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Cape Girardeau County Real Estate Property Tax Credit Information
On April 7, 2026, voters in Cape Girardeau County approved two REAL ESTATE property tax relief measures designed to help eligible homeowners by limiting increases in property taxes on primary residences.
Proposition A – SB 190/SB 756 SENIOR CITIZEN PROPERTY TAX CREDIT, PRIMARY RESIDENCE
Proposition B – SB 3 PROPERTY TAX CREDIT ON CITIZENS’ PRIMARY RESIDENCE
Application Dates for 2026 Has Now Closed
Application period for 2027 will be posted at a later date.
What Was Approved
Proposition A – Senior Citizen Property Tax Credit
Eligible homeowners age 62 and older may qualify for a credit that limits certain increases in property taxes on their primary residence.
Proposition B – General Homestead Property Tax Credit
Eligible homeowners may qualify for a credit that limits certain increases in property taxes on their primary residence above the amount established during the initial credit year.
Important Information
- These programs do not eliminate property taxes
- Taxpayers remain responsible for voter-approved tax levies, new construction and improvements, and other taxes required by law
- Credits apply only to qualifying primary residences
- Rental property, commercial property, and farmland do not qualify
- An eligible taxpayer can only claim one primary residence
- An application is required before any credit may be granted
- Real estate taxes must not be delinquent
Who Qualifies
Proposition A (Senior Citizen Property Tax Credit)
You qualify if:
- You are 62 years of age or older in the year you apply
- The property is your primary residence
- You own the property (owner of record)
- You are a Cape Girardeau County, Missouri resident
- You are liable for the payment of real property taxes on the homestead
Proposition B (Homestead Credit)
You qualify if:
- The property is your primary residence
- You own the property (owner of record)
- You are a Cape Girardeau County, Missouri resident
- You are liable for the payment of real property taxes on the homestead
Frequently Asked Questions
DO I HAVE TO APPLY FOR THE REAL ESTATE TAX RELIEF PROGRAM?
Yes. You will need to submit an application. The program is voluntary.
WHEN WILL I HAVE TO SUBMIT MY APPLICATION AND AFFIDAVIT?
To be eligible for the tax credit in 2026, applications must be submitted by June 30, 2026.
Application period for 2027 will be posted at a later date.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT APPLY BY THE APPLICATION DEADLINE?
If you are eligible, you can apply the following year.
CAN I RECEIVE A CREDIT IF MY REAL ESTATE TAXES ARE NOT PAID FROM A PRIOR YEAR?
No tax credit will be granted to a taxpayer that owes delinquent taxes, interest, or penalties.
WHAT IS A HOMESTEAD?
A Homestead is the real estate property occupied by an Eligible Taxpayer as their primary residence. An Eligible Taxpayer shall not claim more than one primary residence.
Mobile homes that are assessed as personal property are not considered real estate property for the purposes of the homestead definition.
WHAT IS MY "ELIGIBLE CREDIT AMOUNT"?
For taxpayers that meet the requirements for an Eligible Taxpayer on or before 2024, the Eligible Credit Amount is the difference between the Eligible Taxpayer’s real property tax liability on the taxpayer’s Homestead in the current application tax year (and each subsequent tax year) minus the real property tax liability on the taxpayer’s Homestead for the 2024 tax year (the “Initial Credit Year”) with exception to New Construction and Improvements, Annexation, any bonded indebtedness of a political subdivision located in Cape Girardeau County, any voter approved new tax levy, and the blind pension fund.
For all other taxpayers, any taxpayer that meets the requirements for an Eligible Taxpayer after 2024, the Eligible Credit Amount is the difference between the Eligible Taxpayer’s real property tax liability in the given tax year, minus the real property tax liability on the Homestead in the year in which the taxpayer meets the requirements for an Eligible Taxpayer (also referred to as the “Initial Credit Year”) with exception to New Construction and Improvements, Annexation, any bonded indebtedness of a political subdivision located in Cape Girardeau County, any voter approved new tax levy, and the blind pension fund.
WHEN WOULD I RECEIVE MY TAX CREDIT?
For eligible taxpayers that submit an initial application in 2026, any eligible credit amount would be applied to the real estate tax statement you receive from the County Collector in November.
Keep in mind that these are credits that will be applied to your tax statement, not refunds of taxes paid. The tax credits are not retroactive.
