Who Receives the Renters' Credit?
Updated February 2012
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 income. The Renters’ Credit refunds a portion of the property taxes that renters have paid through their rents.
More than 281,000 Minnesota households received the Renters’ Credit for tax year 2009, the most current year for which detailed data is available.[1] The average Renters’ Credit was $489. Thirty percent of households receiving the Renters’ Credit included senior citizens or people with disabilities, who received an average credit of $520. In 15 Greater Minnesota counties, at least one half of participating households included seniors and/or persons with disabilities.
In 2009, Governor Pawlenty proposed a substantial reduction in the Renters’ Credit, which was enacted by the 2010 Legislature. Renters’ Credit payments declined by $42 million in 2010, down 24 percent from the previous year. The average refund dropped by $103; households including seniors and/or people with disabilities saw their average credit fall by $131. That is a significant loss to struggling Minnesota households. And 23,050 fewer households received the Renters’ Credit in 2010, a reduction of eight percent compared to 2009.[2]
Minnesotans in every county receive the Renters’ Credit. The data 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, 2010
Aitkin
Total Renters’ Credits: $210,552
Number of participating households: 516
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 51%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $408
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $432
Anoka
Total Renters’ Credits: $7,426,645
Number of participating households: 13,042
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 28%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $569
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $597
Becker
Total Renters’ Credits: $497,690
Number of participating households: 1,277
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 42%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $390
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $411
Beltrami
Total Renters’ Credits: $779,533
Number of participating households: 1,867
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 37%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $418
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $485
Benton
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,139,679
Number of participating households: 2,642
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 29%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $431
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $547
Big Stone
Total Renters’ Credits: $77,333
Number of participating households: 194
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 48%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $399
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $494
Blue Earth
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,462,059
Number of participating households: 3,734
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 29%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $392
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $470
Brown
Total Renters’ Credits: $454,802
Number of participating households: 1,151
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 45%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $395
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $475
Carlton
Total Renters’ Credits: $599,858
Number of participating households: 1,280
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 47%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $469
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $501
Carver
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,552,327
Number of participating households: 2,917
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 30%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $532
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $564
Cass
Total Renters’ Credits: $323,267
Number of participating households: 799
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 32%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $405
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $467
Chippewa
Total Renters’ Credits: $188,776
Number of participating households: 555
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 42%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $340
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $354
Chisago
Total Renters’ Credits: $797,535
Number of participating households: 1,536
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 37%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $519
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $505
Clay
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,233,134
Number of participating households: 3,003
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 34%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $411
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $483
Clearwater
Total Renters’ Credits: $87,821
Number of participating households: 253
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 60%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $347
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $352
Cook
Total Renters’ Credits: $57,601
Number of participating households: 157
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 24%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $367
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $405
Cottonwood
Total Renters’ Credits: $156,437
Number of participating households: 437
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 51%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $358
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $427
Crow Wing
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,331,139
Number of participating households: 3,077
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 34%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $433
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $476
Dakota
Total Renters’ Credits: $10,191,146
Number of participating households: 18,419
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 24%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $553
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $598
Dodge
Total Renters’ Credits: $244,832
Number of participating households: 567
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 38%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $432
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $480
Douglas
Total Renters’ Credits: $759,728
Number of participating households: 1,869
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 37%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $406
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $443
Faribault
Total Renters’ Credits: $145,381
Number of participating households: 477
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 34%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $305
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $334
Fillmore
Total Renters’ Credits: $237,132
Number of participating households: 649
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 48%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $365
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $395
Freeborn
Total Renters’ Credits: $684,242
Number of participating households: 1,616
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 44%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $423
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $538
Goodhue
Total Renters’ Credits: $950,212
Number of participating households: 2,171
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 38%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $438
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $470
Grant
Total Renters’ Credits: $74,243
Number of participating households: 215
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 54%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $345
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $353
Hennepin
Total Renters’ Credits: $43,058,391
Number of participating households: 80,645
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 25%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $534
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $565
Houston
Total Renters’ Credits: $200,745
Number of participating households: 564
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 36%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $356
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $356
Hubbard
Total Renters’ Credits: $280,086
Number of participating households: 691
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 46%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $405
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $474
Isanti
Total Renters’ Credits: $684,471
Number of participating households: 1,319
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 32%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $519
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $580
Itasca
Total Renters’ Credits: $741,815
Number of participating households: 1,757
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 44%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $422
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $471
Jackson
Total Renters’ Credits: $94,368
Number of participating households: 272
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 43%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $347
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $399
Kanabec
Total Renters’ Credits: $257,874
Number of participating households: 598
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 39%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $431
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $418
Kandiyohi
Total Renters’ Credits: $991,821
Number of participating households: 2,386
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 37%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $416
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $497
Kittson
Total Renters’ Credits: $36,371
Number of participating households: 109
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 66%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $334
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $312
Koochiching
Total Renters’ Credits: $181,907
Number of participating households: 559
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 52%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $325
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $352
Lac Qui Parle
Total Renters’ Credits: $62,756
Number of participating households: 194
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 56%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $323
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $376
Lake
Total Renters’ Credits: $166,114
Number of participating households: 379
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 46%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $438
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $469
Lake of the Woods
Total Renters’ Credits: $41,172
Number of participating households: 115
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 46%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $358
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $421
Le Sueur
Total Renters’ Credits: $366,212
Number of participating households: 873
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 33%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $419
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $430
Lincoln
Total Renters’ Credits: $37,223
Number of participating households: 132
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 56%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $282
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $319
Lyon
Total Renters’ Credits: $539,801
Number of participating households: 1,483
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 37%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $364
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $450
McLeod
Total Renters’ Credits: $727,239
Number of participating households: 1,777
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 35%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $409
