Property Tax Records in Missouri

When you buy real estate in Missouri, you'll receive a property tax bill every year, which can amount to several thousand dollars. Your property taxes depend on the tax rate in your county and your home's current market value.

In Missouri, the average property tax rate is just 0.88%, which is lower than the national average of 0.99%. Every county can set its own tax rate, which is why they can be as low as 0.43% and as high as 1.45%. Property taxes are levied and collected by the counties in Missouri. These funds usually pay for public services like school systems.

Whether you live in St. Louis County or Jackson County, you'll need to pay property taxes by December 31 every year. As long as this payment is postmarked by December 31, it's fine if the Collector's Office receives it after this date. You should get your tax bill through the mail in November. If you don't pay your taxes on time, penalties and interest will accrue. From mobile homes to single-family properties, nearly every type of property can be taxed.

Missouri has levied property taxes for nearly 200 years. Between 1804 and 1815, the Missouri Territorial government passed numerous tax laws. However, property taxes weren't established until after Missouri became a state. The Revenue Act of 1820 authorized all local governments to collect various taxes. Over the next 25 years, many new taxes were created, including property taxes.

When you own a property in Missouri, you'll need to pay taxes by the final day of the year. If you don't make your payment on time, a 10% penalty will be assessed. Property taxes in this state are mainly based on a home's market value. This value allows the county assessor to calculate the assessment value. Most assessors determine market value by finding the sale prices of comparable properties in the area. Missouri property tax assessments are pretty straightforward, but remember to make your payment on time to avoid the very stiff penalty.

In Missouri, the assessment rate is 19%. If you buy a home that has a market value of $150,000, its assessed value will be $28,500. The tax rate in your county will be applied to the assessed value. In Missouri, these rates can be set by different tax authorities in your county. All tax rates are displayed based on $100 in total assessed value. You can also estimate your annual property taxes by using your county's effective tax rate. The effective Missouri tax rates for the most populous Missouri counties are:

Like many other states, taxes in more populated areas are higher, and this is true for Missouri. St. Louis County property taxes, for example, are the highest in the state. However, Clay County and Jackson County property taxes aren't far behind.

Each county in Missouri collects property tax revenues that usually pay for public services like fire departments, school districts, and parks. Every county has discretion over how the funds are used. In St. Louis County, tax revenues pay for the following:

If you want to buy a home in Missouri, you can learn more about the taxes you'll need to pay, and you can do this by searching Missouri property records. These tax records are publicly available in most counties via online databases. If you know the address or parcel ID of a property, you'll likely be able to find tax records and other information. Some counties allow property owners to use these websites to pay their taxes online. The information you can access in property tax records includes homeowners name and also the following:

You may be able to reduce your property taxes by applying for an exemption or deduction in Missouri. While most states provide exemptions that reduce a property's assessed value, Missouri offers a single tax credit that's applied directly to the amount of taxes you owe. Here are just a couple of property tax docufictions in Missouri.

Missouri Property Tax Credit for Seniors and Disabled Individuals: The Missouri Property Tax Credit is available to senior citizens who are at least 65 years old. Individuals with total disabilities can also claim this credit. If you own and occupy a home, you'll receive a credit for $1,100, which means that your taxes will be reduced by this amount.

Missouri Property Tax Credit for Disabled Veterans: This same tax credit is also available for disabled veterans. If you believe that you qualify for this credit, you must show proof when you submit your application. Keep in mind that this credit is only available to veterans with a disability rating of 100%.

If the disability rating is not due to previous military service, benefits, and payments will need to be included in your household income calculations. The household income limit is usually $30,000 for a single person and $34,000 for a family. A letter must be included that details the benefits you earned over the past year.

A veteran who is 100% disabled because of their military service won't be required to include veteran benefits and payment on their tax credit form. If you're applying for this tax credit, you'll need to submit a Veterans Administration letter that states your disability occurred during military service.

