SECOND REGULAR SESSION
[PERFECTED]
HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Reported from the Committee on Ways and Means March 13, 2008 with recommendation that House Committee Substitute for House Bill Nos. 1321 & 1695 Do Pass. Referred to the Committee on Rules pursuant to Rule 25(21)(f).
Reported from the Committee on Rules March 31, 2008 with recommendation that House Committee Substitute for House Bill Nos. 1321 & 1695 Do Pass with no time limit for debate on Perfection.
Taken up for Perfection April 8, 2008. House Committee Substitute for House Bill Nos. 1321 & 1695 ordered Perfected and printed, as amended.
D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal sections 135.010, 135.025, 135.030, 137.073, 137.122, 137.720, and 143.121, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof seven new sections relating to property taxation.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 135.010, 135.025, 135.030, 137.073, 137.122, 137.720, and 143.121, RSMo, are repealed and seven new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 135.010, 135.025, 135.030, 137.073, 137.122, 137.720, and 143.121, to read as follows:
135.010. As used in sections 135.010 to 135.030 the following words and terms mean:
(1) "Claimant", a person or persons claiming a credit under sections 135.010 to 135.030. If the persons are eligible to file a joint federal income tax return and reside at the same address at any time during the taxable year, then the credit may only be allowed if claimed on a combined Missouri income tax return or a combined claim return reporting their combined incomes and property taxes. A claimant shall not be allowed a property tax credit unless the claimant or spouse has attained the age of sixty-five on or before the last day of the calendar year and the claimant or spouse was a resident of Missouri for the entire year, or the claimant or spouse is a veteran of any branch of the armed forces of the United States or this state who became one hundred percent disabled as a result of such service, or the claimant or spouse is disabled as defined in subdivision (2) of this section, and such claimant or spouse provides proof of such disability in such form and manner, and at such times, as the director of revenue may require, or if the claimant has reached the age of sixty on or before the last day of the calendar year and such claimant received surviving spouse Social Security benefits during the calendar year and the claimant provides proof, as required by the director of revenue, that the claimant received surviving spouse Social Security benefits during the calendar year for which the credit will be claimed. A claimant shall not be allowed a property tax credit if the claimant filed a valid claim for a credit under section 137.106, RSMo, in the year following the year for which the property tax credit is claimed. The residency requirement shall be deemed to have been fulfilled for the purpose of determining the eligibility of a surviving spouse for a property tax credit if a person of the age of sixty-five years or older who would have otherwise met the requirements for a property tax credit dies before the last day of the calendar year. The residency requirement shall also be deemed to have been fulfilled for the purpose of determining the eligibility of a claimant who would have otherwise met the requirements for a property tax credit but who dies before the last day of the calendar year;
(2) "Disabled", the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months. A claimant shall not be required to be gainfully employed prior to such disability to qualify for a property tax credit;
(3) "Gross rent", amount paid by a claimant to a landlord for the rental, at arm's length, of a homestead during the calendar year, exclusive of charges for health and personal care services and food furnished as part of the rental agreement, whether or not expressly set out in the rental agreement. If the director of revenue determines that the landlord and tenant have not dealt at arm's length, and that the gross rent is excessive, then he shall determine the gross rent based upon a reasonable amount of rent. Gross rent shall be deemed to be paid only if actually paid prior to the date a return is filed. The director of revenue may prescribe regulations requiring a return of information by a landlord receiving rent, certifying for a calendar year the amount of gross rent received from a tenant claiming a property tax credit and shall, by regulation, provide a method for certification by the claimant of the amount of gross rent paid for any calendar year for which a claim is made. The regulations authorized by this subdivision may require a landlord or a tenant or both to provide data relating to health and personal care services and to food. Neither a landlord nor a tenant may be required to provide data relating to utilities, furniture, home furnishings or appliances;
(4) "Homestead", the dwelling in Missouri owned or rented by the claimant and not to exceed five acres of land surrounding it as is reasonably necessary for use of the dwelling as a home. It may consist of part of a multidwelling or multipurpose building and part of the land upon which it is built. "Owned" includes a vendee in possession under a land contract and one or more tenants by the entireties, joint tenants, or tenants in common and includes a claimant actually in possession if he was the immediate former owner of record, if a lineal descendant is presently the owner of record, and if the claimant actually pays all taxes upon the property. It may include a mobile home;
