Search Benton County Property Tax Records

Benton County property tax records are kept by the assessor and collector offices at the courthouse in Warsaw, Missouri. You can search for real estate values, personal property data, and tax payment history through the county website or by visiting in person. The assessor manages more than 32,000 real estate parcels and over 12,000 personal property accounts across Benton County. This page covers how to find your tax bill, check assessed values, pay your taxes, and get copies of paid receipts from the Benton County collector.

Benton County Property Tax Assessor

Jim Hansen is the Benton County Assessor. His office is at P.O. Box 40, Warsaw, MO 65355. For personal property questions, call (660) 438-5473. For real estate, call (660) 438-5736. The office handles all property valuations in Benton County and keeps records on both land and personal items like cars, boats, and farm equipment.

The assessor values every parcel as of January 1 each year. Real estate gets reassessed in odd-numbered years using sales data from the area. The assessment rate for homes is 19% of market value under RSMo 137.115. Commercial land sits at 32%. Farm ground is set at 12% based on what the soil can produce, not what the land would sell for on the open market. Personal property like trucks and trailers is assessed at 33 1/3% of book value. Farm equipment gets the 12% rate, and aircraft are assessed at just 5% of value. These rates are the same across Missouri, but each county applies its own local levies on top of the assessed figure.

You can view Benton County property data through the Benton County Assessor's Office website. The site links to a GIS mapping tool that shows aerial photos and limited property details. A full GIS subscription runs $20 per month and gives access to building components, values, deed history, and tax amounts.

Personal property assessment forms go out in early January. They are due by March 1. If you do not get yours by January 21, contact the assessor at (660) 438-5473 to request one.

Benton County Tax Collector Office

David Brodersen is the Benton County Collector. His office mails property tax bills each fall for real estate and personal property. The mailing address is P.O. Box 428, Warsaw, MO 65355. The collector also handles duplicate paid tax receipts, which you need for license plate renewals in Missouri.

All Benton County property taxes are due by December 31. Miss that date and interest starts the next day. The collector distributes the taxes to the county, local school districts, fire districts, and the cities of Warsaw, Lincoln, Cole Camp, and Ionia. Each taxing district sets its own levy rate, and those rates get applied to your assessed value to produce the final bill. The collector also issues merchant licenses for businesses operating in the county and runs the annual tax sale for real estate that has been delinquent for two or more years, in line with Chapter 140 of the Missouri Revised Statutes.

Visit the Benton County Collector's Office page to learn more about payment options and office hours.

Note: A postmarked envelope dated December 31 or earlier counts as an on-time payment for Benton County property taxes.

Property Tax Records Filing in Benton County

Benton County does not accept personal property assessment forms by fax or email. You must mail or hand-deliver your form to the assessor's office. If you just moved to the county, your assessment depends on where you lived on January 1. If you arrived after that date, you still owe taxes in your old county for the year. Your first Benton County assessment starts the following January.

When you buy or sell a vehicle during the year, you do not need to tell the assessor right away. The change shows up on your next assessment in January. Missouri does not prorate personal property taxes. You pay for the full year based on what you owned on the assessment date. If you sold a car in March but owned it on January 1, you still owe on it for the whole year. Late filing of your personal property list triggers a penalty of $15 to $105 depending on total value, as set by RSMo 137.280.

The Benton County government website has a full list of offices and contact numbers. You can find the assessor, collector, clerk, and other departments all on one page.

For questions about your personal property list or how items are valued, reach the assessor at (660) 438-5473.

Benton County Tax Appeals and Credits

If you believe your Benton County assessment is wrong, you can file a complaint with the Board of Equalization. Submit your appeal to the county clerk before the third Monday in June. Bring evidence like recent appraisals or comparable sales. The board meets each summer to hear these cases.

If the board does not change your value, you can escalate to the Missouri State Tax Commission. That deadline is September 30 or 30 days after the board's ruling. The state commission holds hearings and can order the assessor to adjust the number. There is no fee for residential appeals at the state level. Benton County property owners also qualify for the Missouri Property Tax Credit if they meet age and income requirements. Seniors 65 and older and 100% disabled individuals can claim up to $1,100 through the Missouri Department of Revenue. Renters may get up to $750.

The Missouri Association of Counties and the Missouri Assessors Association both keep directories of county offices for quick reference.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Benton County in west-central Missouri. Each has its own assessor and collector handling property tax records.