We helped make Missouri
a great place
to retire
Today 80% of Missouri's seniors have their property taxes frozen,
and we're saving seniors over $309 million a year in income taxes
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We worked three years to pass SB 190 and SB 756 to give Missouri the senior property tax freeze, and to exempt your Social Security and public pensions from income tax. After we worked with legislators, especially our MO Tax Relief Now Director, Representative Ben Keathley, 101, to pass the two state statutes, we worked with 60 Missouri counties to implement the property tax freeze in almost 40 counties to qualify 80% of Missouri's seniors for the property tax freeze.
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There are two ways to get your primary residence's property taxes frozen. The first, and easiest way, is for your County Council to simply pass a county amendment which implements state statute RSMo.137.1050 in your county. If your County Council refuses to implement the property tax freeze anyone can collect signatures on a petition from 5% of the people who voted in the last governor's election. Your petition will legally force the County Council to put the issue on the next election ballot. If it passes, the statute can't be undone by any County Council action, only a vote of the people can undo it.
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The senior property tax freeze is very popular
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We have worked with almost three dozen counties to implement a petition drive to force a referendum election in the county to implement the property tax freeze. The referendum has passed in every county where a petition has placed the issue on the ballot. The lowest approval was 67% and the highest was 90% approval. If your county hasn't implemented the property tax freeze, reach out to us and we will show you how to conduct a petition to put the issue on the ballot. We look forward to working with any county who hasn't implemented the senior property tax freeze.
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Frequently Asked Questions about the property tax freeze
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Who qualifies to have their property taxes frozen?
All seniors qualify when they reach the age of 62. This includes teachers and railroad workers.
What is considered to be the primary residence?
A primary residence is considered to be the single legal home address in Missouri that a senior lives at more than six months each year. A primary residence doesn’t refer to second homes, investment property like rentals, or commercial property that a senior may own.
What does a freeze on a property taxes mean?
When you reach the required age, the amount of taxes you paid that year will be frozen for as long as you live in that home. If you move to a new home, your taxes will be frozen at the amount you paid at that time you bought your new home. These “frozen taxes" will remain in effect if the surviving spouse is at the required age until she or he sells, leaves, or dies while living in the primary residence. The only tax which isn't frozen is the Blind Trust Fund.
Why do seniors need a freeze on their property taxes?
Seniors live on fixed incomes, and an ever-increasing share of their income is spent on healthcare as they age. It is financially difficult for them to manage ever-increasing property taxes due to assessment increases based on unrealized capital gains. Seniors fixed incomes are more heavily burdened by inflation and downturns in the economy than their younger counterparts. Seniors deserve the opportunity to remain in their homes instead of moving into nursing homes as long as their health allows them to stay. Neighborhoods benefit from the diversity seniors provide. Often seniors provide many hours of volunteer work to their community’s churches, hospitals, and schools. It keeps families intact longer.
If we freeze property taxes for seniors, will it give them an unfair tax advantage?
The tax freeze gives seniors an advantage at a critical financial time in their lives. Missouri wants to be known as a leader who appreciates the stability and positive influence seniors bring to its state. It’s not an unfair advantage because every Missouri citizen will be a senior in the future, and they will be eligible for this freeze also. Most seniors have paid property taxes for 40+ years. They shouldn’t have to worry about paying ever-increasing property taxes to stay in their homes.
Will a senior’s property taxes go up if a higher tax rate is voted on and passed?
No, a senior’s tax bill will stay the same. If higher tax rates are voted on and approved, higher rates won't be applied to the frozen property taxes.
Will taxing districts who rely on property taxes see a drop in revenue?
No, a taxing body will not see a loss in revenue. However, they won’t see the amount of revenue gains they had seen. If a taxing body feels it needs a larger budget, they can go to the voters and ask for the increase. Nothing in this law prevents taxing bodies from asking voters to approve an increase in their revenue.
Will seniors be able to appeal their property value assessments?
Yes, if a senior feels their frozen assessment is too high, in the case of a market collapse, they can appeal their assessment value just like any other property owner. If the senior wins the appeal, this value will become the new frozen assessed valuation.
Can seniors sell their homes and buy different homes? Will they lose their right to freeze their property taxes?
Yes, seniors can sell their primary residence to right-size for their changing life situations. In this case, the property tax freeze will be applied to their new home’s taxes immediately upon purchase if they move to a county that has implemented a tax freeze for seniors..
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MO Tax Relief Now needs your help. We are building a network of 50,000 Missourians who will help stop state, county, and local taxing authorities from taking more and more of our hard-earned money. Government needs to spend our tax money more efficiently and put its citizens first. Sign up today. We will email updates to you.