WHAT YEAR IS THE "INITIAL CREDIT YEAR" FOR DETERMINING MY TAX CREDIT?
The “Initial Credit Year” is the year that a taxpayer became an Eligible Taxpayer, which shall be no earlier than January 1, 2024.
If you were an Eligible Taxpayer in 2024, and submit an application prior to June 30, 2026, the “Initial Credit Year” used to calculate the 2026 tax credit will be the 2024 tax year.
Going forward, the “Initial Credit Year” will be the year in which the taxpayer meets the requirements of an Eligible Taxpayer.
WILL MY TAXES BE EXACTLY THE SAME EACH YEAR AFTER THEY ARE FROZEN?
No. The tax relief program does not freeze your real estate taxes or the assessed value of your home. Countywide reassessments will continue to happen every odd-numbered year. Your real estate tax liability may increase incrementally based upon changes in certain taxes which are exempt from the program, such as the State of Missouri Blind Pension Fund and voter-approved bond indebtedness levies. Your taxes may also increase due to any new construction or improvements that would cause an increase in valuation of the overall claimed homestead, or if your homestead is annexed into a taxing jurisdiction that was not included on your tax bill in the initial credit year.
WILL ALL OF MY TAXES BE FROZEN?
No. The tax authorized pursuant to Article III, Section 38(b) of the Missouri Constitution relating to the blind pension fund, any bonded indebtedness of a political subdivision located partially or wholly within Cape Girardeau County and any new voter-approved taxes levied against real property and protected or otherwise guaranteed pursuant to the Missouri Constitution, and New Construction and Improvements shall be excluded from the calculation of the tax credit granted pursuant to this Order and Ordinance.
HOW WILL I KNOW THE AMOUNT OF THE TAX CREDIT I'M RECEIVING?
Any tax credit will be noted on the annual real estate tax statement sent by the Cape Girardeau County Collector. You will be responsible for paying the remaining amount of taxes due on the statement. The tax bills are due upon receipt and the last day to pay without late charges is December 31 each year.
MY REAL ESTATE TAXES ARE PAID THROUGH A MORTGAGE COMPANY. HOW WILL THIS CREDIT BE APPLIED TO ME?
The Collector’s office will notify any escrow company that requests the annual tax information for parcels that they service. This tax information will include the amount of taxes due less any applied credit. As always, it is the taxpayer’s responsibility to make sure the taxes are paid timely by their escrow company.
CAN AN ELIGIBLE TAXPAYER CLAIM MORE THAN ONE PROPERTY FOR PURPOSES OF THIS CREDIT?
No. Eligible Taxpayers shall only claim one (1) primary residence statewide as their Homestead. Eligible taxpayers cannot claim credits on rental properties. If you own a duplex or a parcel of land with multiple structures that serve as dwelling units, you can only claim a credit on the portion that serves as your primary residence.
IF I SELL MY HOME AND BUY A NEW HOME DOES THE TAX CREDIT TRANSFER TO THE NEW HOME?
No, the Real Estate Property Tax Relief does not transfer. The eligible credit is based on the primary residence. The tax credits do not transfer to another homestead or to the new property owner. If you meet the criteria for an eligible taxpayer, you will need to complete the application process for the new homestead.
IS A HOUSE OWNED BY A TRUST AND OCCUPIED BY THE TRUST GRANTORS ELIGIBLE FOR THE REAL ESTATE PROPERTY TAX CREDIT?
If the paperwork establishing the Trust shows those living in the homestead have a legal or equitable interest in the property, they are eligible for the tax credit. Since there are several different types of Trusts the documents necessary may be different.
CAN I BE REMOVED FROM THE PROGRAM?
Yes, for one of the following reasons:
- If a transfer of title is made
- If property interests in a written instrument expire
- Fraud
- Taxes become delinquent
- At request of homeowner
- Real property no longer qualifies, i.e.
- Eligible taxpayer no longer lives in the homestead.
WHERE CAN I SUBMIT QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS PROGRAM?
Questions and comments can be submitted online by sending an email to homestead@capecounty.us.
If you would rather call and leave a message, please feel free to direct your questions to (573) 987-5010.
Stay Informed
- Questions: Call the tax credit help desk: (573) 987-5010
- Email: homestead@capecounty.us