Search Perry County Tax Records
Perry County property tax records are managed by the collector and assessor at the administration building in Perryville. The county keeps detailed records for real estate and personal property, and offers multiple ways to pay your tax bill. You can search property tax records online, pay by phone, use the drive-thru window, or drop off a payment after hours. Perry County has one of the more accessible systems in southeast Missouri, with a well-organized website that covers tax information, records search, and payment options all in one place.
Perry County Tax Quick Facts
Perry County Tax Collector Office
The Perry County Collector handles collection of current and delinquent property taxes. The office accounts for and distributes collections to all local taxing entities, including schools, the library, and the health center. The collector also handles merchant license fees, auctioneer fees, utility taxes, levee taxes, and railroad taxes. Primary tax records are maintained here for public use.
Perry County offers several payment options. Two drop-boxes sit on either side of the administration building for after-hours payments. A drive-thru window is on the north side of the building. You can also pay by mail or by phone at 1-877-690-3729 using jurisdiction code 3502. Online payment and receipt printing are available through the Perry County Tax Information page.
Tax statements are mailed by December 1. Taxes are due upon receipt. Even if you don't get a tax bill in the mail, you still owe. Failure to receive a tax bill does not relieve the obligation to pay under Missouri law.
Perry County Property Tax Assessor
The Perry County Assessor handles personal property assessments, real estate assessments, property tax relief information, maps, and the appeals process. Assessment happens as of January 1 each year. Personal property lists are due by March 1. Late penalties from $15 to $105 apply per RSMo 137.280.
Informal hearings are available if you want to discuss your assessment before going through the formal appeal process. The assessor's office can review your value and check for errors. Under RSMo 137.115, residential property is assessed at 19% of market value, commercial at 32%, and agricultural land at 12% of production value.
Perry County Property Tax Records Search
The Perry County Records Search page lets you access records during normal working hours. All records are available for copying. A yearly subscription fee gives you detailed website access. Contact the office at (573) 547-5211 to set up a subscription. Nominal fees apply for reproducing documents, and additional fees may come up for research and preparation time.
The delinquent real estate tax certificate sale is held on the fourth Monday of every August. Properties with multiple years of unpaid taxes go up for sale under Chapter 140 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. The Perry County website has details on all county services and office contacts.
Note: Perry County's tax information page also covers how tax rates are set by local taxing jurisdictions including school districts, fire districts, and the health center.
Tax Credits for Perry County Residents
Missouri's Property Tax Credit is for qualifying seniors and 100% disabled individuals. The max credit is $1,100 for homeowners and $750 for renters. You can file through the Missouri Department of Revenue. You need your paid tax receipt from the Perry County Collector to complete the claim form.
To appeal your assessment, start with an informal hearing at the assessor's office. File with the Board of Equalization before the second Monday in July. If needed, appeal to the Missouri State Tax Commission by September 30. The process is free for residential properties.
Perry County Property Tax Rates
Under RSMo 137.115, Perry County follows the same assessment rates as every other county in Missouri. Residential property is assessed at 19% of market value. Commercial property is at 32% of true value. Agricultural land uses a 12% rate based on productivity value rather than market value. Personal property like vehicles, boats, and farm equipment is assessed at 33 1/3% of book value.
The county clerk takes your assessed value and applies local tax levy rates to get the total on your bill. Perry County has several taxing districts. Schools, the library, the health center, fire protection districts, and levee districts all charge their own rates. Two properties with the same assessed value in different parts of the county can have different total tax bills because they fall in different taxing districts. The Hancock Amendment limits how much any taxing entity can collect without voter approval, which protects Perry County taxpayers during reassessment years when values may go up significantly. Real estate in Perry County gets reassessed every two years in odd-numbered years. New construction is added to the rolls annually. The assessor uses sales data, cost estimates, and income analysis when setting market values for real estate parcels across the county.
The Missouri State Assessors Association can help you find the right assessor contact for your questions. New residents to Perry County should contact the assessor to set up their personal property account. You will not be assessed until the following January 1, but getting your account started early keeps things smooth. If you moved from another Missouri county, you still owe taxes there for the current year if you lived there on January 1. License plates require a paid tax receipt or waiver from the prior year.