When you're searching for property tax info and other data related to the home you wish to buy, you can use a third-party software solution like PropertyChecker or the online database that your county offers. There isn't a single standardized database available in Missouri, which means that there will be some notable differences depending on where you live.

If you're looking for property records in St. Louis County, you can find real estate information with search parameters like property address, subdivision name, locator number, or owner name. St. Louis County provides some of the most comprehensive real estate information in Missouri. Property tax data is available for the past 10 years, which should make it significantly easier for you to calculate what your taxes will be if you purchase a home.

PropertyChecker is a highly popular platform that allows you to search for Missouri property tax records online. You can look for a specific piece of property with anything from the owner's name to the property address. The information you'll be able to review includes the following:

Your property taxes are based almost entirely on your home's assessed value. The tax assessor in your county will estimate your property's assessed value by January 1 in every odd-numbered year. A Notice of Assessment will be mailed to you by the end of May. This document will list your property's current assessed value and market value.

If you notice that your home's assessed value has increased considerably for no apparent reason, consider appealing the Notice of Assessment. All property owners in Missouri have the right to appeal their property taxes. However, you must meet strict filing deadlines to ensure your appeal is heard. Follow the steps below to appeal your property taxes without issue.

Step 1: Once you receive your Notice of Assessment in the mail, you can file an appeal. Look for any error or omission that might be causing your home's assessed value to increase at a higher rate than it should.

For example, the assessor may have accidentally listed inaccurate square footage for your home. Even a small mistake can lead to your home's assessed value being much higher than the previous year's.

Step 2: If you detect a mistake, you'll need to provide proof. The tax assessor in your area may be able to correct a basic error immediately. You can also provide evidence in the form of a new home appraisal, which you should be able to obtain from a third-party appraiser. Missouri accepts oral testimony from third-party appraisers during formal and informal reviews.

Step 3: Make sure your first call is to your county assessor's office once you receive your assessment notice. Set up an informal review of your case with the assessor or a member of their staff. Most appeals are handled at this level. You'll have time to present your evidence. The county assessor will also give you the documentation they used to estimate your home's value.

Step 4: If the assessor doesn't change your home's assessment value, you can file another appeal with your county's Board of Equalization. The county clerk should give you the documents you need to file this appeal. Once the Board schedules a hearing, you can take the opportunity to present your evidence. The county assessor will also provide their proof.

Step 5: You can take the appeals process up another level by appealing to the State Tax Commission. Make sure you file this appeal within 30 days of the Board of Equalization's final ruling or by September 30.

Property taxes in Missouri are generally low, which is why they aren't always a major factor in real estate transactions. However, the tax rate isn't the same in every county. In places like Jackson County and Clay County, the tax rate is right around 1.43%, which is much higher than the state average and can lead to a property tax bill that amounts to several thousand dollars.

Property taxes are relevant for several reasons. Buyers need to estimate their property taxes to determine how much they'll be required to pay on their monthly mortgage payments. Let's say that your annual tax bill is $2,500. If you choose to include these taxes in your mortgage payments, you'll pay another $208 per month. Buyers might need to make difficult budget-related decisions when purchasing a home in a county with a high tax rate.

Investors also consider property taxes when buying a home or rental property. The purpose of a real estate investment is to increase the value of a portfolio, which is done by earning profits or cash flow. While investors earn cash flow from the monthly payments their tenants make, they'll also be tasked with spending money on repaying the mortgage, making repairs, and maintaining the property. Investors might be more interested in purchasing homes in counties with low tax rates.

In Missouri, nearly every county sells tax lien certificates to investors. If a homeowner doesn't pay their property taxes for a few years, the county will place a tax lien on their home. When an investor buys this type of certificate, interest will continue to accumulate until the homeowner repays all their delinquent taxes.

Most counties host at least one Collector of Revenue's tax sale every year. Keep in mind that tax liens aren't sold in St. Louis City and Jackson County. Once you acquire a certificate, the homeowner will have one year to repay their delinquent taxes. If they don't, you can exchange your Certificate of Purchase for the property deed, which gives you ownership of the home.