137.1050.  Homestead property tax credit — definitions — credit amount — ordinance or referendum, ballot language — application of credit to tax liability — notification to political subdivisions. — 1.  For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall mean:

  (1)  "Eligible credit amount", the difference between an eligible taxpayer's real property tax liability on such taxpayer's homestead for a given tax year, minus the real property tax liability on such homestead in the eligible taxpayer's initial credit year;

  (2)  "Eligible taxpayer", a Missouri resident who:

  (a)  Is sixty-two years of age or older;

  (b)  Is an owner of record of a homestead or has a legal or equitable interest in such property as evidenced by a written instrument; and

  (c)  Is liable for the payment of real property taxes on such homestead;

  (3)  "Homestead", real property actually occupied by an eligible taxpayer as the primary residence.  An eligible taxpayer shall not claim more than one primary residence;

  (4)  "Initial credit year":

  (a)  In the case of a taxpayer that meets all requirements of subdivision (2) of this subsection prior to the year in which a credit is authorized pursuant to subsection 2 of this section, the year in which such credit is authorized;

  (b)  For all other taxpayers, the year in which the taxpayer meets all requirements of subdivision (2) of this subsection.

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If in any tax year subsequent to the eligible taxpayer's initial credit year the eligible taxpayer's real property tax liability is lower than such liability in the initial credit year, such tax year shall be considered the eligible taxpayer's initial credit year for all subsequent tax years.

  2.  (1)  Any county authorized to impose a property tax may grant a property tax credit to eligible taxpayers residing in such county in an amount equal to the taxpayer's eligible credit amount, provided that:

  (a)  Such county adopts an ordinance authorizing such credit; or

  (b)  a.  A petition in support of a referendum on such a credit is signed by at least five percent of the registered voters of such county voting in the last gubernatorial election and the petition is delivered to the governing body of the county, which shall subsequently hold a referendum on such credit.

  b.  The ballot of submission for the question submitted to the voters pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision shall be in substantially the following form:

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If a majority of the votes cast on the proposal by the qualified voters voting thereon are in favor of the proposal, then the credit shall be in effect.

  (2)  An ordinance adopted pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not preclude such ordinance from being amended or superseded by a petition subsequently adopted pursuant to paragraph (b) of subdivision (1) of this subsection.

  3.  (1)  A county granting credit pursuant to this section shall apply such credit when calculating the eligible taxpayer's property tax liability for the tax year.  The amount of the credit shall be noted on the statement of tax due sent to the eligible taxpayer by the county collector.  The county governing body may adopt reasonable procedures in order to carry out the purposes and intent of this section, provided that the county shall not adopt any procedure that limits the definition or scope of eligible credit amount or eligible taxpayer as defined in this section.

  (2)  If an eligible taxpayer makes new construction and improvements to such eligible taxpayer's homestead, the real property tax liability for the taxpayer's initial credit year shall be increased to reflect the real property tax liability attributable to such new construction and improvements.

  (3)  If an eligible taxpayer's homestead is annexed into a taxing jurisdiction to which such eligible taxpayer did not owe real property tax in the eligible taxpayer's initial credit year, then the real property tax liability for the taxpayer's initial credit year shall be increased to reflect the real property tax liability owed to the annexing taxing jurisdiction.

  4.  For the purposes of calculating property tax levies pursuant to section 137.073, the total amount of credits authorized by a county pursuant to this section shall be considered tax revenue, as such term is defined in section 137.073, actually received.

  5.  A county granting a tax credit pursuant to this section shall notify each political subdivision within such county of the total credit amount applicable to such political subdivision by no later than November thirtieth of each year.