(5) "Income", Missouri adjusted gross income as defined in section 143.121, RSMo, less [two] ten thousand five hundred dollars as an exemption for the claimant's spouse residing at the same address, and increased, where necessary, to reflect the following:
(a) Social Security, railroad retirement, and veterans payments and benefits unless the claimant is a one hundred percent service-connected, disabled veteran or a spouse of a one hundred percent service-connected, disabled veteran. The one hundred percent service-connected disabled veteran shall not be required to list veterans payments and benefits;
(b) The total amount of all other public and private pensions and annuities;
(c) Public relief, public assistance, and unemployment benefits received in cash, other than benefits received under this chapter;
(d) No deduction being allowed for losses not incurred in a trade or business;
(e) Interest on the obligations of the United States, any state, or any of their subdivisions and instrumentalities;
(6) "Property taxes accrued", property taxes paid, exclusive of special assessments, penalties, interest, and charges for service levied on a claimant's homestead in any calendar year. Property taxes shall qualify for the credit only if actually paid prior to the date a return is filed. The director of revenue shall require a tax receipt or other proof of property tax payment. If a homestead is owned only partially by claimant, then "property taxes accrued" is that part of property taxes levied on the homestead which was actually paid by the claimant. For purposes of this subdivision, property taxes are "levied" when the tax roll is delivered to the director of revenue for collection. If a claimant owns a homestead part of the preceding calendar year and rents it or a different homestead for part of the same year, "property taxes accrued" means only taxes levied on the homestead both owned and occupied by the claimant, multiplied by the percentage of twelve months that such property was owned and occupied as the homestead of the claimant during the year. When a claimant owns and occupies two or more different homesteads in the same calendar year, property taxes accrued shall be the sum of taxes allocable to those several properties occupied by the claimant as a homestead for the year. If a homestead is an integral part of a larger unit such as a farm, or multipurpose or multidwelling building, property taxes accrued shall be that percentage of the total property taxes accrued as the value of the homestead is of the total value. For purposes of this subdivision "unit" refers to the parcel of property covered by a single tax statement of which the homestead is a part;
(7) "Rent constituting property taxes accrued", twenty percent of the gross rent paid by a claimant and spouse in the calendar year.
135.025. The property taxes accrued and rent constituting property taxes accrued on each return shall be totaled. This total, up to [seven] eleven hundred [fifty] dollars, shall be used in determining the property tax credit. The director of revenue shall prescribe regulations providing for allocations where part of a claimant's homestead is rented to another or used for nondwelling purposes or where a homestead is owned or rented or used as a dwelling for part of a year.
135.030. 1. As used in this section:
(1) The term "maximum upper limit" shall, for each calendar year after December 31, 1997, but before calendar year 2008, be the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars. For [the] all calendar [year] years beginning on or after January 1, 2008, the maximum upper limit shall be the sum of [twenty-seven] thirty-two thousand five hundred dollars for any claimant whose filing status is single, head of household, qualifying widow(er), or married filing separately, and the sum of forty-three thousand dollars for any claimant whose filing status is married filing combined;
(2) The term "minimum base" shall, for each calendar year after December 31, 1997, but before calendar year 2008, be the sum of thirteen thousand dollars. For [the] all calendar [year] years beginning on or after January 1, 2008, the minimum base shall be the sum of [fourteen] seventeen thousand [three hundred] dollars.
2. If the income on a return is equal to or less than the maximum upper limit for the calendar year for which the return is filed, the property tax credit shall be determined from a table of credits based upon the amount by which the total property tax described in section 135.025 exceeds the percent of income in the following list:
If the income on the return is: The percent is:
Not over the minimum base 0 percent with credit not to
exceed actual property tax
or rent equivalent paid up
to [$750] $1,100
Over the minimum base but 1/16 percent accumulative
not over the maximum upper per $300 from 0 percent
limit to 4 percent.
The director of revenue shall prescribe a table based upon the preceding sentences. The property tax shall be in increments of twenty-five dollars and the income in increments of three hundred dollars. The credit shall be the amount rounded to the nearest whole dollar computed on the basis of the property tax and income at the midpoints of each increment. As used in this subsection, the term "accumulative" means an increase by continuous or repeated application of the percent to the income increment at each three hundred dollar level.
3. Notwithstanding subsection 4 of section 32.057, RSMo, the department of revenue or any duly authorized employee or agent shall determine whether any taxpayer filing a report or return with the department of revenue who has not applied for the credit allowed pursuant to section 135.020 may qualify for the credit, and shall notify any qualified claimant of the claimant's potential eligibility, where the department determines such potential eligibility exists.
