June 08 Quarterly Report

The year is rapidly progressing and there are events and questions we thought would be of interest to you, the taxpayer. First of all, I am pleased to report that our collection rate has continued to improve; we have collected approximately 97% of the delinquent taxes owed to our county. Throughout the year we have streamlined our office’s ability to serve the county and its taxpayers by implementing numerous changes and updates in office procedures and equipment, and we believe these changes have assisted us in this high collection rate. Changes include the following updates: creating the website (www.pulaskicollector.com); opening a third window at the counter; using the personal property receipt as proof of payment; installing Merchant’s License software; and most recently, installing a land tax sale software program. This most recent addition will provide tax sale participants greater efficiency in service and sale documentation. In our effort to eliminate errors and fraud, we started using the computer-generated personal property receipt as proof of payment. This also increased personal property tax revenue collected for the county.

2008 Land Tax Sale

Once the tax season was over we began fielding numerous questions concerning the 2008 Land Tax Sale to be held Monday, August 25, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. This annual sale is held the fourth Monday in August in every county in the state as mandated by Missouri State Statutes. Our August article will provide detailed information concerning the sale, and the first published list will appear in the Daily Guide beginning July 18th with updated lists running each of the next three Fridays. The website will also provide a link to the daily updated list until the sale date.

In light of current national news, we have had many inquiries concerning the sale of “foreclosed” properties. The purpose of the Land Tax Sale is to pay delinquent real estate taxes only and has nothing to do with the delinquency of mortgage payments and the sale of property due to nonpayment of mortgage payments. Neither does the collector’s office have information from banks, mortgage companies, or attorneys representing financial entities concerning the dates and locations of the sale of foreclosed properties. That information is published in the legal sections of local newspapers but is not provided to us.

Recently Retired Military Personnel and County Tax Responsibility

If you are retiring from military service and plan to continue living in Pulaski County, this paragraph will provide you with valuable information, especially if your home of record during active duty was another state. Every county in Missouri collects personal property tax every year on vehicles, trailers, boats, motorcycles, ATV’s, and/or livestock; this tax is separate from real estate tax or sales tax paid on a recently purchased vehicle. If your home of record is Pulaski County Missouri, you are accustomed to filling out the assessment form in January-March and receiving the statement that follows in November. If your home of record during your active duty service was another state, you will not be in the system and will not receive an assessment form or statement. This does not exempt you from tax responsibility, late fees, and/or penalties that may be incurred. In order to prevent late fees and penalties, you must visit the assessor’s office to let them know your current address and, depending on the date of your retirement, any personal property you own. This ensures your presence in the system so you will receive an assessment form when they are mailed in January. Your county taxes are always based on where you lived and what you owned January 1 of the tax year. The statements are mailed the first week in November of the tax year and can be paid without penalty by December 31 of the same year.

All military personnel who own real estate in Pulaski County must pay county real estate taxes every year regardless of location as established by the home of record. This statement should arrive with your personal property tax statement unless your county real estate taxes are paid by an escrow account through your mortgage company. We advise you to call our office in mid to late December to see if your real estate taxes have been paid. Penalties are incurred after December 31 of each tax year on both real estate and personal property taxes.

It is our desire to keep you informed and aware of tax procedures, laws and updates in our county and state. If you have questions at any time, do not hesitate to call us at
774-4711.