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SF 1330

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/18/2019 02:19pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - as introduced

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A bill for an act
relating to taxation; property taxes; modifying the application due date for the
disabled veterans homestead exclusion; providing refunds for taxes paid in 2018
and 2019 by certain qualifying veterans; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018,
section 273.13, subdivision 34.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 273.13, subdivision 34, is amended to read:


Subd. 34.

Homestead of disabled veteran or family caregiver.

(a) All or a portion of
the market value of property owned by a veteran and serving as the veteran's homestead
under this section is excluded in determining the property's taxable market value if the
veteran has a service-connected disability of 70 percent or more as certified by the United
States Department of Veterans Affairs. To qualify for exclusion under this subdivision, the
veteran must have been honorably discharged from the United States armed forces, as
indicated by United States Government Form DD214 or other official military discharge
papers.

(b)(1) For a disability rating of 70 percent or more, $150,000 of market value is excluded,
except as provided in clause (2); and

(2) for a total (100 percent) and permanent disability, $300,000 of market value is
excluded.

(c) If a disabled veteran qualifying for a valuation exclusion under paragraph (b), clause
(2), predeceases the veteran's spouse, and if upon the death of the veteran the spouse holds
the legal or beneficial title to the homestead and permanently resides there, the exclusion
shall carry over to the benefit of the veteran's spouse for the current taxes payable year and
for eight additional taxes payable years or until such time as the spouse remarries, or sells,
transfers, or otherwise disposes of the property, whichever comes first. Qualification under
this paragraph requires an application under paragraph (h), and a spouse must notify the
assessor if there is a change in the spouse's marital status, ownership of the property, or use
of the property as a permanent residence.

(d) If the spouse of a member of any branch or unit of the United States armed forces
who dies due to a service-connected cause while serving honorably in active service, as
indicated on United States Government Form DD1300 or DD2064, holds the legal or
beneficial title to a homestead and permanently resides there, the spouse is entitled to the
benefit described in paragraph (b), clause (2), for eight taxes payable years, or until such
time as the spouse remarries or sells, transfers, or otherwise disposes of the property,
whichever comes first.

(e) If a veteran meets the disability criteria of paragraph (a) but does not own property
classified as homestead in the state of Minnesota, then the homestead of the veteran's primary
family caregiver, if any, is eligible for the exclusion that the veteran would otherwise qualify
for under paragraph (b).

(f) In the case of an agricultural homestead, only the portion of the property consisting
of the house and garage and immediately surrounding one acre of land qualifies for the
valuation exclusion under this subdivision.

(g) A property qualifying for a valuation exclusion under this subdivision is not eligible
for the market value exclusion under subdivision 35, or classification under subdivision 22,
paragraph (b).

(h) To qualify for a valuation exclusion under this subdivision a property owner must
apply to the assessor by deleted text begin July 1deleted text end new text begin December 15 new text end of the first assessment year for which the
exclusion is sought. For an application received after deleted text begin July 1deleted text end new text begin December 15new text end , the exclusion
shall become effective for the following assessment year. Except as provided in paragraph
(c), the owner of a property that has been accepted for a valuation exclusion must notify
the assessor if there is a change in ownership of the property or in the use of the property
as a homestead.

(i) A first-time application by a qualifying spouse for the market value exclusion under
paragraph (d) must be made any time within two years of the death of the service member.

(j) For purposes of this subdivision:

(1) "active service" has the meaning given in section 190.05;

(2) "own" means that the person's name is present as an owner on the property deed;

(3) "primary family caregiver" means a person who is approved by the secretary of the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs for assistance as the primary provider of
personal care services for an eligible veteran under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance
for Family Caregivers, codified as United States Code, title 38, section 1720G; and

(4) "veteran" has the meaning given the term in section 197.447.

(k) If a veteran dying after December 31, 2011, did not apply for or receive the exclusion
under paragraph (b), clause (2), before dying, the veteran's spouse is entitled to the benefit
under paragraph (b), clause (2), for eight taxes payable years or until the spouse remarries
or sells, transfers, or otherwise disposes of the property if:

(1) the spouse files a first-time application within two years of the death of the service
member or by June 1, 2019, whichever is later;

(2) upon the death of the veteran, the spouse holds the legal or beneficial title to the
homestead and permanently resides there;

(3) the veteran met the honorable discharge requirements of paragraph (a); and

(4) the United States Department of Veterans Affairs certifies that:

(i) the veteran met the total (100 percent) and permanent disability requirement under
paragraph (b), clause (2); or

(ii) the spouse has been awarded dependency and indemnity compensation.

(l) The purpose of this provision of law providing a level of homestead property tax
relief for gravely disabled veterans, their primary family caregivers, and their surviving
spouses is to help ease the burdens of war for those among our state's citizens who bear
those burdens most heavily.

(m) By July 1, the county veterans service officer must certify the disability rating and
permanent address of each veteran receiving the benefit under paragraph (b) to the assessor.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for assessments beginning in 2019.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin SPECIAL REFUND PROVISION; DISABLED VETERANS HOMESTEAD
EXCLUSION.
new text end

new text begin A veteran who was first notified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
after July 1, 2018, but before December 15, 2018, as having a total (100 percent) and
permanent disability effective prior to July 1, 2017, but who did not apply to the assessor
by July 1, 2017, for a benefit in Minnesota Statutes, section 273.13, subdivision 34, paragraph
(b), for assessment year 2017, and who did not apply to the assessor by July 1, 2018, for
the benefit in Minnesota Statutes, section 273.13, subdivision 34, paragraph (b), for
assessment year 2018, may apply to the county assessor for a refund of taxes paid in 2018
and 2019 if the veteran otherwise would have qualified for the exclusion in those years. To
qualify for a refund, a property owner must apply to the assessor by December 15, 2019,
and must have paid all tax due in 2018 and 2019. After verifying that the applicant qualified
for an exclusion in 2017 and 2018, the county assessor must notify the county auditor, and
the auditor must recalculate the taxes on the property for taxes payable in 2018 and 2019
based on the exclusion. The county treasurer must then issue a refund of tax paid in 2018
and 2019 equal to the difference between the taxes as initially calculated for each taxes
payable year and the taxes based on the value remaining after the exclusion.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for refund applications received in 2019,
for refunds of tax paid in 2018 and 2019.
new text end