137.073. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
(1) "General reassessment", changes in value, entered in the assessor's books, of a substantial portion of the parcels of real property within a county resulting wholly or partly from reappraisal of value or other actions of the assessor or county equalization body or ordered by the state tax commission or any court;
(2) "Tax rate", "rate", or "rate of levy", singular or plural, includes the tax rate for each purpose of taxation of property a taxing authority is authorized to levy without a vote and any tax rate authorized by election, including bond interest and sinking fund;
(3) "Tax rate ceiling", [a] the tax rate [as revised] used by the taxing authority [to comply with the provisions of this section or when a court has determined] in the preceding year or the tax rate determined by a court; except that, other provisions of law to the contrary notwithstanding, a school district may levy the operating levy for school purposes required for the current year pursuant to subsection 2 of section 163.021, RSMo, less all adjustments required pursuant to article X, section 22 of the Missouri Constitution, if such tax rate does not exceed the highest tax rate in effect subsequent to the 1980 tax year, provided that all levy assessments shall begin from the preceding year's tax rate. This is the maximum tax rate that may be levied, unless a higher tax rate ceiling is approved by voters of the political subdivision as provided in this section;
(4) "Tax revenue", when referring to the previous year, means the actual receipts from ad valorem levies on all classes of property, including state-assessed property, in the immediately preceding fiscal year of the political subdivision, plus an allowance for taxes billed but not collected in the fiscal year and plus an additional allowance for the revenue which would have been collected from property which was annexed by such political subdivision but which was not previously used in determining tax revenue pursuant to this section. The term "tax revenue" shall not include any receipts from ad valorem levies on any property of a railroad corporation or a public utility, as these terms are defined in section 386.020, RSMo, which were assessed by the assessor of a county or city in the previous year but are assessed by the state tax commission in the current year. All school districts and those counties levying sales taxes pursuant to chapter 67, RSMo, shall include in the calculation of tax revenue an amount equivalent to that by which they reduced property tax levies as a result of sales tax pursuant to section 67.505, RSMo, and section 164.013, RSMo, or as excess home dock city or county fees as provided in subsection 4 of section 313.820, RSMo, in the immediately preceding fiscal year but not including any amount calculated to adjust for prior years. For purposes of political subdivisions which were authorized to levy a tax in the prior year but which did not levy such tax or levied a reduced rate, the term "tax revenue", as used in relation to the revision of tax levies mandated by law, shall mean the revenues equal to the amount that would have been available if the voluntary rate reduction had not been made.
2. Whenever changes in assessed valuation are entered in the assessor's books for any personal property, in the aggregate, or for any subclass of real property as such subclasses are established in section 4(b) of article X of the Missouri Constitution and defined in section 137.016, the county clerk in all counties and the assessor of St. Louis City shall notify each political subdivision wholly or partially within the county or St. Louis City of the change in valuation of each subclass of real property, individually, and personal property, in the aggregate, exclusive of new construction and improvements. All political subdivisions shall immediately revise the applicable rates of levy for each purpose for each subclass of real property, individually, and personal property, in the aggregate, for which taxes are levied to the extent necessary to produce from all taxable property, exclusive of new construction and improvements, substantially the same amount of tax revenue as was produced in the previous year for each subclass of real property, individually, and personal property, in the aggregate, except that the rate may not exceed the greater of the rate in effect in the 1984 tax year or the [most recent voter-approved] preceding year's tax rate. Such tax revenue shall not include any receipts from ad valorem levies on any real property which was assessed by the assessor of a county or city in such previous year but is assessed by the assessor of a county or city in the current year in a different subclass of real property. Where the taxing authority is a school district for the purposes of revising the applicable rates of levy for each subclass of real property, the tax revenues from state-assessed railroad and utility property shall be apportioned and attributed to each subclass of real property based on the percentage of the total assessed valuation of the county that each subclass of real property represents in the current taxable year. As provided in section 22 of article X of the constitution, a political subdivision may also revise each levy to allow for inflationary assessment growth occurring within the political subdivision. The inflationary growth factor for any such subclass of real property or personal property shall be limited to the actual assessment growth in such subclass or class, exclusive of new construction and improvements, and exclusive of the assessed value on any real property which was assessed by the assessor of a county or city in the current year in a different subclass of real property, but not to exceed the consumer price index or five percent, whichever is lower. Should the tax revenue of a political subdivision from the various tax rates determined in this subsection be different than the tax revenue that would have been determined from a single tax rate as calculated pursuant to the method of calculation in this subsection prior to January 1, 2003, then the political subdivision shall revise the tax rates of those subclasses of real property, individually, and/or personal property, in the aggregate, in which there is a tax rate reduction, pursuant to the provisions of this subsection. Such revision shall yield an amount equal to such difference and shall be apportioned among such subclasses of real property, individually, and/or personal property, in the aggregate, based on the relative assessed valuation of the class or subclasses of property experiencing a tax rate reduction. Such revision in the tax rates of each class or subclass shall be made by computing the percentage of current year adjusted assessed valuation of each class or subclass with a tax rate reduction to the total current year adjusted assessed valuation of the class or subclasses with a tax rate reduction, multiplying the resulting percentages by the revenue difference between the single rate calculation and the calculations pursuant to this subsection and dividing by the respective adjusted current year assessed valuation of each class or subclass to determine the adjustment to the rate to be levied upon each class or subclass of property. The adjustment computed herein shall be multiplied by one hundred, rounded to four decimals in the manner provided in this subsection, and added to the initial rate computed for each class or subclass of property. Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection to the contrary, no revision to the rate of levy for personal property shall cause such levy to increase over the levy for personal property from the prior year.
