Assessment is the process of placing value on a property for the purpose of property taxation. Reassessment is an update of all real property assessments in the county, conducted by the county assessor to equalize values among taxpayers and to adjust values to current market conditions. Personal property is assessed every year. For most real estate owners, nothing. That value is based upon market conditions as of January first of the preceding year.
Personal property includes cars, boats and farm equipment.
Some personal property is exempt, including household goods, inventories, wearing apparel and items of personal use and adornment. Exempt real estate includes property owned by governments, and property used as non profit cemeteries, exclusively for religious worship, for schools and colleges, and for purely charitable purposes. In addition, there are about 50 economic development zones in the state, located in places where there is blight, unemployment, etc. In those areas, to attract employers, or encourage employers to expand, some property improvements are given tax abatements for a period of years. Under Missouri's Constitution, all assessments for property tax purposes must be based upon market value and be uniform within the same class or subclass of property.