Property tax statements hit the mail with potential mistakes

By: Rusty Summers

BUCHANAN COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV) -- As property tax statements hit the mail, taxpayers are noticing mistakes with their bills.

Buchanan County's tax collector, Peggy Campbell, said one common mistake could be if a property owner owes the city money for maintenance.

In this case, the amount may have been left off the bill.

"The actual error is that the special assessments from the city were left off the tax statements, that affects about 430-some accounts; they are being worked on right now to get corrected," Campbell said. "That's their weed bills and their trash bills that they turned over to us to collect for them."

Campbell said that although 92% of taxpayers pay by the end of the year, statements are also showing errors associated with late payments.

"Some statements are not showing the interest and penalties for paying after the December 31st deadline," said Campbell.

Campbell said certain areas of Northwest Missouri may see errors.

"We tried to pull as many as we could," Campbell said. "The ones that got out were the little towns in Buchanan County, Faucet, Agency, Gower, DeKalb, Rushville. They did not get the reprint yet."

Another big question on taxpayers' minds is the application of the Senior Tax Credit. 

"Some people have questioned the Senior Tax Credit because the school district inside the city limits has gone up rather than stay the same as last year," Campbell said. "Investigating that has been... I have found that the change is based on prior bond indebtedness."

Campbell alluded to constitutional rules associated with tax payments and bond indebtedness. She also highlights how the Missouri State Auditor's Office plays a big part in the tax calculation process. 

"(The) Missouri Constitution says, I cannot affect bond indebtedness or the taxes that are being paid. If you owe money, I can't go in to tell somebody, 'Well, I'm going to pay.' I'm going to take less than that for your payment. That's set by the state auditor's office. That's not set by here, and in all the calculations on the taxes are done before it gets to me."

For questions about tax statements, taxpayers are encouraged to call the Buchanan County Collector's office at 816-271-1401.