3. (1) Where the taxing authority is a school district, it shall be required to revise the rates of levy from the preceding year's tax rate to the extent necessary to produce from all taxable property, including state-assessed railroad and utility property, which shall be separately estimated in addition to other data required in complying with section 164.011, RSMo, substantially the amount of tax revenue permitted in this section. In the year following tax rate reduction, the tax rate ceiling may be adjusted to offset such district's reduction in the apportionment of state school moneys due to its reduced tax rate. However, in the event any school district, in calculating a tax rate ceiling pursuant to this section, requiring the estimating of effects of state-assessed railroad and utility valuation or loss of state aid, discovers that the estimates used result in receipt of excess revenues, which would have required a lower rate if the actual information had been known, the school district shall reduce the tax rate ceiling in the following year to compensate for the excess receipts, and the recalculated rate shall become the tax rate ceiling for purposes of this section.
(2) For any political subdivision which experiences a reduction in the amount of assessed valuation relating to a prior year, due to decisions of the state tax commission or a court pursuant to sections 138.430 to 138.433, RSMo, or due to clerical errors or corrections in the calculation or recordation of any assessed valuation:
(a) Such political subdivision may revise the tax rate ceiling for each purpose it levies taxes to compensate for the reduction in assessed value occurring after the political subdivision calculated the tax rate ceiling for the particular subclass of real property or for personal property, in the aggregate, in the prior year. Such revision by the political subdivision shall be made at the time of the next calculation of the tax rate for the particular subclass of real property or for personal property, in the aggregate, after the reduction in assessed valuation has been determined and shall be calculated in a manner that results in the revised tax rate ceiling being the same as it would have been had the corrected or finalized assessment been available at the time of the prior calculation;
(b) In addition, for up to three years following the determination of the reduction in assessed valuation as a result of circumstances defined in this subdivision, such political subdivision may levy a tax rate for each purpose it levies taxes above the revised tax rate ceiling provided in paragraph (a) of this subdivision to recoup any revenues it was entitled to receive for the three-year period preceding such determination.
4. (1) In order to implement the provisions of this section and section 22 of article X of the Constitution of Missouri, the term "improvements" shall apply to both real and personal property. In order to determine the value of new construction and improvements, each county assessor shall maintain a record of real property valuations in such a manner as to identify each year the increase in valuation for each political subdivision in the county as a result of new construction and improvements. The value of new construction and improvements shall include the additional assessed value of all improvements or additions to real property which were begun after and were not part of the prior year's assessment, except that the additional assessed value of all improvements or additions to real property which had been totally or partially exempt from ad valorem taxes pursuant to sections 99.800 to 99.865, RSMo, sections 135.200 to 135.255, RSMo, and section 353.110, RSMo, shall be included in the value of new construction and improvements when the property becomes totally or partially subject to assessment and payment of all ad valorem taxes. The aggregate increase in valuation of personal property for the current year over that of the previous year is the equivalent of the new construction and improvements factor for personal property. Notwithstanding any opt-out implemented pursuant to subsection 15 of section 137.115, the assessor shall certify the amount of new construction and improvements and the amount of assessed value on any real property which was assessed by the assessor of a county or city in such previous year but is assessed by the assessor of a county or city in the current year in a different subclass of real property separately for each of the three subclasses of real property for each political subdivision to the county clerk in order that political subdivisions shall have this information for the purpose of calculating tax rates pursuant to this section and section 22, article X, Constitution of Missouri. In addition, the state tax commission shall certify each year to each county clerk the increase in the general price level as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the United States, or its successor publications, as defined and officially reported by the United States Department of Labor, or its successor agency. The state tax commission shall certify the increase in such index on the latest twelve-month basis available on June first of each year over the immediately preceding prior twelve-month period in order that political subdivisions shall have this information available in setting their tax rates according to law and section 22 of article X of the Constitution of Missouri. For purposes of implementing the provisions of this section and section 22 of article X of the Missouri Constitution, the term "property" means all taxable property, including state-assessed property.
(2) Each political subdivision required to revise rates of levy pursuant to this section or section 22 of article X of the Constitution of Missouri shall calculate each tax rate it is authorized to levy and, in establishing each tax rate, shall consider each provision for tax rate revision provided in this section and section 22 of article X of the Constitution of Missouri, separately and without regard to annual tax rate reductions provided in section 67.505, RSMo, and section 164.013, RSMo. Each political subdivision shall set each tax rate it is authorized to levy using the calculation that produces the lowest tax rate ceiling. It is further the intent of the general assembly, pursuant to the authority of section 10(c) of article X of the Constitution of Missouri, that the provisions of such section be applicable to tax rate revisions mandated pursuant to section 22 of article X of the Constitution of Missouri as to reestablishing tax rates as revised in subsequent years, enforcement provisions, and other provisions not in conflict with section 22 of article X of the Constitution of Missouri. Annual tax rate reductions provided in section 67.505, RSMo, and section 164.013, RSMo, shall be applied to the tax rate as established pursuant to this section and section 22 of article X of the Constitution of Missouri, unless otherwise provided by law.
