Missouri Senior Property Tax “Freeze”: What Kansas City Homeowners Need to Know
If you are age 62 or older and own your primary residence in the Kansas City area, Missouri’s Senior Property Tax Credit program may offer some relief from rising property taxes. All four Kansas City-area Missouri counties—Jackson, Platte, Clay, and Cass—have adopted the program. Here is what you need to know.
How It Works
Under Missouri law (RSMo § 137.1050), homeowners age 62 or older may apply for a credit against real property taxes on their primary residence. The credit works by capping your tax bill at a base year amount and offsetting future increases above that level. It does not reduce your current bill or refund past taxes. Certain levies are exempt from the credit—including debt service levies and the Missouri State Blind Pension Fund—so your tax bill may still increase slightly due to those items.
You Must Apply—and Timing Matters
The freeze is not automatic. You must apply, and when you apply determines your frozen amount. The credit offsets tax increases above your tax bill in the year you apply; it does not reach back to capture increases from prior years. The longer you wait, the higher your starting point will be (assuming taxes keep rising), and that difference is permanent. Eligible homeowners who have not yet applied should do so as soon as possible.
County-by-County Details
Each county administers the program independently, with different application windows, offices, and procedures. Here is a short summary and where you can get specific information about your situation.
Jackson County—Applications are accepted year-round with no annual renewal required, though the county reserves the right to periodically audit continued eligibility. Applications may be submitted online, by email, by mail, or in person. Note that Jackson County has imposed a home value cap of $550,000; properties with a market value above that threshold are not eligible. Contact: Jackson County Collection Department, Jackson County Courthouse, 415 E. 12th St., Suite 100, Kansas City, or Historic Truman Courthouse, 112 W. Lexington Ave., Suite 114, Independence. Phone: 816-881-3232. Email: SeniorApplication@jacksongov.org. Website: jacksongov.org.
Cass County—New applicants must apply in person during the annual open enrollment period, which is set each year by the Collector of Revenue and announced through local media. The 2026 enrollment period runs April 13 through July 3. New applicants who miss the current window should watch for the 2027 enrollment announcement. Once enrolled, existing participants no longer need to reapply; the credit is continuous until cancelled. Note that Cass County requires the applicant’s name to appear on the recorded deed; homes held in trust or through an LLC are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and require supporting documentation. Contact: Cass County Collector of Revenue Chris Molendorp, Mill-Walk Mall, 2725 Cantrell Road, Harrisonville, MO 64701. Phone: 816-380-8377. Email: collector@casscounty.com. Website: casscounty.com/2433.
Clay County—Applications and renewals are accepted annually from January 1 through March 31. The 2026 window has closed; plan to apply in January 2027 if you have not yet done so. Trust ownership is accepted with appropriate documentation showing a legal or equitable interest in the property. Contact: Clay County Collector of Revenue, 1 Courthouse Square, Liberty, MO 64068. Phone: 816-407-3200. Website: claycountymo.gov/523.
Platte County—New applications are accepted annually from October 1 through December 31. Platte County explicitly recognizes that ownership may be direct or beneficial, including ownership through a trust. Existing enrollees are no longer required to reapply annually. Contact: Platte County Clerk’s Office, 415 Third St., Room 116, Platte City, MO 64079. Phone: 816-858-3340. Email: SeniorTaxCredit@co.platte.mo.us. Website: co.platte.mo.us/tax-credit.
Homes Held in Trust
If your home is held in a revocable living trust, you may still qualify in most of these counties, but the requirements differ. Jackson, Clay, and Platte Counties all accept trust ownership with appropriate documentation showing a legal or equitable interest in the property. Cass County is more restrictive: the applicant’s name must appear on the recorded deed, and trust ownership is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If your home is in a trust, confirm the specific documentation requirements with your county before applying.
Surviving Spouses and Heirs
The credit is personal to the qualifying applicant and does not automatically continue after that person’s death. In Cass County, the administrative rules explicitly state that the credit terminates upon the death of the taxpayer and does not transfer to a buyer or an heir. The other counties’ published materials treat the credit as similarly personal and non-transferable, and a change in ownership or title generally requires a new application. It appears that a surviving spouse will need to apply in their own name, and the frozen amount will be based on the tax bill in the year of their application—potentially higher than the original freeze.
