Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick raised some critical points about ways that the Missouri Property Tax Credit has become less effective for the very Missourians it was designed to serve. The credit is critical to older adults and Missourians with disabilities across the state who are living on fixed incomes, and legislation to update the credit is sorely needed.
“As noted in the audit, both income eligibility for the Missouri property tax credit and the amount of the credit have not been updated since 2008,” said Amy Blouin, President and CEO of Missouri Budget Project. “That is, even as housing and property taxes have gone up, everything about the credit has stayed the same as it was 16 years ago.”
As a result, fewer Missourians who need it can qualify – and those that do often receive a very small credit.
“Every year, more and more of the very folks the credit was designed for are being left out,” said Jay Hardenbrook, Advocacy Director for AARP Missouri. “Income guidelines and credit amounts have fallen behind even inflationary increases, which the legislature can and should fix.”
Lawmakers can help their constituents stay in their homes by increasing both income eligibility and the amount of the credit to account for growing incomes and housing costs, and ensuring the credit is adjusted over time so it doesn’t quickly become outdated again.
We commend the Auditor on his thorough report. We encourage the Department of Revenue to improve its systems, including record retention, so the Missourians the credit was designed for actually get it, and we strongly support updating the credit in the 2025 state legislative session.
