I live in Missouri, why do we have to pay personal property tax???

Question

I live in Missouri, why do we have to pay personal property tax??? ITS MINE AND I ALREADY BOUGHT IT, AND IM STUCK PAYING TAXES FOR OWNING IT ALSO??

Answer 1

Me too and I also wonder why.  It is on a county level though not actually state.  I guess to keep our county governments running.  

Answer 2

Welcome to the Club!

I'm sure that most of us feel that way .  

Answer 3

Because the government has imposed that tax.  If you don't like it, you can vote for a candidate who promises to work for its repeal.

Answer 4

Born and raised there, paisan. Missouri has its nickel/dime taxes, but if you ever live in, say, Washington State or California or Massachusetts you'll find out what a heavy-taxing state is all about. I left there in '72, so don't know if it's applicable any longer, but when it came to cars, there used to be a ppt exemption the first year you own it. We used to sell our cars to one another year in, year out, for a buck to avoid the ppt.

Answer 5

Just another way for politicians to put their hands in your pockets.  

Answer 6

Simple, because State law says you have to.  Pretty simple!  

A significant number of States have personal property taxes.  If you haven't had to deal with them previously then you likely paid higher taxes of some other type to make up for it.  At least the total tax bite in MO is fairly reasonable.  We have some of the lowest gasoline, liquor, and tobacco taxes in the country and an income tax that is in the middle of the range.  And real estate taxes are refreshingly low compared to States like TX!

Answer 7

I always wondered too, but when I got my first vehicle...I questioned my father about it. He had said it was because if you have to pay ppt, you're more likely to keep it running (if it's a vehicle) or in good shape (for anything). Otherwise, there'd be piles and piles of stuff in peoples yards.

I don't know if this is really a reason or not, but that's what I had always been told. I think it blows, personally.