May 16, 2014 Tax Law Change Progress Report

We have reviewed nearly 60% of the 260,000 income tax returns that were filed before April 2 and affected by the new 2013 tax law changes 

You will hear from us by June 27 if you were affected by one of the 2013 new tax law changes. When we review the returns, one of three things happens:

1. We will adjust your return and issue a refund, if due

2. We will request more information from you, adjust your return if possible, and issue a refund, if due

3. If we cannot adjust your return, we will notify you that you will need to file an amended return to get the benefits of the tax law changes.

If you don’t hear from us by June 27, you were not affected by one of the changes, according to our review. 

If you think you were affected by one of the ten 2013 tax law changes and you have not received a refund or letter from us by June 27, you can contact us by phone at 651-296-3781 (1-800-652-9094 in greater Minnesota) or email at individual.incometax@state.mn.us. 

 

WAIT to file or amend your property tax refund

After we review all the returns, we will begin reviewing the homestead credit refund for homeowners and property tax refund claims for renters that have been filed and determine if adjustments are needed.

We are asking homeowners and renters who are affected by the 2013 tax law changes to WAIT to file their property tax refund claims. If you have not filed your property tax refund yet – WAIT. If you already filed, WAIT and do not amend at this time. We will tell you when to file after we review the legislative changes.

We understand the importance of timely property tax refunds, but it is important that you wait for two reasons:

1. Your income tax return needs to be adjusted to reflect the correct income amount before you file a property tax refund.  Using the correct income amount could mean a larger refund. 

2. The legislature is reviewing proposals that could require additional changes to property tax refunds that we will need to adjust for.

Again, the good news is that you may be entitled to a bigger property tax refund if your income was reduced by the new tax law changes or will be affected by the law changes currently being considered.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How will my additional refund be issued?

We will issue the refund in the same manner you chose for your original refund – direct deposit or paper check. 

 

When will my income tax return be processed?

We are working the returns as quickly as possible.  The returns are worked in date order – oldest to newest.  The returns affected by the tax law changes will be completed by June 27, 2014. 

 

Reminders

Below are a couple things taxpayers can do now:

1. If you get a letter from us asking for more information on your income tax return, respond as soon as you can. The letter provides a timeframe for responding to us.  If we don’t hear from you by then, we can’t determine if your return should be adjusted.

2. Check our website for more information. www.revenue.state.mn.us and click on the orange “Tax Law Changes” button, including information from today’s press conference.

3. Sign up for our email alerts. Visit our website and click the red envelope or follow this link.

4. Update your address. Taxpayers who have changed addresses since their last filing should notify us so we can send refunds and correspondence to the correct place. Information on how to update your address is on our website.