St. Charles County Assessor Sending Notices of Real Estate Assessment Starting April 28

The St. Charles County Assessor is mailing 2025 Notices of Real Estate Assessment to property owners starting the week of April 28. State law requires the Assessor to revalue all real estate property in the county as of Jan. 1 of odd-numbered years.

The total collective value of all residential property in St. Charles County has increased 8.4% since the last assessment in January 2023. Individual property values may have changed more or less than that, based on their location and features.

The notices will be sent in three mailings: Washington, Wentzville, and Fort Zumwalt school districts first; Francis Howell, St. Charles and Orchard Farm school districts second; and finally, to people approved in 2024 for the Senior Tax Relief program. (Approved 2024 Senior Tax Relief applicants will get an insert explaining the effects of the tax relief program, which affects the amount of tax they owe, but does not freeze their assessed value.)

The notices include a QR code that property owners can scan with their smartphone to view more details about their property through the Assessor's property database. Also, the interactive Assessor website at sccmo.org/Assessor provides a summary analysis of assessment and local data including a comparable sales search and interactive map.

Taxpayers have 10 days from the mailed date on the notice to schedule an informal hearing with a staff member from the Assessor's office to discuss the property value or classification. They can schedule by calling 636-949-7431, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. These scheduled informal hearings will be conducted from the last week of April through early June. If an agreement is not reached after the informal hearing, the property owner could then file an appeal with the Board of Equalization. Information on the appeal process and answers to frequently asked questions are available at sccmo.org/Assessor, or taxpayers can contact the Assessor's office.

Caution About Using Valuation Service Companies
St. Charles County Assessor Travis Welge warns property owners about paying valuation service companies to help determine if their property is overvalued and/or to assist in the appeal process. Many valuation service companies buy public data and use information homeowners can access for free through the Assessor's office.

"The services they provide are inferior to the services our office provides, or what a homeowner can research on their own or discuss with our office at no cost," Welge says. "These companies do not perform due diligence. They bog down the appeals process with inaccurate information and waste time and taxpayer dollars."

Welge says that in many cases, the information presented by these companies is of little relevance to the market value and is generated without considering important features such as the location and size of the property, architectural type, and condition. Additionally, Welge notes that representatives or tax agents performing appraisal or valuation analysis must be certified or licensed in the state of Missouri. He adds that offers to provide market value to contest assessments based on contingent fees violate the ethical standards of trustworthy appraisers.

The Assessor is responsible for establishing the fair market value of both real estate and personal property within St. Charles County to ensure taxes are distributed fairly among those responsible for payment. Real estate and personal property values are adjusted as necessary to reflect the current market and changes in tax laws.

Political subdivisions, which include schools, cities and fire districts, establish property tax rates based on budgetary requirements needed to appropriately fund services provided within their jurisdiction. The Collector of Revenue receives these rates annually by Oct. 31 and is charged with issuing property tax bills and the collection and disbursement of taxes to the political subdivisions.

For more information, visit sccmo.org/Assessor or call 636-949-7428.