Boone County has received over 7,300 applications for senior property tax relief
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Boone County seniors interested in getting a property tax credit only have a few days left to apply.
The deadline to apply for the Boone County Senior Real Estate Tax Relief Program is Tuesday, Oct. 1. Applications must be received at the Collector's Office by 5 p.m.
Boone County Collector Brian McCollum said his office has received over 7,300 applications through Thursday.
District II Commissioner Janet Thompson said the county has seen an increase in applicants recently, averaging around 165 applications per day last week.
"There was kind of a surge at the beginning of the program, of the application process, and now there's been a surge these last couple of weeks," Thompson said.
She said this is within the range of what the county expected for applications, which was between 5,000-10,000.
The Boone County Senior Real Estate Tax Relief Program will exempt seniors from certain property tax increases. The county's website said eligible seniors will get a tax credit equal to the difference between the current years tax liability and the tax liability on that property when the applicant became an eligible taxpayer.
Eligible taxpayers this year will see their tax credits applied to their 2025 real estate tax statement.
"This sets the base for what your tax liability is," Thompson said. "So, they're not going to see a substantial benefit probably for a couple of years. It'll grow over time."
To be eligible for the tax credit, people must be at least 62 years old and own a home in Boone County as their primary residence.
Applications can be found on the county's website or in person at the Boone County Collector's office at 801 E. Walnut Street. They must be signed in the presence of a notary public.
In an attempt to help residents, Thompson said the county has a station set up in its lobby to assist with the application process. She said a county worker is there to facilitate the process and help fill out applications, as well as a notary. She said people only need to bring their ID.
"We don't want to have barriers where we have to say, 'Oh, but you need to go elsewhere to finish that up,'" Thompson said. "We wanted it to be a one stop shop."
People must apply for the tax credit annually.
Thompson said out of the thousands applications filed, only six have been rejected, mostly due to the applicant not meeting requirements. She said the county does have an appeals process if that occurs.
The tax credit was approved by Boone County voters in April. A state law allowing the senior property tax credit went into effect in 2023.
