Who Receives the Renters' Credit?
Updated February 2013
The Renters’ Credit, formally called the Property Tax Refund or PTR, provides a tax refund to low- and moderate-income renters whose property taxes are high in relation to their incomes. The Renters’ Credit refunds a portion of the property taxes that renters have paid through their rents.
In 2011, more than 309,000 Minnesota households received the Renters’ Credit.[1] The average Renters’ Credit was $632. Twenty-eight percent of households receiving the Renters’ Credit included senior citizens or people with disabilities; they received an average credit of $676. In 12 Greater Minnesota counties, at least one half of participating households included seniors and/or persons with disabilities.
Unfortunately, tax legislation passed in 2011 cut the Renters’ Credit by $26 million, or 13 percent, starting with refunds filed in 2012.[2] An estimated 297,000 Minnesota households will lose an average of $87 because of this cut, and about 7,300 Minnesota households will lose their credits entirely.[3]
Minnesotans in every county receive the Renters’ Credit. The data below illustrate 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, 2011
Aitkin
Total Renters’ Credits: $271,810
Number of participating households: 504
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 50%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $539
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $591
Anoka
Total Renters’ Credits: $10,349,130
Number of participating households: 14,294
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 27%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $724
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $783
Becker
Total Renters’ Credits: $696,396
Number of participating households: 1,309
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 40%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $532
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $586
Beltrami
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,044,966
Number of participating households: 1,939
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 36%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $539
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $638
Benton
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,643,841
Number of participating households: 2,920
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): $688
Big Stone
Total Renters’ Credits: $86,841
Number of participating households: 166
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 56%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $523
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $604
Blue Earth
Total Renters’ Credits: $2,012,221
Number of participating households: 3,892
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 29%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $517
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $623
Brown
Total Renters’ Credits: $630,181
Number of participating households: 1,211
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 45%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $520
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $615
Carlton
Total Renters’ Credits: $809,878
Number of participating households: 1,337
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 45%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $606
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $684
Carver
Total Renters’ Credits: $2,273,707
Number of participating households: 3,318
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 28%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $685
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $744
Cass
Total Renters’ Credits: $431,913
Number of participating households: 822
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 37%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $525
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $616
Chippewa
Total Renters’ Credits: $265,762
Number of participating households: 584
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 42%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $455
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $524
Chisago
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,093,468
Number of participating households: 1,687
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 36%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $648
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $681
Clay
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,684,683
Number of participating households: 3,113
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 32%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $541
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $635
Clearwater
Total Renters’ Credits: $119,749
Number of participating households: 258
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 50%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $464
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $503
Cook
Total Renters’ Credits: $87,736
Number of participating households: 164
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 25%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $535
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $569
Cottonwood
Total Renters’ Credits: $218,411
Number of participating households: 465
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 48%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $470
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $538
Crow Wing
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,855,449
Number of participating households: 3,246
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 33%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $572
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $633
Dakota
Total Renters’ Credits: $14,721,253
Number of participating households: 20,602
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 23%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $715
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $778
Dodge
Total Renters’ Credits: $346,951
Number of participating households: 622
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 33%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $558
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $624
Douglas
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,018,717
Number of participating households: 1,933
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 35%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $527
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $602
Faribault
Total Renters’ Credits: $200,031
Number of participating households: 489
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 38%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $409
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $496
Fillmore
Total Renters’ Credits: $339,863
Number of participating households: 682
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 43%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $498
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $561
Freeborn
Total Renters’ Credits: $952,289
Number of participating households: 1,703
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 42%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $559
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $694
Goodhue
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,319,294
Number of participating households: 2,246
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 37%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $587
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $639
Grant
Total Renters’ Credits: $107,341
Number of participating households: 238
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 52%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $451
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $467
Hennepin
Total Renters’ Credits: $59,181,891
Number of participating households: 86,799
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 23%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $682
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $715
Houston
Total Renters’ Credits: $300,652
Number of participating households: 621
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 38%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $484
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $500
Hubbard
Total Renters’ Credits: $374,236
Number of participating households: 734
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 43%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $510
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $606
Isanti
Total Renters’ Credits: $942,780
Number of participating households: 1,426
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 29%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $661
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $708
Itasca
Total Renters’ Credits: $972,491
Number of participating households: 1,730
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 44%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $562
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $626
Jackson
Total Renters’ Credits: $134,668
Number of participating households: 288
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 41%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $468
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $551
Kanabec
Total Renters’ Credits: $332,313
Number of participating households: 618
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 43%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $538
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $547
Kandiyohi
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,397,365
Number of participating households: 2,481
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 35%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $563
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $649
Kittson
Total Renters’ Credits: $52,482
Number of participating households: 126
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 63%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $417
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $456
Koochiching
Total Renters’ Credits: $251,839
Number of participating households: 593
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 47%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $425
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $475
Lac Qui Parle
Total Renters’ Credits: $90,414
Number of participating households: 207
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 55%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $437
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $498
Lake
Total Renters’ Credits: $234,392
Number of participating households: 418
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 46%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $561
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $661
Lake of the Woods
Total Renters’ Credits: $59,754
Number of participating households: 115
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 42%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $520
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $599
Le Sueur
Total Renters’ Credits: $507,230
Number of participating households: 897
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 33%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $565
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $596
Lincoln
Total Renters’ Credits: $61,495
Number of participating households: 160
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 53%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $384
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $416
Lyon
Total Renters’ Credits: $745,709
Number of participating households: 1,542
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 36%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $484
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $611
McLeod
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,084,362
Number of participating households: 1,910
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 34%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $568
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $676
Mahnomen
Total Renters’ Credits: $48,377
Number of participating households: 109
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 52%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $444