5. (1) In all political subdivisions, the tax rate ceiling established pursuant to this section shall not be increased unless approved by a vote of the people. Approval of the higher tax rate shall be by at least a majority of votes cast. When a proposed higher tax rate requires approval by more than a simple majority pursuant to any provision of law or the constitution, the tax rate increase must receive approval by at least the majority required.
(2) When voters approve an increase in the tax rate, the amount of the increase shall be added to the tax rate ceiling as calculated pursuant to this section to the extent the total rate does not exceed any maximum rate prescribed by law. The amount of revenue received from the voter-approved increase in the tax rate shall not exceed the revenue derived by applying the levy increase to the preceding year's assessed valuation as certified by the state tax commission. If a ballot question presents a stated tax rate for approval rather than describing the amount of increase in the question, the stated tax rate approved shall be the current tax rate ceiling. The increased tax rate ceiling as approved may be applied to the total assessed valuation of the political subdivision at the setting of the next tax rate.
(3) The governing body of any political subdivision may levy a tax rate lower than its tax rate ceiling [and may increase that lowered tax rate to a level not exceeding the tax rate ceiling without voter approval].
6. (1) For the purposes of calculating state aid for public schools pursuant to section 163.031, RSMo, each taxing authority which is a school district shall determine its proposed tax rate as a blended rate of the classes or subclasses of property. Such blended rate shall be calculated by first determining the total tax revenue of the property within the jurisdiction of the taxing authority, which amount shall be equal to the sum of the products of multiplying the assessed valuation of each class and subclass of property by the corresponding tax rate for such class or subclass, then dividing the total tax revenue by the total assessed valuation of the same jurisdiction, and then multiplying the resulting quotient by a factor of one hundred. Where the taxing authority is a school district, such blended rate shall also be used by such school district for calculating revenue from state-assessed railroad and utility property as defined in chapter 151, RSMo, and for apportioning the tax rate by purpose.
(2) Each taxing authority proposing to levy a tax rate in any year shall notify the clerk of the county commission in the county or counties where the tax rate applies of its tax rate ceiling and its proposed tax rate. Each taxing authority shall express its proposed tax rate in a fraction equal to the nearest one-tenth of a cent, unless its proposed tax rate is in excess of one dollar, then one/one-hundredth of a cent. If a taxing authority shall round to one/one-hundredth of a cent, it shall round up a fraction greater than or equal to five/one-thousandth of one cent to the next higher one/one-hundredth of a cent; if a taxing authority shall round to one-tenth of a cent, it shall round up a fraction greater than or equal to five/one-hundredths of a cent to the next higher one-tenth of a cent. Any taxing authority levying a property tax rate shall provide data, in such form as shall be prescribed by the state auditor by rule, substantiating such tax rate complies with Missouri law. All forms for the calculation of rates pursuant to this section shall be promulgated as a rule and shall not be incorporated by reference. The state auditor shall promulgate rules for any and all forms for the calculation of rates pursuant to this section which do not currently exist in rule form or that have been incorporated by reference. In addition, each taxing authority proposing to levy a tax rate for debt service shall provide data, in such form as shall be prescribed by the state auditor by rule, substantiating the tax rate for debt service complies with Missouri law. A tax rate proposed for annual debt service requirements will be prima facie valid if, after making the payment for which the tax was levied, bonds remain outstanding and the debt fund reserves do not exceed the following year's payments. The county clerk shall keep on file and available for public inspection all such information for a period of three years. The clerk shall, within three days of receipt, forward a copy of the notice of a taxing authority's tax rate ceiling and proposed tax rate and any substantiating data to the state auditor. The state auditor shall, within fifteen days of the date of receipt, examine such information and return to the county clerk his or her findings as to compliance of the tax rate ceiling with this section and as to compliance of any proposed tax rate for debt service with Missouri law. If the state auditor believes that a taxing authority's proposed tax rate does not comply with Missouri law, then the state auditor's findings shall include a recalculated tax rate, and the state auditor may request a taxing authority to submit documentation supporting such taxing authority's proposed tax rate. The county clerk shall immediately forward a copy of the auditor's findings to the taxing authority and shall file a copy of the findings with the information received from the taxing authority. The taxing authority shall have fifteen days from the date of receipt from the county clerk of the state auditor's findings and any request for supporting documentation to accept or reject in writing the rate change certified by the state auditor and to submit all requested information to the state auditor. A copy of the taxing authority's acceptance or rejection and any information submitted to the state auditor shall also be mailed to the county clerk. If a taxing authority rejects a rate change certified by the state auditor and the state auditor does not receive supporting information which justifies the taxing authority's original or any subsequent proposed tax rate, then the state auditor shall refer the perceived violations of such taxing authority to the attorney general's office and the attorney general is authorized to obtain injunctive relief to prevent the taxing authority from levying a violative tax rate.
7. No tax rate shall be extended on the tax rolls by the county clerk unless the political subdivision has complied with the foregoing provisions of this section.
