- Jackson County extended the Senior Property Tax Credit Program deadline to June 30 and removed restrictions, making more seniors eligible.
- Seniors 62+ can now qualify without needing to show Social Security benefits, and there’s no longer a home value cap.
- Over 40,000 seniors have already enrolled, with tax bills now frozen to protect against future increases.
- The program was expanded amid ongoing legal battles over property tax assessment rollbacks ordered by the state.
Jackson County extended the Senior Property Tax Credit Program deadline to June 30 and removed restrictions, making more seniors eligible.
Seniors 62+ can now qualify without needing to show Social Security benefits, and there’s no longer a home value cap.
Over 40,000 seniors have already enrolled, with tax bills now frozen to protect against future increases.
The program was expanded amid ongoing legal battles over property tax assessment rollbacks ordered by the state.
While Jackson County property owners continue to battle over tax assessment increases and potential rollbacks, seniors just got a lifeline.
County Executive Frank White signed an ordinance extending the application deadline for the Senior Property Tax Credit Program to June 30 and removing key eligibility restrictions.
The program effectively freezes property tax bills for qualifying seniors, protecting them from future increases that have sparked controversy throughout the county.
More than 40,000 senior homeowners in Jackson County have already been accepted into the program, and the county now provides the longest enrollment window among similar programs throughout Missouri.
“This extension ensures our senior homeowners, who have built and sustained our communities, have the time they need to receive meaningful relief,” White said upon signing the ordinance.
The expanded program eliminates two major barriers that previously limited participation.
Seniors no longer need to qualify for or provide proof of Social Security retirement benefits. The new age requirement is simply 62 and older, with applicants needing only to provide proof of age using a government-issued document with date of birth.
The county has also removed market value restrictions on eligible properties. Previously, homes valued over $550,000 were excluded from the program. Previously, the restrictions were intended to benefit only seniors in less costly homes and on social security. The idea was that the county didn’t want to subsidize wealthy elderly homeowners who face far less risk of losing their homes over tax increases.
That cap has now been eliminated entirely, allowing more seniors to qualify regardless of their home’s market value.
“While state law has mandated changes to our program, residents who have already applied for the property tax credit do not need to re-apply,” said Jackson County Department of Collection Director Scott Lakin.
Property Tax Rollback Fight
The program comes amid ongoing tensions over Jackson County property assessments, which saw dramatic increases for many homeowners in the previous assessment cycle in 2023.
The Missouri State Tax Commission (STC) said that errors by the county’s assessment department affected 75% of the county’s 300,000 properties. As a result, the state tax commission then said that Jackson County needs to roll back 2023 and 2024 assessments to show no more than a 15% property tax increase.
County Executive White and the county’s assessor have strongly disagreed with the state tax commission and appealed the commission’s order in court. A judge subsequently ruled in favor of the STC and also said that the county must roll back 2023 and 2024 property taxes to reflect no more than a 15% increase from 2022 values.
The county legislature then passed ordinance 5958, hoping to comply with the state tax commission’s order to roll back assessments. The ordinance likely wouldn’t have seen rebate checks sent to residents, but property tax credits spread out over years. County Legislator Sean Smith introduced the ordinance and stressed that the legislature needed to correct the previous assessments before the new assessment cycle this year.
“This is like a car wreck. Once you’re in a car crash, your car is never the same,” said Smith. “You can’t really fix it all, but you want to get back to as close to fair and legal as possible.”
County Executive White, while signing the senior tax credit extension, simultaneously vetoed ordinance 5958. White called the rollback measure “irresponsible, unlawful and harmful,” saying it would compel the County Assessor to reduce property values far beyond the scope of the original STC order.
The county executive’s office estimates the rollback would result in deep, immediate and permanent cuts exceeding $200 million across local taxing jurisdictions, including nearly $40 million for Kansas City Public Schools.
Instead, White has announced the county will voluntarily limit residential assessment increases to no more than 15% in 2025. The county executive is considering appealing the judge’s ruling to roll back previously collected property taxes, while the county legislature considers whether they have the votes to override the executive’s veto.
The Senior Property Tax Credit Program offers immediate relief for the county’s older residents regardless of how the larger assessment battle plays out.
To qualify for the Senior Tax Credit Program
Applicants must:
- Own property in Jackson County
- Be age 62 or older
- Apply for one primary residence occupied by the eligible resident
The deadline for first-time applications and supporting documentation is now June 30. Once approved, participants are not required to renew annually.
Applications reflecting the new eligibility requirements are available online at jacksongov.org/seniortaxcredit or in paper form at county collection department locations at the Jackson County Courthouse in downtown KC and the Historic Truman Courthouse in Independence.
For questions, applicants can email SeniorApplication@jacksongov.org or call 816-881-3232.
