Missouri personal property tax

Estimate the tax on what you owned January 1.

Short answer

Missouri taxes most personal property — cars, trucks, boats, trailers — at one-third of its value, times your local levy per $100. The bill is based on what you owned on January 1, even if you sold it later that year, and you need the paid receipt to renew your license plates.

Estimator

Missouri personal property tax math

January 1 value of your vehicles and taxable itemsUse the county assessor's value if you have it (often from a standard vehicle guide), not the price you paid.County (optional — to prefill a typical levy or get a lookup link)Levy per $100 assessed valueThe same local levy used for real property — the combined rate of your taxing districts. Find it on a tax bill or collector page.

Assessed value (one-third)

$5,000

Estimated annual tax

$0.00

Planning estimate only. The assessor's value and local levy control.

You are taxed on what you owned January 1.

Missouri assesses personal property at one-third (33⅓%) of value, then applies the local levy per $100. You need the paid receipt to renew your license plates.

Vehicle title & renewal

Step 1

Find the value.

The assessor values your property as of January 1, usually from a standard guide. Personal property is then assessed at one-third of that value.

Step 2

Apply the local levy.

Multiply the assessed value by the levy per $100. It is the same local levy as real property and changes by county, school, fire, and other districts.

Step 3

Keep the paid receipt.

You need the paid personal-property receipt, or a statement of non-assessment, to renew your license plates.

Where to find each number

The two numbers the estimator needs come straight off county paperwork:

January 1 value of your vehicles and items: The county assessor's value on your assessment list or paid personal-property receipt — usually from a standard vehicle guide, not the price you paid.
Levy per $100 assessed value: The same local levy used for real property: on a tax bill, the collector's page, or a parcel estimate. It changes by county, school, fire, and other districts.

Helpful next steps

What to check next

Tie the estimate to the right county value, local levy, and renewal paperwork.

Personal property tax guide The plain-English explainer: January 1 ownership, receipts, and statements of non-assessment. Vehicle title & renewal checklist Why you need the paid receipt before you can renew your plates. Property tax estimator Estimate the bill on a home or other real property instead. Look up your county or city Find the local assessor or collector layer before trusting a renewal answer.

Sources and review

Where this information comes from

This page gives the short version, then points you back to the office or agency that controls the rule.

Data used: Missouri personal-property assessment ratio (one-third, RSMo 137.115) and DOR receipt/renewal guidance
Last reviewed: June 18, 2026

Missouri State Tax Commission FAQ for assessment ratios, reassessment timing, personal property, and appeal basics.
RSMo 137.115 for assessment percentages, including one-third for most personal property.
Missouri DOR titling and registration help for personal property tax receipts, statements of non-assessment, and plate renewal.

Use this carefully: The county assessor sets personal-property values (often from a standard guide) and the levy varies by county and district. This is a planning estimate; your paid receipt and the collector's bill control.

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