HF317 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Budget surplus individual income tax credit established.

AI Generated Summary

This legislative bill pertains to individual income taxation in Minnesota, introducing a "budget surplus credit." It defines who qualifies for this credit and outlines how it will be calculated and distributed.

Key aspects of the bill include:

  1. Qualifying Taxpayers: These are individuals or married couples who have filed their Minnesota income tax returns on time for a specific tax year (an even-numbered year before a budget report is issued). Dependents, as defined under certain sections of the Internal Revenue Code, do not qualify.

  2. Credit Calculation: The credit a taxpayer receives is calculated based on their tax liability for a particular qualifying year and a percentage that is determined by the amount of the state’s budget surplus.

  3. Payment of Credit: The state revenue commissioner is tasked with determining the credit amount for each qualifying taxpayer and issuing refunds as needed. This process is conducted without requiring taxpayers to file a specific claim for this credit.

  4. Special Provisions for Part-Year Residents: If a taxpayer didn't reside in Minnesota for the entire year, their credit is adjusted proportionately based on the time they lived in the state.

  5. Administrative Details: The bill grants the revenue commissioner the authority to undertake necessary actions to process and distribute these refunds, possibly using private contractors to issue the payments.

  6. Funding: Appropriations for these refunds will be made from the general fund by the end of each odd-numbered year to cover the costs incurred.

Essentially, this bill aims to return a portion of the state’s budget surplus back to taxpayers, providing financial relief based on their previous tax liabilities and the state's fiscal health at the end of a biennium.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 12, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toTaxes

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "A new definition of 'Budget close report' for the purposes of surplus credit calculation."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "References the requirement for a budget close report under section 16A.103, subdivision 1.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "16A.103"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Introduces surplus fund allocation calculations as a part of the credit determination process."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Mentions the allocation requirements under section 16A.152, subdivision 2 related to surplus funds.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "16A.152"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Provides part-year residents with a proportional credit based on their Minnesota residency status."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "References the calculation for part-year residents under section 290.06, subdivision 2c.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "290.06"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarifies that surplus credit refunds can be subject to revenue recapture processes."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Establishes that refunds are subject to revenue recapture under section 270A.03, subdivision 7.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "270A.03"
  }
]