APPLICATION PROCESS OPENS SEPT. 1
The Platte County Commission enacted the Platte County Senior Citizens’ Real Property Tax Freeze Credit on Monday, March 18.
The legislation, recently authorized under Missouri’s Senate Bill 190 (SB190), enables senior citizens to apply annually for a tax credit essentially to freeze the real property taxes on their home, providing predictability and avoiding potential spikes in property tax bills.
The county’s SB190 Work Group was led by Dagmar Wood, first district county commissioner.
“I’m extremely pleased we are able to bring real property tax relief to our senior citizens,” said Wood. “This will help our seniors stay in their own homes and live with dignity and financial peace of mind, without the worry of escalating property taxes.”
Homeowner applicants must be at least 62 years of age, be eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, and be responsible for the payment of their home’s property taxes.
Platte County Clerk Jera Pruitt, who served on the SB190 Work Group and recently added staff to process applications for the new tax credit, said, “The county clerk’s office will help deliver on the promise of tax relief to our seniors. Platte County has prospered because of the investment this generation made in our community and it’s time to recognize their efforts.”
State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, the sponsor of SB190, said, “I’m grateful for the commission’s action implementing Senate Bill 190. One of the issues I’ve heard repeatedly from Platte County seniors is that out-of-control property taxes have risked them being taxed out of their homes. This common-sense measure will protect our seniors by freezing the taxes on their primary residence, ensuring they are never evicted from their homes by burdensome taxes.”
Real property tax re-assessment happens every odd-numbered year. With the passage of today’s commission order, the first base tax year is established. For qualified applicants, tax bills will be calculated by using 2024 as the base tax year, with a credit issued on their 2025 tax statement due to future increases on assessed value or future operational levy increases. Under the state’s Hancock Amendment, levies imposed to pay for public bonds are not affected, so there may be an increase in seniors’ tax bills in those instances.
Because 2024 is not a re-assessment year and serves as the tax base, applications will need to be submitted for the year 2025.
Applications will be accepted in the county clerk’s office beginning Sept. 1, 2024 and will be available through May 15, 2025, in time for the 2025 valuation year.
Printable applications will be made available on the County’s website in September at www.co.platte.mo.us with hard copies also available at the County Clerk’s Office. Questions may be emailed to SeniorTaxCredit@co.platte.mo.us. Citizens may also call the clerk’s office at 816-827-4075.
Platte County is one of the early adopters in Missouri to pass this senior tax relief credit.
In addition to Wood and Pruitt, the county’s SB190 Work Group included Collector Sheila Palmer, Auditor Kevin Robinson, Administrator Wes Minder, Director of Administration Dana Babcock, Information Systems Director Ted Smith, and Travis Elliott, attorney.
“Each county has the option to implement a tax freeze for seniors. I am happy to vote in favor of the measure to help our seniors. Commissioner Dagmar Wood showed a passion for getting this approved in Platte County immediately after it was approved in Jefferson City. I knew she could be trusted with leading Platte County’s effort to approve and implement Senate Bill 190,” said Joe Vanover, second district county commissioner.
