Central Missouri / Missouri River Corridor
Assessor values it, collector bills it in Howard County
Many residents do not realize the Howard County assessor and collector are separate offices with different jobs, which matters when questioning a value versus paying or appealing a bill.
In Howard County, as across Missouri, two different offices handle property taxes. The county assessor determines the assessed value of real estate and personal property and handles classifications; the county collector sends the tax bills and takes payment. If you think a value is wrong, that is an assessor question and can lead to an appeal, sometimes ultimately to the State Tax Commission; if you have a question about a bill, a receipt, or a payment, that is the collector. Both offices are based at the county seat in Fayette. Knowing which office does what saves time and is the first step before any appeal. Confirm the current officeholders, contact details, and appeal deadlines, since those change from year to year.
References
Where this fits: this note belongs to Howard County. See every local note for the county on its page.