By Brad Ziegler
Seniors residing in Jackson County have until December 31 to enroll for the Senior Property Tax Credit Program for 2024, which effectively freezes property taxes on their residence at 2024 levels.
The program originated in the Missouri legislature in 2023 with Senate Bill 190, which authorized Missouri counties to “grant a property tax credit to eligible taxpayers…” Jackson County responded by creating the Senior Property Tax Credit Program in September 2023 and began accepting applications in March of this year. The Missouri legislature revisited the Program in the 2024 session, passing Senate Bill 756, which provided clearer definition to the eligibility requirements, and it was signed into law by Governor Parson in July.
To be eligible, applicants must be:
- A Jackson County resident.
- 62 years of age or older (proven with any government-issued ID with a date of birth).
- The property owner or someone who has a legal or equitable interest in the home (proven with applicant’s name on a deed or other documentation proving a legal interest in the property)
- Liable for the payment of real property taxes on the home.
- An occupant of the property as their only primary residence (proven with a driver’s license, voter registration card or utility bill)
Online applications can be found at www.jacksongov.org. Applications can also be printed and completed, then mailed or dropped off at the Jackson County Courthouse (415 E 12th Street) or at the historic Truman Courthouse (112 W Lexington Ave, Independence). There are drop boxes at each location for after-hour deposits.
More than 20,000 applications have been submitted in Jackson County, and officials claim that more than three fourths of the applications have been processed.
Eastern Jackson County resident Keith Smith received his approval letter this week. He said that “the whole application process was pretty easy and just took a few minutes to complete.”
If the applications are timely filed before the December 31 deadline, receiving the approval letters after the first of the year will not delay the application of the tax credit on 2025 property taxes.
In the event that future taxes go down, the frozen amount will be decreased to the new lower level. If taxes subsequently go back up, the homeowner will be protected from that increase. Unlike some area counties, Jackson Countians will not have to reapply in subsequent years after the initial approval.
Applications received after December 31 will result in the tax freeze being applied to 2025 tax levels, after the biannual property value reassessment process is completed and 2025 levy rates have been established by the relevant jurisdictions.
Cass County has enacted a similar senior property tax credit program. Learn more at www.casscounty.com or by calling 816-380-8377.