Property taxes make up an important piece of the pie of municipal financial infrastructure. However, for homeowners, it can be hard to understand where your tax amounts come from and where that money goes.

That’s why the home and

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Jerry

has put together all of the information that you need to know about property taxes in Jefferson County, MO.

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Property tax 101

Property taxes are municipal taxes assigned by counties, cities, or special tax districts, like school districts. They pay for public works and community services (education, libraries, fire safety, etc.).

Property taxes apply to real property like land, homes, buildings

Some states also have personal property taxes which apply to possessions like motor vehicles, boats, livestock, farm machinery, etc.

Property taxes are determined by a local tax assessor, who assigns an assessed value to a property based on market rates and local assessment ratios

Property taxes change frequently depending on market conditions and local tax rates

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Missouri auto insurance laws

What is the property tax rate in Jefferson County?

The median property tax rate in Jefferson County is 0.79% of a home’s assessed value. This is on the low end for the state of Missouri, which has an average property tax rate of 0.91%, and 0.31% less than the national average of 1.1%.

At this rate, Jefferson County residents with a median home value of $154,700 would pay $1,219 in taxes a year.

How Jefferson County property taxes are determined

Calculating property taxes starts with the Jefferson County Assessor’s office, which determines the fair market value of your property. Based on the state of the market, the assessor will determine how much your property would sell for if it were put up for sale.

Then, the assessor multiplies the fair market value with the assessment ratio set by the state legislature. (The Jefferson County assessment ratio is 19% for residential properties, 12% for agricultural properties, and 32% for commercial properties.) This yields your “assessed value.”

Finally, the assessed value is multiplied by the tax rate to determine how much you’ll pay in taxes that year.

Jefferson County has over 60 approved tax levies, but which ones apply to your property depends on your jurisdiction.

If your property is your primary residence, then you might qualify for a homestead exemption, which can lower the assessed value of your property and thus lower your taxes owed.

Key Takeaway The amount you owe in property taxes is determined by multiplying your property’s fair market value by your assessment ratio, then by your local tax rate.

What do Jefferson County property taxes pay for?

Property taxes are collected at the local level and used almost entirely for local matters. Property taxes help fund public works and services like:

Law enforcement

Schools

Fire safety

Transportation

Public health

Public spaces like libraries, museums, and parks

Watershed management

Sewage system management

MORE: Missouri electric vehicle incentives

How to pay taxes in Jefferson County

Property taxes in Jefferson County are due by December 31 each year. After December 31 any unpaid taxes are considered delinquent, and a lien will be put on your property.

For personal property taxes, you are required each year to submit an assessment form with the

County Assessor’s Office

listing the taxable personal property you have. Forms are available on January 1st and must be submitted by March 1st.

For both property taxes and personal property taxes, tax bills are available online in November and are mailed out in late November. If you do not receive your bill by December 1 you should contact the Collectors office.

To pay your bills, you have three main options:

Pay online: You can easily pay through the

Jefferson County website

. Online payments are subject to some processing fees.

Pay by mail: You can mail your payment with a copy of your bill to the

Collector’s Office

at PO Box 100, Hillsboro, MO 63050

Pay in-person: You can also pay in-person at the Jefferson County Collector’s Office at 729 Maple Street Suite 36, Hillsboro, MO 63050