FAQs • Clay County, MO • CivicEngage

What year will be used as the base year for determining my tax credit?

If you are eligible at the start of the program and submit an application the base year used to calculate the 2025 tax credit will be the amount of taxes paid in 2024.

Going forward the “base year” will be the year prior to the taxpayer becoming eligible and submitting an application to the program. If there is a lapse in participation or a change in the homestead the base year will change. The “base year” will not be retroactively applied.

Examples:

If an eligible taxpayer turned 62 in 2020, the “base year” used will be 2024.

If an eligible taxpayer turns 62 in 2025, and applies in 2025 the base year will be 2024.

If an eligible taxpayer turns 62 in 2025, but does not apply for the program until 2026, the base year will be 2025, not 2024.

If an eligible taxpayer turns 62 in 2025, but does not apply for the program until 2027, the base year used will be 2026, so on and so forth.

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Senate Bill 190

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1. Are all Clay County Senior Residents eligible for Senate Bill 190 tax relief?: The ordinance passed by the Clay County Commission states any Clay County, Missouri resident who has reached the eligible age for "old-age insurance benefits" of 62 years of age as defined for Social Security, owns a home and is liable for the property taxes on that home is eligible for the tax credit.

2. What is the status of Clay County enacting legislation to enact Senate Bill 190?

The Clay County Commission voted to pass an ordinance for the Senior Tax Credit at its November 30, 2023 meeting.

3. Once Clay County enacts legislation, is a senior automatically in the program?: No, a Clay County resident 62 or older, who owns a home used as their primary residence, and who pays the real estate taxes for that home, must submit an annual application to participate in the program.

4. Once in the program, will a senior’s real estate property tax always be the same and never go up?: No, the senior’s real estate tax may increase incrementally based upon certain taxes exempt from the program. Tax levies that fund debt payments and the State of Missouri Blind Fund are exempt from the program. Annual renewal of your application to the program is required, if a renewal is not submitted, participation in the program is terminated. If re-application is made a new base year will be established for calculation of the tax credit and may cause the tax due to increase.

5. What is the estimated financial impact to Clay County, cities, school districts, and other jurisdictions?: As a result of SB 190 implementation, the Clay County Auditor estimates between $2 and $3 million per year of less revenue growth from property taxes Countywide for all jurisdictions. This amount does compound out and add up each year.