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $465
Marshall
Total Renters’ Credits: $99,614
Number of participating households: 224
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 55%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $445
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $480
Martin
Total Renters’ Credits: $507,708
Number of participating households: 1,013
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 45%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $501
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $604
Meeker
Total Renters’ Credits: $482,127
Number of participating households: 892
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 32%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $541
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $610
Mille Lacs
Total Renters’ Credits: $633,766
Number of participating households: 1,142
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 36%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $555
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $575
Morrison
Total Renters’ Credits: $841,675
Number of participating households: 1,580
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 43%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $533
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $592
Mower
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,247,207
Number of participating households: 2,113
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 39%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $590
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $704
Murray
Total Renters’ Credits: $86,032
Number of participating households: 207
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 41%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $416
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $456
Nicollet
Total Renters’ Credits: $957,169
Number of participating households: 1,746
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 28%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $548
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $683
Nobles
Total Renters’ Credits: $396,875
Number of participating households: 866
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 38%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $458
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $488
Norman
Total Renters’ Credits: $104,046
Number of participating households: 193
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 61%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $539
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $638
Olmsted
Total Renters’ Credits: $4,457,885
Number of participating households: 7,584
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 28%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $588
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $648
Otter Tail
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,267,677
Number of participating households: 2,461
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 48%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $515
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $581
Pennington
Total Renters’ Credits: $309,000
Number of participating households: 724
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 43%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $427
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $469
Pine
Total Renters’ Credits: $596,396
Number of participating households: 1,021
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 37%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $584
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $571
Pipestone
Total Renters’ Credits: $116,492
Number of participating households: 278
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 41%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $419
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $486
Polk
Total Renters’ Credits: $643,290
Number of participating households: 1,377
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 41%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $467
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $504
Pope
Total Renters’ Credits: $243,215
Number of participating households: 462
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 47%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $526
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $641
Ramsey
Total Renters’ Credits: $28,681,315
Number of participating households: 42,705
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 25%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $672
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $700
Red Lake
Total Renters’ Credits: $56,294
Number of participating households: 141
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 45%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $399
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $418
Redwood
Total Renters’ Credits: $315,205
Number of participating households: 630
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 45%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $500
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $612
Renville
Total Renters’ Credits: $252,637
Number of participating households: 541
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 39%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $467
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $550
Rice
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,702,964
Number of participating households: 2,843
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 31%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $599
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $642
Rock
Total Renters’ Credits: $174,385
Number of participating households: 369
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 49%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $473
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $508
Roseau
Total Renters’ Credits: $204,473
Number of participating households: 456
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 37%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $448
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $509
St. Louis
Total Renters’ Credits: $6,475,571
Number of participating households: 11,625
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 43%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $557
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $623
Scott
Total Renters’ Credits: $3,144,321
Number of participating households: 4,402
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 23%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $714
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $755
Sherburne
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,987,256
Number of participating households: 3,094
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 25%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $642
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $703
Sibley
Total Renters’ Credits: $303,699
Number of participating households: 563
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 39%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $539
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $629
Stearns
Total Renters’ Credits: $4,953,294
Number of participating households: 8,880
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 25%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $558
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $663
Steele
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,110,239
Number of participating households: 1,872
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 33%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $593
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $649
Stevens
Total Renters’ Credits: $166,253
Number of participating households: 338
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 41%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $492
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $576
Swift
Total Renters’ Credits: $184,095
Number of participating households: 418
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 52%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $440
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $484
Todd
Total Renters’ Credits: $403,820
Number of participating households: 819
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 43%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $493
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $541
Traverse
Total Renters’ Credits: $47,530
Number of participating households: 98
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 65%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $485
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $514
Wabasha
Total Renters’ Credits: $408,651
Number of participating households: 771
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 32%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $530
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $590
Wadena
Total Renters’ Credits: $351,695
Number of participating households: 747
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 52%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $471
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $533
Waseca
Total Renters’ Credits: $480,968
Number of participating households: 965
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 40%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $498
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $567
Washington
Total Renters’ Credits: $6,269,774
Number of participating households: 8,561
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 29%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $732
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $848
Watonwan
Total Renters’ Credits: $167,123
Number of participating households: 416
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 42%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $402
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $441
Wilkin
Total Renters’ Credits: $95,016
Number of participating households: 216
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 51%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $440
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $460
Winona
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,128,615
Number of participating households: 2,318
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 33%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $487
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $547
Wright
Total Renters’ Credits: $2,761,501
Number of participating households: 4,314
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 29%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $640
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $685
Yellow Medicine
Total Renters’ Credits: $166,325
Number of participating households: 369
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 46%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $451
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $500
Unknown/Other
Total Renters’ Credits: $9,049,232
Number of participating households: 16,528
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 15%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $548
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $633
Statewide Total
Total Renters’ Credits: $195,386,756
Number of participating households: 309,400
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 28%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $632
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $676
[1] Minnesota Department of Revenue, Property Tax Research Division. The data here represent property tax refund claims received in 2011 for tax year 2010, the most current year for which detailed data are available.
[2] The starting point for calculating the Renters’ Credit is a percentage of the rent paid, which is considered the renter’s share of property taxes. For refund claims filed in 2011 for tax year 2010, this percentage was 19 percent. Starting with refunds filed in 2012, the renter’s share of property taxes decreased to 17 percent.
[3] Minnesota Department of Revenue, Property Tax Research. See also Minnesota Budget Project, Renters’ Credit Maintained in 2011, Cut in 2012.
