Bates County Tax Records

Bates County property tax records are managed by the assessor and collector-treasurer offices in Butler, Missouri. The county was organized in 1841 and covers a rural area in western Missouri with 11 towns. You can search for property assessments, look up tax bills, and get payment information through the county offices at the administration building on West Dakota Street. This page walks you through each office and resource for accessing Bates County property tax records.

Bates County Assessor Office

Carl Bettels is the Bates County Assessor. His office is in Room 4 of the Administration Building at 103 W Dakota St, Butler, MO 64730. You can call directly at (660) 679-3157 or use the main line at 660-386-7776, option 4. The email is mappingbates@gmail.com. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, closed from noon to 1:00 PM for lunch.

The Bates County Assessor's Office handles all property valuations. This includes real estate assessments, personal property assessments, and plat book sales. Residential real estate in Bates County is assessed at 19% of market value. Commercial property at 32%. Agricultural land at 12% of productivity value. Personal property at 33 1/3%, all under RSMo 137.115. Assessment forms go out in January and are due back by March 1. Late filers face penalties of $15 to $105 depending on the value of their property.

Visit the Bates County website to find links to all county departments.

Bates County Collector-Treasurer

Kacie Robey is the Bates County Collector-Treasurer. Deputy collectors are Melanie Bracher and Terri Korkmaz. The office is at 103 West Dakota, Room 2, Butler, MO 64730. Call (660) 386-7776 option 3 to reach the collector. The fax number is (660) 227-7089.

The Bates County Collector-Treasurer's Office handles collection of current and delinquent property taxes. The office also collects merchant license fees, auctioneer licenses, utility taxes, levee taxes, and railroad taxes. Payments are distributed to the various tax entities including schools, townships, and the health center. The delinquent real estate tax certificate sale happens on the fourth Monday of every August, following Chapter 140 of the Missouri Revised Statutes.

The treasurer side of the office manages 35 separate funds. This includes distributing payments, managing banking activities, investing idle cash, and providing information to the county clerk for budget balancing.

Bates County Property Tax Payments

Tax bills in Bates County are due December 31. Late payments trigger interest and penalties starting January 1 under RSMo 139.031. You can pay at the courthouse during business hours. Remember the office closes from noon to 1:00 PM.

For a full listing of all Bates County offices, the Bates County property records directory on CountyOffice.org includes phone numbers and addresses for the county clerk, assessor, recorder, treasurer/tax collector, and sheriff. You need a paid personal property tax receipt to renew vehicle plates in Missouri. Get yours from the collector's office at the courthouse.

Note: All Bates County offices close from noon to 1:00 PM daily, so plan your visit or call around that break.

Bates County Tax Appeals

Property owners in Bates County can appeal their assessment to the local Board of Equalization. File your appeal with the county clerk before the third Monday in June. The board meets starting the third Monday in July. If the board does not lower your value, you can appeal to the Missouri State Tax Commission by September 30.

Missouri's Property Tax Credit is available to qualifying Bates County residents. Seniors 65 and older and 100% disabled individuals can claim up to $1,100 for homeowners or $750 for renters. The Missouri Association of Counties has a full directory of Bates County officials. The Missouri State Assessors Association also provides statewide assessor contact information.

Bates County has 11 towns including Butler (the county seat with a population of about 4,099), Adrian, Drexel, Rich Hill, Hume, Rockville, Amsterdam, Amoret, Foster, Merwin, and Passaic. Tax levies vary by town and school district, so your total rate depends on exactly where your property sits.

Nearby Counties

Bates County is in western Missouri along the Kansas border. These counties are nearby.