Missouri’s recent changes to its senior property tax freeze program have opened up eligibility to many more taxpayers — and raised questions about how exactly the program will be implemented.
The Star has heard from dozens of readers wondering about the program’s new rules and how it will impact tax bills going forward.
At the same time, we’ve also heard confusion about a recent state tax commission order directing Jackson County to roll back its property value increases , which frustrated homeowners last year.
What will tax bills look like this year? Should Jackson County taxpayers wait to apply to the program until a potential refund is available? And when can those who already applied expect to hear back? We dug into the answers below.
What can I expect from my 2024 property tax bill?
Missouri counties assess property values in odd-numbered years. Last year, some homeowners saw significant increases to their home valuations, leading to high property tax bills.
This year will be different, Jackson County spokesperson Marshanna Smith told The Star. Since the reassessment process won’t happen again until 2025, this year’s property tax bills will likely be roughly the same as they were last year.
While individual taxing jurisdictions like school districts and libraries might adjust their tax rates slightly to accommodate their 2024 budgets, home values in Missouri counties will not change unless a home was newly built this year.
That means your tax bill should be roughly equal to what it was last year — and if you qualify for the senior property tax freeze program, it should remain mostly stable in future years , too.
Is Jackson County going to modify its high home valuations from last year?
The Missouri State Tax Commission issued an order last week challenging Jackson County’s property assessments, which last year saw significant increases and sparked frustration among homeowners.
The order instructs the county to reduce its valuation increases to 15%, leading some to speculate that Jackson County will roll back value hikes and refund homeowners for last year’s property taxes.
However, Smith says she doesn’t expect the county to make any modifications to last year’s assessments.
“The county, at this point, is exploring next steps on how to deal with the STC’s order,” she told The Star. “And in the meantime, we’re moving forward with business as usual.”
Should I wait to apply for the tax freeze program?
The county plans to challenge the order in court , arguing that it goes beyond the tax commission’s authority and provides no proof that the county didn’t follow correct procedures.
Therefore, Smith advised seniors not to wait for a hypothetical future refund before applying for the senior property tax freeze program.
“We would encourage folks who are eligible for this program to apply for this program now,” she said. “That way, they can have their application reviewed and see if they can receive the benefits on their taxes for 2025.”
How can I check on the status of my application in Jackson County?
According to Smith, applications for the program in Jackson County will be reviewed starting in September. Then, they will be processed on a rolling basis.
“Everyone who has applied has at least gotten notice that their application has been received,” she said. “At this time, none of those applications have actually been processed for approval, but we hope to do that within the next coming months.”
Smith did not have a specific estimate for how long each application will take to process. Because applications are open until Dec. 31, some taxpayers will be notified of their acceptance in early 2025.
A press release from the county issued last week indicated that all applications are being reviewed under the state and county’s new eligibility rules. The county’s decision to process all applications starting next month means that those who applied when the old guidelines were in effect earlier this year do not have to apply again.
Changes to the state guidelines:
All homeowners aged 62 and above are eligible, even if they do not qualify for Social Security retirement benefits
If tax amounts decrease, participants’ taxes will re-freeze at the new, lower amounts.
Changes to Jackson County’s implementation:
Participants no longer need to reapply every year to participate in the program
The previous home value cap of $550,000 has been removed
Do you have more questions about Missouri’s senior property tax freeze program? Contact the author of this story directly at nwallington@kcstar.com .
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