8. Whenever a taxpayer has cause to believe that a taxing authority has not complied with the provisions of this section, the taxpayer may make a formal complaint with the prosecuting attorney of the county. Where the prosecuting attorney fails to bring an action within ten days of the filing of the complaint, the taxpayer may bring a civil action pursuant to this section and institute an action as representative of a class of all taxpayers within a taxing authority if the class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable, if there are questions of law or fact common to the class, if the claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of the claims or defenses of the class, and if the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class. In any class action maintained pursuant to this section, the court may direct to the members of the class a notice to be published at least once each week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county where the civil action is commenced and in other counties within the jurisdiction of a taxing authority. The notice shall advise each member that the court will exclude him or her from the class if he or she so requests by a specified date, that the judgment, whether favorable or not, will include all members who do not request exclusion, and that any member who does not request exclusion may, if he or she desires, enter an appearance. In any class action brought pursuant to this section, the court, in addition to the relief requested, shall assess against the taxing authority found to be in violation of this section the reasonable costs of bringing the action, including reasonable attorney's fees, provided no attorney's fees shall be awarded any attorney or association of attorneys who receive public funds from any source for their services. Any action brought pursuant to this section shall be set for hearing as soon as practicable after the cause is at issue.
9. If in any action, including a class action, the court issues an order requiring a taxing authority to revise the tax rates as provided in this section or enjoins a taxing authority from the collection of a tax because of its failure to revise the rate of levy as provided in this section, any taxpayer paying his or her taxes when an improper rate is applied has erroneously paid his or her taxes in part, whether or not the taxes are paid under protest as provided in section 139.031, RSMo. The part of the taxes paid erroneously is the difference in the amount produced by the original levy and the amount produced by the revised levy. The township or county collector of taxes or the collector of taxes in any city shall refund the amount of the tax erroneously paid. The taxing authority refusing to revise the rate of levy as provided in this section shall make available to the collector all funds necessary to make refunds pursuant to this subsection. No taxpayer shall receive any interest on any money erroneously paid by him or her pursuant to this subsection. Effective in the 1994 tax year, nothing in this section shall be construed to require a taxing authority to refund any tax erroneously paid prior to or during the third tax year preceding the current tax year.
10. A taxing authority, including but not limited to a township, county collector, or collector of taxes, responsible for determining and collecting the amount of residential real property tax levied in its jurisdiction, shall report such amount of tax collected by December thirty-first of each year such property is assessed to the state tax commission. The state tax commission shall compile the tax data by county or taxing jurisdiction and submit a report to the general assembly no later than January thirty-first of the following year.
11. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2004, shall be invalid and void.
137.122. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
(1) "Business personal property", tangible personal property which is used in a trade or business or used for production of income and which has a determinable life of longer than one year except that supplies used by a business shall also be considered business personal property, but shall not include livestock, farm machinery, grain and other agricultural crops in an unmanufactured condition, property subject to the motor vehicle registration provisions of chapter 301, RSMo, property assessed under section 137.078, the property of rural electric cooperatives under chapter 394, RSMo, or property assessed by the state tax commission under chapters 151, 153, and 155, RSMo, section 137.022, and sections 137.1000 to 137.1030;
(2) "Class life", the class life of property as set out in the federal Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System life tables or their successors under the Internal Revenue Code as amended;
(3) "Economic or functional obsolescence", a loss in value of personal property above and beyond physical deterioration and age of the property. Such loss may be the result of economic or functional obsolescence or both;
(4) "Original cost", the price the current owner, the taxpayer, paid for the item without freight, installation, or sales or use tax. In the case of acquisition of items of personal property as part of an acquisition of an entity, the original cost shall be the historical cost of those assets remaining in place and in use and the placed in service date shall be the date of acquisition by the entity being acquired;
(5) "Placed in service", property is placed in service when it is ready and available for a specific use, whether in a business activity, an income-producing activity, a tax-exempt activity, or a personal activity. Even if the property is not being used, the property is in service when it is ready and available for its specific use;
(6) "Recovery period", the period over which the original cost of depreciable tangible personal property shall be depreciated for property tax purposes and shall be the same as the recovery period allowed for such property under the Internal Revenue Code.
2. To establish uniformity in the assessment of depreciable tangible personal property, each assessor shall use the standardized schedule of depreciation in this section to determine the assessed valuation of depreciable tangible personal property for the purpose of estimating the value of such property subject to taxation under this chapter.
