Representative Eric Burlison Works to End Missouri Property Taxes: HB 335

One of the things I miss about living Illinois is not paying personal property tax on my car every year. Sure the license plates were a little more expensive, but they were quite cheap when you consider the more than $200 I owed Christian County last year.

As a conservative, there is is this truth I am well aware of when it comes to personal property taxes. As long as any government can tax your personal property and influence your ownership and use of that property if you don't pay the taxes, you really never fully freely own the property. Think about that. The state and county can confiscate the property to pay the taxes or prevent you from using your property. It's really an evil tax.

Republican Eric Burlison has introduced legislation in the Missouri House to end the personal property tax! Thank you Mr. Burlison. His bill HB 335 is described as the following:


HB 335 -- Political Subdivision Taxes

Sponsor: Burlison

Upon voter approval, this bill authorizes any political
subdivision by resolution to replace the personal property tax
levied for funding the political subdivision with a
revenue-neutral increase in either the local sales tax or real
property tax. The reduction in the personal property tax and the
increase in either the local sales tax or the real property tax
can be phased-in over several years but must be specified in the
resolution and ballot language. If an increase in the sales tax
is approved, the Department of Revenue will deposit the sales tax
into the newly created Political Subdivision Property Tax
Replacement Sales Tax Fund less 1% of the amount collected which
is to be deposited into the General Revenue Fund for the cost of
collecting the sales tax. The existing procedures for collecting
real property taxes will apply to the replacement real property
tax if approved.

Now obviously, it doesn't end the taxes on your house and property, but it does end personal property taxes on your car, trucks, boats, RVs, airplanes, trailers, etc. This is a start. While you will pay the taxes elsewhere such as small increase in sales taxes, it beats the notice from you county every year around Christmas time when money is tighter because of the season.

Let's hope Mr. Burlison realizes the threat of all taxes on your property and the power the government has over your property that limits true ownership of your property--since you always owe a tax bill on your property--and works to end all taxes on property that threatens private property owners. Please push similar legislation into other taxes on property Mr. Burlison.