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1. What is Personal Property?

Individual personal property and business personal property include : motor vehicles, trailers, mobile homes, watercraft, boat motors, aircraft, livestock, farm machinery and equipment, and any other personal property not exempted by law. There may be circumstances when a mobile home may be considered real property and not personal property. For more information, contact the Assessor's office.

2. Am I eligible for a tax waiver on my personal property?

To qualify for a waiver in Buchanan County, you must meet one of the following requirements:

1. You are new to our state.
2. You are a former resident returning to Missouri from another State and no unpaid personal property taxes are due in Buchanan or any other Missouri county.
3. You lived in Buchanan County on January 1st of the previous year, but you did not have any personal property titled in your name.

If you meet requirement No. 1, 2 or 3, you will have to bring your title, application for title, or registration to our office at the Buchanan County courthouse to receive a free tax waiver.

3. Why do I need to have my Title to get a waiver?

We need to verify the vehicle you are licensing is going to be in your name before we issue the waiver.  We also need the make, model and VIN to assess your vehicle correctly.

4. How do I fill out my assessment list?

When you get your assessment list in the mail, you will find that your address and property from the previous year are pre-printed on the form.  If there are changes to your address, please make those changes in the spaces provided.  If you have moved out of Buchanan County, and your mail was forwarded, please mail the list back to the Assessor’s office informing us of this so that you may be removed from the tax rolls and avoid future mailings.

The property pre-printed on your assessment list is the property that was on file for you in the previous year.  Any property that you no longer own will need a line drawn through and provide the date you no longer owned it.  Below the list of pre-printed items are sections for you to list property that was acquired during the previous year.  Be sure to fill the form out completely. Do not re-list property that has been pre-printed for you.  Should corrections need to be made to the pre-printed property lines item, make those corrections directly to them.

5. What do I bring if I am a Missouri resident moving to Buchanan County from another Missouri county?

1. Please bring a copy of your previous year tax receipt or a tax waiver from the county from which you are moving.
2. And your titles, vehicle registrations or renewals.
3. Or your Missouri application for title and title(if a new purchase, the back of the title must be properly completed).

6. Why am I being taxed for a vehicle I no longer own?

The amount of tax you owe is based on the vehicles owned on January 1 of the tax year.  These vehicles should be self reported on your current year Assessment List.

7. Why do I owe taxes even if I am no longer a Missouri resident?

According to state law, your tax obligation is established on January 1.  Even if you move out-of-state the next day, you are still obligated to pay Missouri taxes.  State law makes no provisions for pro-rating your personal property tax bill.  If you move out of Buchanan County, please contact the Assessor's office (816-271-1520) with your new address.  If moving to another county in Missouri, you will also need to notify your new Assessor's office of your new residence.

8. The property is titled in my name, but I don't drive it. Do I still have to claim it?

Yes.  If you have any property titled in your name, you must still claim the property and pay taxes due on it.

9. Who pays the tax bill if I am separated/divorced?

The tax responsibility goes to the owner of record on January 1.  If the property is owned jointly and the court order dissolving the marriage does not address tax liability, both parties are jointly responsible for taxes.  A tax receipt or waiver can not be granted until the joint tax bill has been paid.

10. Why is my tax bill so high?

The amount of tax you owe each year is based on the value of the vehicles you owned on January 1.  Missouri State Statutes dictate we use the October issue of the NADA book.

11. Why is there a FILING PENALTY on my bill?

You are required to return your Assessment form to our office not later than March 1st.  If it is received later than March 1st you will see a FILING PENALTY that is based on the total assessed value of your vehicles.  The increments are as follows:

$0 - $1,000	$15 FILING PENALTY
$1001 - $2000	$25 FILING PENALTY
$2001 - $3000	$35 FILING PENALTY
$3001 - $4000	$45 FILING PENALTY
$4001 - $5000	$55 FILING PENALTY
$5001 - $6000	$65 FILING PENALTY
$6001 - $7000	$75 FILING PENALTY
$7001 - $8000	$85 FILING PENALTY
$8001 - $9000	$95 FILING PENALTY
$9001 And Above	$105 FILING PENALTY

12. Is all personal property assessed at the same rate?

No.

MO State Statute 137.080
By law, personal property is divided into sub classes.

Grain    ½ of 1% of true market value
Livestock    12% of true market value
Motor Vehicles    33 ⅓% of true market value
Manufactured Homes    19% of true market value
Historic Aircraft & Vehicles    5% of true market value
All other personal property    33 ⅓% of true market value

Classification and assessment ratios are set by the State Law and cannot be changed by the Assessor.