1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to taxation; allowing the 1997 property tax 
  1.3             rebate for prepayments of tax; amending Laws 1997, 
  1.4             chapter 231, article 1, section 16, as amended. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  Laws 1997, chapter 231, article 1, section 16, 
  1.7   as amended by Laws 1997, First Special Session chapter 5, 
  1.8   section 35, and Laws 1997, Third Special Session chapter 3, 
  1.9   section 11, is amended to read: 
  1.10     Sec. 16.  [PROPERTY TAX REBATE.] 
  1.11     (a) A credit is allowed against the tax imposed under 
  1.12  Minnesota Statutes, chapter 290, to an individual, other than as 
  1.13  a dependent, as defined in sections 151 and 152 of the Internal 
  1.14  Revenue Code, disregarding section 152(b)(3) of the Internal 
  1.15  Revenue Code, equal to 20 percent of the qualified property tax 
  1.16  paid in calendar year 1997 before January 1, 1998, for taxes 
  1.17  assessed in 1996.  
  1.18     (b) For property owned and occupied by the taxpayer during 
  1.19  1997, qualified tax means property taxes payable as defined in 
  1.20  Minnesota Statutes, section 290A.03, subdivision 13, assessed in 
  1.21  1996 and payable in 1997, except the requirement that the 
  1.22  taxpayer own and occupy the property on January 2, 1997, does 
  1.23  not apply.  The credit is allowed only to the individual and 
  1.24  spouse, if any, who paid the tax, whether directly, through an 
  1.25  escrow arrangement, or under a contractual agreement for the 
  2.1   purchase or sale of the property.  
  2.2      (c) For a renter, the qualified property tax means the 
  2.3   amount of rent constituting property taxes under Minnesota 
  2.4   Statutes, section 290A.03, subdivision 11, based on rent paid in 
  2.5   1997.  If two or more renters could be claimants under Minnesota 
  2.6   Statutes, chapter 290A with regard to the rent constituting 
  2.7   property taxes, the rules under Minnesota Statutes, section 
  2.8   290A.03, subdivision 8, paragraph (f), applies to determine the 
  2.9   amount of the credit for the individual. 
  2.10     (d) For an individual who both owned and rented principal 
  2.11  residences in calendar year 1997, qualified taxes are the sum of 
  2.12  the amounts under paragraphs (a) and (b). 
  2.13     (e) If the amount of the credit under this subdivision 
  2.14  exceeds the taxpayer's tax liability under this chapter, the 
  2.15  commissioner shall refund the excess. 
  2.16     (f) To claim a credit under this subdivision, the taxpayer 
  2.17  must attach a copy of the property tax statement and certificate 
  2.18  of rent paid, as applicable, and provide any additional 
  2.19  information the commissioner requires. 
  2.20     (g) An amount sufficient to pay refunds under this 
  2.21  subdivision is appropriated to the commissioner from the general 
  2.22  fund. 
  2.23     (h) This credit applies to taxable years beginning after 
  2.24  December 31, 1996, and before January 1, 1998. 
  2.25     (i) Payment of the credit under this section is subject to 
  2.26  Minnesota Statutes, chapter 270A, and any other provision 
  2.27  applicable to refunds under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 290. 
  2.28     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.29     Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.