3. For purposes of this section, and to estimate the value of depreciable tangible personal property for mass appraisal purposes, each assessor shall value depreciable tangible personal property by applying the class life and recovery period to the original cost of the property according to the following depreciation schedule. The percentage shown for the first year shall be the percentage of the original cost used for January first of the year following the year of acquisition of the property, and the percentage shown for each succeeding year shall be the percentage of the original cost used for January first of the respective succeeding year as follows:
Year Recovery Period in Years
3 5 7 10 15 20
1 75.00 85.00 89.29 92.50 95.00 96.25
2 37.50 59.50 70.16 78.62 85.50 89.03
3 12.50 41.65 55.13 66.83 76.95 82.35
4 5.00 24.99 42.88 56.81 69.25 76.18
5 10.00 30.63 48.07 62.32 70.46
6 18.38 39.33 56.09 65.18
7 10.00 30.59 50.19 60.29
8 21.85 44.29 55.77
9 15.00 38.38 51.31
10 32.48 46.85
11 26.57 42.38
12 20.67 37.92
13 15.00 33.46
14 29.00
15 24.54
16 20.08
17 20.00
Depreciable tangible personal property in all recovery periods shall continue in subsequent years to have the depreciation factor last listed in the appropriate column so long as it is owned or held by the taxpayer. The state tax commission shall study and analyze the values established by this method of assessment and in every odd-numbered year make recommendations to the joint committee on tax policy pertaining to any changes in this methodology, if any, that are warranted.
4. Such estimate of value determined under this section shall be presumed to be correct for the purpose of determining the true value in money of the depreciable tangible personal property, but such estimation may be disproved by substantial and persuasive evidence of the true value in money under any method determined by the state tax commission to be correct, including, but not limited to, an appraisal of the tangible personal property specifically utilizing generally accepted appraisal techniques, and contained in a narrative appraisal report in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice or by proof of economic or functional obsolescence or evidence of excessive physical deterioration. For purposes of appeal of the provisions of this section, the salvage or scrap value of depreciable tangible personal property may only be considered if the property is not in use as of the assessment date.
5. This section shall not apply to business personal property placed in service before January 2, 2006. Nothing in this section shall be found to create a presumption as to the proper method of determining the assessed valuation of business personal property placed in service before January 2, 2006.
6. The provisions of this section are not intended to modify the definition of tangible personal property as defined in section 137.010.
137.720. 1. A percentage of all ad valorem property tax collections allocable to each taxing authority within the county and the county shall be deducted from the collections of taxes each year and shall be deposited into the assessment fund of the county as required pursuant to section 137.750. The percentage shall be one-half of one percent for all counties of the first and second classification and cities not within a county and one percent for counties of the third and fourth classification.
2. For counties of the first classification, counties with a charter form of government, and any city not within a county, an additional one-eighth of one percent of all ad valorem property tax collections shall be deducted from the collections of taxes each year and shall be deposited into the assessment fund of the county as required pursuant to section 137.750, and for counties of the second, third, and fourth classification, an additional one-quarter of one percent of all ad valorem property tax collections shall be deducted from the collections of taxes each year and shall be deposited into the assessment fund of the county as required pursuant to section 137.750, provided that such additional amounts shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars in any year for any county of the first classification and any county with a charter form of government and fifty thousand dollars in any year for any county of the second, third, or fourth classification.
3. The county shall bill any taxing authority collecting its own taxes. The county may also provide additional moneys for the fund. To be eligible for state cost-share funds provided pursuant to section 137.750, every county shall provide from the county general revenue fund an amount equal to an average of the three most recent years of the amount provided from general revenue to the assessment fund; provided, however, that capital expenditures and equipment expenses identified in a memorandum of understanding signed by the county's governing body and the county assessor prior to transfer of county general revenue funds to the assessment fund shall be deducted from a year's contribution before computing the three-year average, except that a lesser amount shall be acceptable if unanimously agreed upon by the county assessor, the county governing body, and the state tax commission. The county shall deposit the county general revenue funds in the assessment fund as agreed to in its original or amended maintenance plan[,] . State reimbursement funds shall be withheld until the amount due is properly deposited in such fund.
4. Four years following the effective date, the state tax commission shall conduct a study to determine the impact of increased fees on assessed valuation.
5. Any increase to the portion of property tax collections deposited into the county assessment funds provided for in subsection 2 of this section shall be disallowed in any year in which the state tax commission certifies an equivalent sales ratio for the county of less than or equal to thirty-one and two-thirds percent pursuant to the provisions of section 138.395, RSMo.
6. The provisions of subsections 2, 4, and 5 of this section shall expire on December 31, [2009] 2012.
143.121. 1. The Missouri adjusted gross income of a resident individual shall be the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income subject to the modifications in this section.
