How to Complete MN State Renter's Credit for 2024

[skovar7]

With the new change in the process for renter's credit in MN this year, I'm a little confused on how to complete it. My landlord said she uploaded all the information to the site they are required to now, but I didn't get an actual form. 
I was doing my state taxes and selected the Renter's Credit box (Yes I lived in MN all year, paid rent, got credit last year, no change this year), I went through the process of updating the information in the online form, and then when I hit Done, it said I did not qualify for a credit this year??  My income is under the limit, I am not married, and nothing has changed since last year. Why is it saying I don't get a credit this year? Is the site not updated yet? It also says something about needing to submit a Schedule M1RENT form instead of an M1PR form this year, but I don't know how to find that and there's nowhere to upload it on the site. Do I have to mail it in again this year?

[skovar7]

Hello? Why hasn't anyone replied to my question yet?  Is this an issue on TurboTax's end or something else? 

[KeshaH]

We can take a look at your return so we can see exactly what you see and help come to a resolution. The return will be scrubbed and will not include any of your personal details.

Once you're logged in to your account,

- on the left hand panel, click on Tax Tools and then choose Tools

- on the pop up window, select Share my file with Agent

- you'll see a message saying you'll give us a copy of your tax return. Your personal information will be changed so we can't see any private information.

- click okay and you'll get another message with a token

Reply to this message with your token and we'll take a look to see what we can find.

[IMExasperated]

I am having the same issue while attempting to complete my daughter's taxes.  Can I follow this advice for upload of her tax file?

[LeticiaF1]

Before you send us a copy of her file, you should go over your Minnesota return to make sure that you answered everything correctly.  

1. When you start your Minnesota return, one of the first questions is about your living situation.  
2. Continue the questions until you get to the Other Minnesota Credits screen, select the Renter's Credit
3. In the next screen make sure that you meet all the requirements for the credit and if you do, select Yes
4. Select Yes to enter your Certificate of Rent Paid
5. Enter your certificate information on the certificate of rent paid worksheet, make sure to scroll down and complete everything

See the images below for your reference as you enter the information on your return:

You should go over your Minnesota return to make sure that you answered everything correctly.  

1. When you start your Minnesota return, one of the first questions is about your living situation.  
2. Continue the questions until you get to the Other Minnesota Credits screen, select the Renter's Credit
3. In the next screen make sure that you meet all the requirements for the credit and if you do, select Yes
4. Select Yes to enter your Certificate of Rent Paid
5. Enter your certificate information on the certificate of rent paid worksheet, make sure to scroll down and complete everything

See the images below for your reference as you enter the information on your return:

@IMExasperated 

Renter's Credit

[IMExasperated]

Skovar7, I think I figured out the issue.

Open Minnesota forms Schedule M1REF.  Click on line 4 - Renter's Credit (enclosed Schedule M1RENT).  This should create Schedule M1RENT in the forms list.  Open that Schedule and check the Activation box towards the top of the form.  This should calculate the form and update your Minnesota tax amount.

Regards, IMExasperated

[skovar7]

@KeshaH Thank you for replying.
Here is the token: 1269503

[KeshaH]

Thank you for sharing your token! 

I reviewed your Schedule M1RENT and the Renter's Refund Credit tables (located on pages 25–29 of the Form M1 instructions). Based on your income and the amount of rent that you paid, TurboTax is correctly calculating your credit as zero. You won't need to mail in a Form M1RENT this year. It would be completed automatically within TurboTax and filed as part of your return if you qualified for the credit.

@skovar7 

[skovar7]

Hi @KeshaH 

Thank you for looking into it.
I still don't understand why though if my income is under the amount specified by the state and nothing has changed since last year when I did get a renter's credit. 

[KeshaH]

Has the amount of rent you paid changed from 2023 to 2025? 

Based on the credit table, the credit is calculated on a curve - the higher your income, the more rent you have to pay to get any of the credit. The maximum amount of income you can earn overall and still qualify for the credit is roughly $75k, but to get a credit at that amount you would to be paying a higher amount of rent.

The lower the rent you pay, the quicker you phase out of the credit.

You can verify that your portion of the rent was entered correctly in TurboTax to make sure the credit amount is being calculated correctly.

If the rent is the same as last year, your income could play a part in not qualifying this year. Even if your income increased only slightly, that could be the difference between qualifying last year and not qualifying this year.

@skovar7