Commercial & Business Property
Missouri Commercial Property Tax Appeals
Office, retail, industrial, multifamily, and special-purpose buildings in Missouri are frequently over-assessed. Here's how commercial assessments work, the deadline to challenge yours, and what it takes to win.
How commercial is assessed
Missouri assesses commercial real property at 32% of market value — well above the 19% residential level — and reassesses in odd years.
Commercial assessed at 32% vs 19% residential.
Burden of proof
The property owner (or their authorized agent) bears the burden of proving the assessment exceeds market value. The assessor's value is presumed correct until rebutted with credible evidence.
Key to a Missouri commercial appeal: A 32% commercial ratio
The high commercial ratio magnifies any overvaluation. Informal review with the assessor, then the County Board of Equalization (July–August), then the State Tax Commission.
Missouri Filing Deadline & Where to File
File With
County Board of Equalization
Deadline
Second Monday in July through second Monday in August (Board sessions)
Window Opens
Assessment notices mailed (odd years for reassessment)
Typical Duration
2–4 months
Missouri reassesses odd years. Residential rate is 19% of market value. Informal review with assessor before July deadline recommended. State Tax Commission for further appeal.
How commercial value is proven
Income-producing commercial property is usually valued by capitalizing net operating income (NOI ÷ market cap rate). The strongest appeals come with a clean rent roll, a trailing-12-month operating statement, current vacancy, and market cap-rate support. Where the property is owner-occupied or special-purpose, the cost and sales-comparison approaches carry more weight.
Evidence that wins a commercial appeal
- Current rent roll and a trailing-12-month operating statement
- Actual vacancy and collection loss (vs the assessor's stabilized assumption)
- Market capitalization rate support for the property type and submarket
- Recent arm's-length sales of comparable commercial buildings
- Evidence of physical, functional, or economic obsolescence
- Any change in use, tenancy, or condition since the assessment date
How to appeal a commercial assessment in Missouri
- 1Pull the assessment — confirm the assessed value, the assessment ratio/class, and how the assessor derived it (income, cost, or sales).
- 2Build the valuation — capitalize actual net operating income and gather comparable sales to establish market value as of the assessment date.
- 3File before the deadline — submit to County Board of Equalization by Second Monday in July through second Monday in August (Board sessions), with the authorization signed by someone able to bind the owning entity.
- 4Present at the hearing — commercial hearings are evidence-driven; a clean income approach and credible comps carry the day.
Think your Missouri commercial property is over-assessed?
We pull the assessment, build the income-approach case, and file the appeal. Fee: 20% of first-year savings — only if we win. Nothing upfront, and the reduction can hold for years.
Assessment ratios, class rates, and deadlines in Missouri are set by statute and can change year to year, and often vary by county or municipality. Verify current figures and dates with your county assessor or clerk of the board before filing. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. TaxedFairly is a product of WebLab LLC.