2. There shall be added to the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income:
(a) The amount of any federal income tax refund received for a prior year which resulted in a Missouri income tax benefit;
(b) Interest on certain governmental obligations excluded from federal gross income by Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code. The previous sentence shall not apply to interest on obligations of the state of Missouri or any of its political subdivisions or authorities and shall not apply to the interest described in subdivision (a) of subsection 3 of this section. The amount added pursuant to this paragraph shall be reduced by the amounts applicable to such interest that would have been deductible in computing the taxable income of the taxpayer except only for the application of Section 265 of the Internal Revenue Code. The reduction shall only be made if it is at least five hundred dollars;
(c) The amount of any deduction that is included in the computation of federal taxable income pursuant to Section 168 of the Internal Revenue Code as amended by the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002 to the extent the amount deducted relates to property purchased on or after July 1, 2002, but before July 1, 2003, and to the extent the amount deducted exceeds the amount that would have been deductible pursuant to Section 168 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as in effect on January 1, 2002;
(d) The amount of any deduction that is included in the computation of federal taxable income for net operating loss allowed by Section 172 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, other than the deduction allowed by Section 172(b)(1)(G) and Section 172(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for a net operating loss the taxpayer claims in the tax year in which the net operating loss occurred or carries forward for a period of more than twenty years and carries backward for more than two years. Any amount of net operating loss taken against federal taxable income but disallowed for Missouri income tax purposes pursuant to this paragraph after June 18, 2002, may be carried forward and taken against any income on the Missouri income tax return for a period of not more than twenty years from the year of the initial loss; and
(e) For nonresident individuals in all taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2006, the amount of any property taxes paid to another state or a political subdivision of another state for which a deduction was allowed on such nonresident's federal return in the taxable year unless such state, political subdivision of another state, or the District of Columbia allows a subtraction from income for property taxes paid to this state for purposes of calculating income for the income tax for such state, political subdivision of another state, or the District of Columbia.
3. There shall be subtracted from the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income the following amounts to the extent included in federal adjusted gross income:
(a) Interest or dividends on obligations of the United States and its territories and possessions or of any authority, commission or instrumentality of the United States to the extent exempt from Missouri income taxes pursuant to the laws of the United States. The amount subtracted pursuant to this paragraph shall be reduced by any interest on indebtedness incurred to carry the described obligations or securities and by any expenses incurred in the production of interest or dividend income described in this paragraph. The reduction in the previous sentence shall only apply to the extent that such expenses including amortizable bond premiums are deducted in determining the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income or included in the taxpayer's Missouri itemized deduction. The reduction shall only be made if the expenses total at least five hundred dollars;
(b) The portion of any gain, from the sale or other disposition of property having a higher adjusted basis to the taxpayer for Missouri income tax purposes than for federal income tax purposes on December 31, 1972, that does not exceed such difference in basis. If a gain is considered a long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes, the modification shall be limited to one-half of such portion of the gain;
(c) The amount necessary to prevent the taxation pursuant to this chapter of any annuity or other amount of income or gain which was properly included in income or gain and was taxed pursuant to the laws of Missouri for a taxable year prior to January 1, 1973, to the taxpayer, or to a decedent by reason of whose death the taxpayer acquired the right to receive the income or gain, or to a trust or estate from which the taxpayer received the income or gain;
(d) Accumulation distributions received by a taxpayer as a beneficiary of a trust to the extent that the same are included in federal adjusted gross income;
(e) The amount of any state income tax refund for a prior year which was included in the federal adjusted gross income;
(f) The portion of capital gain specified in section 135.357, RSMo, that would otherwise be included in federal adjusted gross income;
(g) The amount that would have been deducted in the computation of federal taxable income pursuant to Section 168 of the Internal Revenue Code as in effect on January 1, 2002, to the extent that amount relates to property purchased on or after July 1, 2002, but before July 1, 2003, and to the extent that amount exceeds the amount actually deducted pursuant to Section 168 of the Internal Revenue Code as amended by the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002;
(h) For all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, the amount of any income received for military service while the taxpayer serves in a combat zone which is included in federal adjusted gross income and not otherwise excluded therefrom. As used in this section, "combat zone" means any area which the President of the United States by Executive Order designates as an area in which armed forces of the United States are or have engaged in combat. Service is performed in a combat zone only if performed on or after the date designated by the President by Executive Order as the date of the commencing of combat activities in such zone, and on or before the date designated by the President by Executive Order as the date of the termination of combatant activities in such zone; and
(i) For all tax years ending on or after July 1, 2002, with respect to qualified property that is sold or otherwise disposed of during a taxable year by a taxpayer and for which an addition modification was made under paragraph (c) of subsection 2 of this section, the amount by which addition modification made under paragraph (c) of subsection 2 of this section on qualified property has not been recovered through the additional subtractions provided in paragraph (g) of this subsection.
4. There shall be added to or subtracted from the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income the taxpayer's share of the Missouri fiduciary adjustment provided in section 143.351.
5. There shall be added to or subtracted from the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income the modifications provided in section 143.411.
6. In addition to the modifications to a taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income in this section, to calculate Missouri adjusted gross income there shall be subtracted from the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income any gain recognized pursuant to Section 1033 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, arising from compulsory or involuntary conversion of property as a result of condemnation or the imminence thereof.
7. (1) As used in this subsection, "qualified health insurance premium" means the amount paid during the tax year by such taxpayer for any insurance policy primarily providing health care coverage for the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or the taxpayer's dependents.
(2) In addition to the subtractions in subsection 3 of this section, one hundred percent of the amount of qualified health insurance premiums shall be subtracted from the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income to the extent the amount paid for such premiums is included in federal taxable income. The taxpayer shall provide the department of revenue with proof of the amount of qualified health insurance premiums paid.
•