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Taxes
Property tax relief for seniors in Minnesota
Minnesota has 3 programs that can lower property taxes for older adults: Homestead Credit Refund (for homeowners), Renter's Credit and Property Tax Deferral for Senior Citizens. Each one has its own rules and deadline.
Homestead Credit Refund (for homeowners)
Minnesota pays homeowners a refund when property tax is high compared with household income, for any age. Being 65 or older gives you a subtraction that lowers the income counted. You file Form M1PR with the Department of Revenue by August 15, online or on paper.
How to apply
- Online
- mndor.state.mn.us
- By phone
- 1-800-652-9094
- By mail
- Form M1PR, Homestead Credit Refund, to the Minnesota Department of Revenue
- Who runs it
- Minnesota Department of Revenue651-296-3781
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify
| Age | Any age; if you or your spouse were 65 or older on or before January 1, 2026, you may claim a subtraction that lowers your household income |
|---|---|
| Household income limit, regular refund (2025 income, 2026 taxes) | Less than $142,490 |
| Home | You owned and lived in the home on January 2, 2026, it is classified as a homestead with your county, and you pay (or arrange to pay) its property tax |
What you may get
| Regular refund | Based on your income and property tax; a 2025 law change raised 2025 homeowner refunds by nearly 15% |
|---|---|
| Special refund, when your net tax rose more than 12% (and at least $100) from 2025 to 2026 | Up to $1,000, with no income limit |
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| Due date | August 15; you may file up to one year late |
|---|---|
| Do you reapply? | Yes, a new claim each year using that year's property tax statement |
How Minnesota is different
Where Minnesota's rules differ from the federal rules for Property tax relief for seniors.
- Life estate holders may qualify even if someone else pays the tax
- Mobile home owners qualify the same way as other homeowners; lot rent alone doesn't count for the renter's credit
Good to know
- Renters: Since 2024, renters claim the separate Renter's Credit on their income tax return instead of filing Form M1PR.
Renter's Credit
Minnesota renters with household income under $77,570 may get a refundable credit of up to $2,720 on their state income tax return (tax year 2025). Being 65 or older gives you a subtraction that lowers the income counted. Your landlord gives you a Certificate of Rent Paid by January 31 to file with your return.
How to apply
- By mail
- File Form M1, Schedule M1REF and Schedule M1RENT with your Minnesota income tax return, with copies of your Certificates of Rent Paid; or file electronically with tax software
- Who runs it
- Minnesota Department of Revenue
Who may qualify
| Age | Any age; if you or your spouse were 65 (born before January 2, 1961) you may claim a subtraction that lowers your household income |
|---|---|
| Household income limit (tax year 2025) | Below $77,570 |
| Home | A full- or part-year Minnesota resident who lived in and paid rent on a building whose owner paid property tax (or payments in lieu of tax), and can't be claimed as someone else's dependent |
What you may get
| Largest credit (tax year 2025) | $2,720 |
|---|
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| Do you reapply? | Yes, it is claimed on each year's income tax return |
|---|
How Minnesota is different
Where Minnesota's rules differ from the federal rules for Property tax relief for seniors.
- Refundable: it lowers what you owe or adds to your refund
- If your landlord doesn't give you a Certificate of Rent Paid, you can ask the Department of Revenue for a Rent Paid Affidavit starting February 1
Good to know
- Renters: This is Minnesota's credit for renters. If you forgot to claim it, you must amend your income tax return.
Property Tax Deferral for Senior Citizens
If you are 65 or older with household income of $96,000 or less and have lived in your home at least 5 years, Minnesota lets you cap the property tax you pay at 3% of your income. The state pays the rest as a loan, repaid with interest when you sell the home or cancel the deferral. Apply by November 1 to defer the next year's taxes.
How to apply
- By phone
- 651-556-4803
- By mail
- Form CR-SCD to Property Tax Division, Mail Station 3340, 600 N. Robert St., St. Paul, MN 55146-3340
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify
| Age | 65 or older in the year you apply; if married, one spouse 65 or older and the other at least 62 |
|---|---|
| Total household income limit | $96,000 or less |
| Home | You have owned and lived in the home, and it has been homesteaded, for the last 5 years |
| Liens | No reverse mortgage, life estate, or state or federal tax or judgment liens; other liens under 75% of the home's estimated market value |
What you may get
| What it does | You pay property tax equal to 3% of your prior-year household income; the state pays the rest as a loan |
|---|---|
| Interest | Varies, but no more than 5% |
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| Application deadline | November 1, to defer the following year's taxes |
|---|---|
| Do you reapply? | No, once accepted you don't reapply each year |
How Minnesota is different
Where Minnesota's rules differ from the federal rules for Property tax relief for seniors.
- Some refunds and payments due to you are applied to the loan
Free help
Free help with this in Minnesota
Minnesota Aging Pathways
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Minnesota
Property tax relief in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- Minnesota Department of Revenue, Homestead Credit Refund (for Homeowners) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Minnesota Department of Revenue, Filing for a Property Tax Refund (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Minnesota Department of Revenue, 2025 Form M1PR Instructions, Homestead Credit Refund (for Homeowners) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Minnesota Department of Revenue, Renter's Credit (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Minnesota Department of Revenue, Property Tax Deferral for Senior Citizens (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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