Platte County’s Senior Property Tax Credit: What It Is, How to Apply, and What to Expect

Discussions about property taxes are in the news, and on a lot of front porches this year. Across Platte County, a question I hear often isn’t political. It’s practical. “Am I going to get taxed out of the home I’ve lived in for thirty years?” For our seniors especially, that fear is real, and the relief that’s supposed to answer it is genuinely confusing.

So let’s clear it up. There are actually two separate property tax relief programs in play:

• This post is Part 1, and it covers the one already up and running for our seniors.  The Platte County Senior Citizens’ Real Property Tax Credit.
• Part 2 will cover the newer Homestead Tax Credit that was passed in April and applies to all homeowners in Platte County.

What the senior credit is

The Senior Citizens’ Real Property Tax Credit comes from Missouri Senate Bill 190, which the legislature passed in 2023. In plain English, it locks in the total amount of real estate tax due on a qualifying senior’s home. As your home’s assessed value climbs in future reassessments, the credit absorbs the increase so the bill on your primary residence stays steady instead of spiking.

A few honest caveats, because the details matter. It is not a refund check and it is not a tax cut to zero. It stabilizes your bill at a base-year amount, and that freeze covers the bulk of what you owe — including your school district taxes. The main thing it does not cover is the small, state-required Blind Pension Fund levy (about three cents per $100 of value), so your bill can still tick up slightly. And if you make an improvement to your home that requires a permit, the value of that improvement gets added on top of your frozen amount. The base stays frozen; the new addition does not.

Who qualifies

The county uses three simple tests. You must be at least 62 years old by December 31 of the application year. You must own and live in your primary residence here in Platte County. And you must be the one responsible for paying the real estate taxes on that home. Ownership can be direct or through a trust, so a home held in a family trust can still qualify.

How to apply

This is the part too many eligible seniors miss: the credit is not automatic. You have to apply, and there is a specific window.

Applications are accepted each year from October 1 through December 31, and only during that window. You can get the application three ways: download the printable PDF from the county website at www.co.platte.mo.us, pick up a paper copy at the Platte County Clerk’s Office at 415 Third Street, Room 116, in Platte City, or call and ask the Clerk’s Office to mail one to you (816-858-3340)

When you fill it out, have these ready: the Parcel Identification Number for your home (it’s on your tax bill, or the Assessor’s Office can give it to you), your name, property address, mailing address, phone, email, and date of birth. You’ll also need proof of age and residency. If your driver’s license shows the same address as the application, that alone does the job. If not, a voter registration card, utility bill, or mortgage statement will work, and the county will consider other reasonable proof.

One helpful note on reapplying: per the county’s current guidance, once your application is approved you do not need to reapply every year unless you move. The credit does not follow you to a new address, so if you move you start fresh with a new application on the new home. (If you want to be certain about your own situation, a quick call to the Clerk’s Office settles it.)

What to expect after you apply

Once you’ve applied, the county processes the applications and sends an approval letter. If anything on your application needs clarifying, someone from the Clerk’s Office will reach out before a final decision. For the first base year, the county received roughly 7,000 applications, so processing takes time; the county has said that round will be completed no later than June 30, 2027 (this is slower than expected and is not acceptable, more to come on that later…)

When your credit is in place, you’ll see it reflected on the statement of tax due that the Platte County Collector mails out in November. That’s where the number shows up. If you’ve applied and you’re unsure of your status, you can call the Clerk’s Office to confirm your application was received and check where it stands.

I’ll be straight with you: response times after submission have been lengthy, and a number of seniors have waited longer than they should to hear back. If you’ve applied and you’re stuck in an excessive delay, don’t just wait in silence. Contact me, or reach out to any sitting commissioner, and let them know. The more of us advocating to get these applications moving, the faster relief reaches the people it was promised to. You earned this credit by applying on time, and you deserve a timely answer.

Why this matters

A program only helps people who know it exists and know how to use it. Thousands of Platte County seniors are eligible for this credit, and every one who misses the October-to-December window misses a full year of protection. If you have a parent, a neighbor, or a friend who’s 62 or older and owns their home, this is worth a two-minute conversation. Share this post with them.

In Part 2, I’ll walk through the Homestead Property Tax Credit, the newer cap that Platte County voters approved this spring, how it’s different from the senior credit, and the one rule that trips everyone up: you can qualify for both, but you only get the benefit of one.