Senior tax credit apps due April 30

Howell County residents aged 62 and older have just a few weeks left to apply for a homestead tax credit. The County Collector’s office is accepting those applications now. As previously reported by Howell County News, the credit is not a tax exemption or a freeze, but a tax credit that will gradually add up for senior property owners over time.  

 

To receive it, you must apply annually, and you must meet certain requirements. 

 

Eligibility

To be eligible this year, taxpayers must:

>Be 62 as of Dec 31, 2024,

>Be the owner of record of the property, even if the property is mortgaged,

>Reside at the property, and

>Be current on real estate taxes for the property. 

 

To be current for the purposes of the application, taxes must have been paid by Dec. 31, 2024. Properties owned by trusts must have trustees who meet the age requirements. Properties owned by corporations or LLCs are not eligible. 

 

Where to Apply

Applications are available in the County Collector’s Office in West Plains. They may be turned in during regular business hours until April 30. 

 

Using 2024 as a base year, the first tax credit for applications approved this month will be given for the 2025 tax year. 

 

This is the first year these tax credits have been available for Howell County residents, and the process is new for everyone – taxpayers and county employees alike. County Collector Janet Crow invites any senior taxpayer with questions about this credit to call her office at 417-256-4001. The Collector’s office has a dedicated window for receiving the applications Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.