Cape Girardeau County Assessor Bob Adams is advising county residents to file their personal property list online at capegirardeau.missouriassessors.com. The online filing was introduced in 2017, but has not been used by most county residents.
In 2017, around 16-18 percent of property filings were done online, with only 14 percent using the system in 2018. Adams said this decrease was due to his office not publicizing the online service as much as they did in its debut year.
Adams said the online filing is significantly quicker for residents, more user-friendly and can help people avoid mailing forms or visiting their office in Jackson.
If no changes are made, the online filing should take less than a minute. “I’ve had people tell me they did it on their smart phone while they were waiting to do something else,” Adams said.
“One of my goals, since I’ve been here, is to cut down on foot traffic and phone traffic – to streamline things as much as possible,” Adams said. He added that they’ve already moved a lot of their real estate information online, so getting the personal property filing online has been the next priority.
Once finished, the online form automatically attaches to account and does not require any additional steps for the assessor’s office. Adams said if 25-30 percent of filings were electronic, it would help the office reduce expenses and waiting times for those who file in person.
The assessor’s office currently receives 38,000 pieces of mail that needs to be processed. The online filing automatically attaches to the resident’s account, and vastly reduces expenses for the assessor’s office. Adams said his goal is to have 25-30 percent of filings be electronic.
The online system creates reports for the office of accounts that are the same as previous years as well as those who have changes. Residents who file online can print out a receipt or have one sent to their e-mail address.
Adams said once the form is submitted, much like putting the information in the mail, no changes can be made without calling the assessor’s office. He also advised having a new vehicle’s information and VIN number ready before starting the process.
Filings are officially due March 1, but the deadline is usually extended to May 1. If you need filing assistance, residents can call the assessor’s office at 573-243-2468.
