After a colossal technological problem the first time around, Minnesota's e-bike rebate application program is going to try launching a second time.
Nearly a month ago, the Minnesota Department of Revenue opened applications to residents of the state to claim rebate funds to put toward the purchase of a new e-bike. The site immediately crashed, being overloaded by a high amount of traffic.
Only about 80 people were able to successfully submit an application through the first couple of hours of the application window on June 5, before the site was shut down in the afternoon due to the technical issues so many people were experiencing.
In the weeks since, the state's IT team and their third-party vendor worked on a solution to make sure their site could handle the demand before re-launching. The Minnesota Department of Revenue announced this week that they are ready to try again soon. Here's what to know.
What is different this time around?
Similar to the process for buying popular concert tickets, interested parties may have to wait in a virtual waiting room if there is a lot of traffic to the site. State officials say this "will allow the system to control the surge of users when the application opens".
Those looking to apply will be admitted to the application page in the order they enter the waiting room. Once you are able to access the application, you'll have 15 minutes to complete and submit it.
Why is the demand so high? Will the applications go quickly?
The State of Minnesota allocated $2 million for this year and another $2 million for next year to fund this program, meaning there is a limited amount of money to pay out to help interested parties buy their e-bike.
Applicants who receive one of these rebates will get up to $1,500, based on their previous year's income and the cost of the bike.
The state expects to award only about 1,300 rebates this year.
Because of this, the Department of Revenue, which is managing this program, says they expect the application window to be brief. They will accept up to only around 10,000 applications and they will close the application website. Those still in the virtual waiting room will be notified they are no longer able to apply this year.
When does this year's application window open now?
It opens at 11 am on Tuesday, July 2 on the Minnesota Department of Revenue's e-bike rebate webpage.
Because the application window is expected to close quickly, they recommend having the following information ready for your application:
- Name and contact information
- Date of birth
- Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
- Tax filing status in the previous calendar year
- Adjusted Gross Income in the previous calendar year (From line 1 of Minnesota Form M1, or line 11 of Federal Form 1040)
Then what?
Those who submit an application will receive a confirmation email that their application was received. Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they were received, and applicants will either be approved, asked for more information, added to a waitlist, or denied.
If you're approved, you should get your rebate certificate via email by July 10. You'll need to use it at an approved retailer within two months before it expires.
If you are asked for more information, you'll have 21 days to provide the information requested.
If you are put on a waitlist, you may be able to receive one of the unused rebate certificates. You will receive communication to let you know if you will receive a rebate certificate or if the remaining certificates have all been used.
What if you don't get one this year?
There will be another application opportunity for the summer of 2025, operating like this year's application window (only, hopefully, more smoothly than how this year's started).
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