Ralls County Property Tax Records

Ralls County property tax records are kept at the county courthouse in New London, Missouri. You can look up real estate and personal property tax data through the Ralls County Collector and Assessor offices. The collector handles all tax bill payments and keeps records of what has been paid. If you need to search for a tax bill, check a payment status, or get a copy of a past receipt, those offices are the place to start. Online tools let you pay taxes and view your account from home. Ralls County also uses the Missouri Assessors portal for property search and assessment lookups.

Ralls County Tax Records Collector

The Ralls County Collector, Tara Comer, runs the tax collection office. You can reach her at 573-985-5621. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tax statements go out by mid-November each year. Look them over when they come in. If you do not get a statement by the end of November, call the office right away. All taxes are due by December 31. A payment postmarked after that date will be sent back unless late fees are included with the check.

You can pay your Ralls County property tax bill in several ways. The office takes cash, personal checks, and credit cards. There is a payment drop box on the east side of the courthouse for after-hours use. You can also mail in your payment. If you send more than one bill, you can pay them all with a single check. Online payment is available too. The Ralls County Collector page has a link to the online payment portal where you can view and pay your tax bills from home.

The Ralls County Collector also handles merchant license fees, railroad taxes, and utility taxes. The office keeps all tax records for public use. As of April 1, 2021, there is a $1.00 fee for duplicate personal property receipts under RSMo 139.090. You need a paid personal property tax receipt to renew your vehicle plates at the DMV.

A lead-in to the Ralls County Assessor search portal is shown below through the Ralls County Assessor website.

This portal lets you look up parcel data, assessed values, and property details for real estate in Ralls County.

Property Tax Assessment in Ralls County

The Ralls County Assessor, Josh Ketsenburg, handles all property assessments. You can call the personal property line at 573-985-5671 or the real estate line at 573-985-3292. The assessor sets the market value for every parcel of real estate and all taxable personal property in the county. Real property gets reassessed every two years in odd-numbered years. The assessed value is then calculated using state rates set by RSMo 137.115. Residential property is assessed at 19% of market value. Commercial property uses a 32% rate. Agricultural land is assessed at 12% based on its productive value rather than its sale price.

Personal property includes vehicles, boats, trailers, farm equipment, and livestock. You must file your personal property declaration by March 1 each year. Late filings after May 1 carry a penalty of $15 to $105 depending on the total value, as outlined in RSMo 137.280. The assessment date is January 1. That means you owe taxes on whatever you own on that date, even if you sell it or move later in the year.

Ralls County Property Tax Appeals

Think your property is valued too high? You can appeal. Start with the Ralls County Board of Equalization. File your complaint with the county clerk before the third Monday in June. Bring sale data, an appraisal, or photos to back up your claim. The board meets in July to hear cases.

If the board does not lower your value, you can take the case to the Missouri State Tax Commission. File by September 30 or within 30 days of the board's decision. The state commission holds formal hearings and can order the assessor to change the value. There is no fee for residential appeals at this level. The commission has forms on its site that walk you through each step of the process.

Note: Appeal deadlines are strict in Ralls County, so mark the third Monday in June on your calendar.

Ralls County Tax Payment Records

The county directory on the Missouri Association of Counties page lists all Ralls County offices and their contact details. This is a good backup if you need to reach the collector, assessor, or recorder of deeds.

The directory includes phone numbers, addresses, and links for all county departments involved in tax records.

You can get copies of property tax records from the collector or assessor. Tax payment receipts come from the collector. Assessment records with property descriptions and valuations come from the assessor. For real estate deals, you will often need a paid tax receipt showing all taxes are current. Missouri law requires a personal property tax receipt or waiver before you can renew vehicle registration plates. The collector issues these receipts. You can usually get one the same day in person or request it by mail. If you need older records going back several years, contact the collector directly. Some archived records may not be available online.

Tax Credits for Ralls County Residents

Missouri offers a Property Tax Credit for seniors and 100% disabled individuals. The maximum credit is $1,100 for homeowners and $750 for renters. You file your claim through the Missouri Department of Revenue with your state income tax return. You will need your paid tax receipt from Ralls County showing what you paid for the year.

Some counties in Missouri also offer the Senior Real Estate Tax Credit under SB 190. This program freezes a portion of your tax bill once you qualify. Check with the Ralls County Collector at 573-985-5621 to find out if this program is available in Ralls County and when applications are accepted.

Ralls County Property Tax Sale

When real estate taxes go unpaid for two or more years, the Ralls County Collector holds a tax sale. This typically happens in August. The collector offers delinquent parcels at public auction. The buyer pays the back taxes and gets a certificate of purchase. The original owner has a redemption period to pay back the amount plus interest under RSMo Chapter 140. If the property is not redeemed, the buyer can eventually get a collector's deed. Each year the collector posts a list of delinquent parcels before the sale date.

The Ralls County Treasurer, Jena Epperson, can be reached at 573-985-7151 for questions about county finances and tax distribution. The County Clerk, Brandy Flynn, handles plat books and election records at 573-985-7111. For deed records, contact Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Deeds Gina Jameson at 573-985-5631.

Note: Taxes become delinquent on January 1 if not paid by the prior December 31 deadline.

Property Tax Records in Nearby Counties

These counties border Ralls County. Each has its own collector and assessor handling property tax records.