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $463
Mahnomen
Total Renters’ Credits: $38,165
Number of participating households: 102
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 55%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $374
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $363
Marshall
Total Renters’ Credits: $66,974
Number of participating households: 213
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 61%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $314
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $320
Martin
Total Renters’ Credits: $374,656
Number of participating households: 1,014
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 44%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $369
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $441
Meeker
Total Renters’ Credits: $324,480
Number of participating households: 823
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 34%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $394
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $426
Mille Lacs
Total Renters’ Credits: $473,472
Number of participating households: 1,100
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 39%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $430
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $425
Morrison
Total Renters’ Credits: $600,446
Number of participating households: 1,504
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 44%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $399
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $433
Mower
Total Renters’ Credits: $885,768
Number of participating households: 1,995
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 39%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $444
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $513
Murray
Total Renters’ Credits: $64,921
Number of participating households: 185
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 43%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $351
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $379
Nicollet
Total Renters’ Credits: $684,197
Number of participating households: 1,626
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 30%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $421
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $527
Nobles
Total Renters’ Credits: $306,257
Number of participating households: 856
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 39%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $358
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $403
Norman
Total Renters’ Credits: $80,072
Number of participating households: 207
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 62%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $387
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $426
Olmsted
Total Renters’ Credits: $3,354,363
Number of participating households: 7,266
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 28%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $462
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $536
Otter Tail
Total Renters’ Credits: $886,436
Number of participating households: 2,297
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 50%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $386
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $435
Pennington
Total Renters’ Credits: $230,175
Number of participating households: 701
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 44%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $328
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $367
Pine
Total Renters’ Credits: $428,351
Number of participating households: 987
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 40%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $434
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $410
Pipestone
Total Renters’ Credits: $86,828
Number of participating households: 276
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 43%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $315
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $365
Polk
Total Renters’ Credits: $476,494
Number of participating households: 1,385
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 42%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $344
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $366
Pope
Total Renters’ Credits: $171,225
Number of participating households: 418
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 49%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $410
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $493
Ramsey
Total Renters’ Credits: $20,591,416
Number of participating households: 39,908
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 26%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $516
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $540
Red Lake
Total Renters’ Credits: $37,590
Number of participating households: 137
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 45%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $274
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $296
Redwood
Total Renters’ Credits: $223,175
Number of participating households: 603
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 48%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $370
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $448
Renville
Total Renters’ Credits: $189,533
Number of participating households: 504
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 40%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $376
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $452
Rice
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,204,013
Number of participating households: 2,611
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 34%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $461
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $480
Rock
Total Renters’ Credits: $119,586
Number of participating households: 302
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 45%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $396
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $503
Roseau
Total Renters’ Credits: $146,097
Number of participating households: 418
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 42%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $350
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $400
St. Louis
Total Renters’ Credits: $4,885,954
Number of participating households: 11,598
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 43%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $421
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $471
Scott
Total Renters’ Credits: $2,270,299
Number of participating households: 4,046
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 24%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $561
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $584
Sherburne
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,394,587
Number of participating households: 2,776
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 26%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $502
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $536
Sibley
Total Renters’ Credits: $206,013
Number of participating households: 529
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 39%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $389
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $415
Stearns
Total Renters’ Credits: $3,514,724
Number of participating households: 8,465
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 25%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $415
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $501
Steele
Total Renters’ Credits: $787,103
Number of participating households: 1,748
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 34%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $450
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $499
Stevens
Total Renters’ Credits: $123,079
Number of participating households: 346
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 40%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $356
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $404
Swift
Total Renters’ Credits: $121,856
Number of participating households: 400
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 55%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $305
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $327
Todd
Total Renters’ Credits: $278,147
Number of participating households: 740
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 46%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $376
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $395
Traverse
Total Renters’ Credits: $35,512
Number of participating households: 106
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 69%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $335
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $352
Wabasha
Total Renters’ Credits: $290,323
Number of participating households: 718
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 34%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $404
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $453
Wadena
Total Renters’ Credits: $264,884
Number of participating households: 715
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 52%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $370
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $413
Waseca
Total Renters’ Credits: $332,997
Number of participating households: 877
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 41%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $380
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $432
Washington
Total Renters’ Credits: $4,521,359
Number of participating households: 7,890
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 30%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $573
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $667
Watonwan
Total Renters’ Credits: $116,353
Number of participating households: 391
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 43%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $298
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $318
Wilkin
Total Renters’ Credits: $64,103
Number of participating households: 206
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 48%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $311
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $340
Winona
Total Renters’ Credits: $855,137
Number of participating households: 2,326
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 32%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $368
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $414
Wright
Total Renters’ Credits: $1,917,054
Number of participating households: 3,908
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 31%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $491
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $504
Yellow Medicine
Total Renters’ Credits: $113,669
Number of participating households: 356
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 47%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $319
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $349
Unknown/Other
Total Renters’ Credits: $3,281,587
Number of participating households: 7,600
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 15%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $432
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $514
Statewide Total
Total Renters’ Credits: $137,550,900
Number of participating households: 281,452
Share of participating households that include seniors and/or people with disabilities: 30%
Average Renters’ Credit (all recipients): $489
Average Renters’ Credit (households including seniors and/or people with disabilities): $520
[1] Minnesota Department of Revenue, Property Tax Research Division, 2009 Property Tax Refund claims filed in 2010.
[2] Minnesota Budget Project analysis of Minnesota Department of Revenue data for property tax refunds filed in 2009 and 2010. 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. In 2010, this percentage was reduced from 19 percent to 15 percent. Changes from year to year also reflect changes in the characteristics of those filing for the property tax refund.
