credits: $5,169,176
Number of participating households: 8,671
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 26%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $596
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $693
Otter Tail
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,265,987
Number of participating households: 2,527
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 44%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $501
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $593
Pennington
Total Renters’ Credits: $293,861
Number of participating households: 686
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 39%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $428
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $491
Pine
Total Renters’ Credits: $549,708
Number of participating households: 1,004
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 39%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $548
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $556
Pipestone
Total Renters’ Credits: $93,568
Number of participating households: 272
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 43%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $344
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $378
Polk
Total Renters’ Credits: $587,517
Number of participating households: 1,340
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 35%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $438
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $477
Pope
Total Renters’ Credits: $216,344
Number of participating households: 415
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 54%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $521
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $615
Ramsey
Total Renters’ Credits: $32,535,206
Number of participating households: 48,582
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 23%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $670
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $728
Red Lake
Total Renters’ Credits: $47,306
Number of participating households: 135
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 27%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $350
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $385
Redwood
Total Renters’ Credits: $291,622
Number of participating households: 594
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 43%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $491
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $658
Renville
Total Renters’ Credits: $197,394
Number of participating households: 432
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 41%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $457
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $628
Rice
Total Renters’ Credits: $2,041,762
Number of participating households: 3,256
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 30%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $627
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $715
Rock
Total Renters’ Credits: $170,511
Number of participating households: 373
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 50%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $457
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $506
Roseau
Total Renters’ Credits: $194,503
Number of participating households: 431
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 37%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $451
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $568
St. Louis
Total Renters’ Credits: $6,056,103
Number of participating households: 11,170
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 42%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $542
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $631
Scott
Total Renters’ Credits: $3,955,979
Number of participating households: 5,362
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 22%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $738
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $824
Sherburne
Total Renters’ Credits: $2,150,861
Number of participating households: 3,291
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 25%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $654
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $711
Sibley
Total Renters’ Credits: $277,779
Number of participating households: 544
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 40%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $511
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $600
Stearns
Total Renters’ Credits: $5,742,089
Number of participating households: 10,236
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 25%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $561
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $706
Steele
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,185,710
Number of participating households: 1,994
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 36%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $595
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $681
Stevens
Total Renters’ Credits: $192,166
Number of participating households: 393
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 39%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $489
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $600
Swift
Total Renters’ Credits: $192,610
Number of participating households: 437
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 46%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $441
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $479
Todd
Total Renters’ Credits: $351,953
Number of participating households: 775
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 44%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $454
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $526
Traverse
Total Renters’ Credits: $43,463
Number of participating households: 89
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 66%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $488
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $476
Wabasha
Total Renters’ Credits: $395,118
Number of participating households: 773
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 35%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $511
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $565
Wadena
Total Renters’ Credits: $340,044
Number of participating households: 723
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 50%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $470
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $543
Waseca
Total Renters’ Credits: $477,918
Number of participating households: 964
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 38%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $496
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $562
Washington
Total Renters’ Credits: $7,428,131
Number of participating households: 9,975
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 28%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $745
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $883
Watonwan
Total Renters’ Credits: $168,064
Number of participating households: 424
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 40%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $396
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $505
Wilkin
Total Renters’ Credits: $74,654
Number of participating households: 189
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 58%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $395
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $434
Winona
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,133,582
Number of participating households: 2,425
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 32%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $467
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $564
Wright
Total Renters’ Credits: $2,935,616
Number of participating households: 4,640
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 29%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $633
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $694
Yellow Medicine
Total Renters’ Credits: $138,454
Number of participating households: 363
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 45%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $381
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $420
Unknown/Other
Total Renters’ Credits: $3,040,652
Number of participating households: 6,091
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 15%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $499
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $671
Statewide Total
Total Renters’ Credits: $208,534,039
Number of participating households: 328,112
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 28%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $636
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $702