Property taxes inaccurate? How to contest annual Greene County, Missouri tax assessments

Is your real estate or personal property tax assessment looking a little high? Are there changes to your property this year that weren't noted on your annual tax assessment? If you answered yes, you're in luck. There are a few ways you can contest your assessment through Greene County and through the State of Missouri before the end of the year.

Informal appeal with Greene County Assessor's Office

For an informal appeal, contact the Greene County Assessor's Office as soon as you are notified of your assessment. During an informal meeting with the assessor or one of the staff, you can learn about how your assessment was made. You'll also learn what factors were considered and what kind of records pertain to your property. According to the Greene County Clerk's Office website, many disagreements are taken care of at this level.

Appearing before the Greene County Board of Equalization

If you are still not satisfied after the informal meeting with the assessor's office, you should fill out an appeal form to appear before the Greene County Board of Equalization (BOE). The county clerk serves as a non-voting secretary to the BOE, a panel of citizens that hears taxpayer appeals regarding real estate and personal property assessments each summer. The board has the authority to reduce, increase, or not to change these assessment values based on the facts presented at the hearings. The board hears appeals between July 1 and the last Saturday in July.

If you are appealing for personal property, use the Personal Property Appeal Form. If you are appealing for real estate property, use the Real Property Appeal Form. These appeal forms must be received by the Greene County Clerk on or before the second Monday in July. Requests for an appeal with the BOE must be made in writing.

On your appeal form, you will provide personal information such as your name, address, contact information, and your opinion of the market value of your property. You will also select a reason for your appeal.

All appellants (or their representatives) are required to appear in person before the BOE for their hearing, unless they request an applicable medical or other exemption. Requests must be made no later than the second Monday in July and are subject to board approval. Submit a request in writing with appeal forms to boe@greenecountymo.gov. The County Clerk's office notes that taxpayers should read the BOE rules before appearing in person.

If you are not satisfied with the board's decision, appeals may be eligible for a review by the Missouri State Tax Commission. You have the right to appeal the decision of the BOE to the State Tax Commission by Sept. 30 of the year of assessment or 30 days after the final action of the BOE: whichever is later.

Appealing to the Missouri State Tax Commission

To appeal to the Missouri State Tax Commission, you must complete the Complaint for Review of Assessment form. Before starting the online process, be sure to read the instructions and frequently asked questions outlined on the State Tax Commission website. Also gather all the necessary information and documents.

You must upload your BOE decision letter as a PDF at the time you file the appeal. You must also input the parcel, locator, or account number for the property, which will be listed on the letter. Do not upload evidence, such as appraisals or photographs when filing your appeal. You will be instructed to provide evidence at a later time.

If the appeal is submitted correctly, you will receive an email confirming it and providing an appeal number. Be sure to check your spam or junk folder for this confirmation email. If you didn't receive an email with an appeal number, the appeal did not process properly, and you must wait 24 hours before attempting to refile.

If you are an attorney filing an appeal on behalf of a client or clients, enter the name of the property owner in the appropriate fields. Do not enter your name as the taxpayer if you are an attorney filing on behalf of a client. Use the drop-down list and click your attorney name. If you have never filed an appeal with the State Tax Commission, create an Attorney Record. For questions, call the State Tax Commission at (573) 751-1715.

You must complete a separate Complaint for Review of Assessment for each parcel of real property or each account number of personal property you are appealing. Print or type the requested information in each section, subsection, and box. Keep a copy of your completed Complaint for Review of Assessment and a copy of the decision letter from the BOE along with any confirmation of receipt from the State Tax Commission for your records.

If you cannot file an appeal online, you can also file your Complaint for Review of Assessment and the decision letter from the BOE by downloading and completing the form and sending it via email to legal@stc.mo.gov.

If you cannot file an appeal via email, you may print and complete your Complaint for Review of Assessment and send it with a copy of the decision letter from the BOE to the State Tax Commission of Missouri, P.O. Box 146, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

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Missouri State Tax Commission appeals process FAQs

Do I need an attorney to appeal my personal property or real estate taxes?

For appeals involving property owned by a person or persons, representation by an attorney is not necessary.  However, under Missouri law, a property owned by a legal entity (corporation, partnership, limited liability company, etc.) or owned by a trust, association, or an estate must be represented by an attorney, no exceptions.

How do I file the Complaint for Review of Assessment form?

• Filing online is the preferred method for filing your Complaint for Review.

• You also may file your appeal by downloading and completing the form.  Email the completed form along with supporting documentation to legal@stc.mo.gov.

• If you do not have access to email, print and complete the form, then send it along with a copy of the supporting documentation to the Missouri State Tax Commission at P.O. Box 146, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

What happens after I file my appeal?

The appeal will be reviewed by the State Tax Commission. If the appeal cannot be accepted, you will be notified. If the appeal is accepted, it will be assigned an appeal number and a hearing officer.

The hearing officer will notify you when your appeal is scheduled for further proceedings. All notifications will be emailed to you unless you specify otherwise. Please review your email settings to ensure the emails do not go to a junk, spam, or trash folder.

How do I view my appeal?

Enter your information on the Appeals Lookup Search through the Missouri State Tax Commission website.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: How to contest your annual county and state tax assessments