JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced that the State Tax Commission has issued an order to roll back Jackson County’s 2023 property assessments. This decision follows the discovery of information through Attorney General Bailey’s lawsuit against Jackson County for unlawful taxation.
“After obtaining valuable information through discovery in my lawsuit against Jackson County, the State Tax Commission has issued an order rolling back Jackson County’s illegal property tax assessments,” stated Attorney General Bailey. “This is a huge win for every property owner in Missouri, but especially in Jackson County. The Missouri Constitution expressly prohibits a county from illegally taxing its residents, which is why we fought so hard to obtain justice for Jackson County property owners. I will always fight for Missourians who are being over-taxed, especially in the Biden-Harris economy where everyone’s wallet is stretched thin.”
The order mandates that the 2023 assessments be rolled back to current levels or a 15% increase from the previous assessment, whichever is less. In most instances, this translates to a rollback to the 2021 assessment level plus 15%. For a small percentage of cases, it means a rollback to the 2022 assessment level (to account for new construction) plus 15%.
Attorney General Bailey filed the lawsuit alongside the State Tax Commission against Jackson County due to its failure to adhere to legal procedures in assessing and levying taxes. The lawsuit claims that Jackson County inflicted significant economic harm on residents by dramatically and unlawfully increasing property assessments, resulting in excessive taxes. The suit further alleges that county officials violated state law by failing to provide timely and proper notice of assessments, neglecting required physical inspections of certain properties, and managing appeals of property assessments in an illegal and dysfunctional manner.
The State Tax Commission’s order can be read here.