Taney County stands to lose an estimated 250-thousand dollars in sales tax revenue this year because of a Supreme Court decision on payment of sales tax on vehicle purchases made out of state.    County Commissioners discussed the matter in open session this week.  Western District Commissioner Jim Strafuss says the state Supreme Court ruled in a Greene County case that while the language in the statute to collect state sales tax is legal, the language pertaining to collection of county and city sales tax is unconstitutional.  The result is that until the language can be fixed, city or county sales tax cannot be collected on those vehicle purchases. Strafuss says a separate action seeks to take the case back 5 years for refunds…

Jim Strafuss 2012B024   

The ruling has the greatest impact on Missouri counties bordering neighboring states.  Presiding Commissioner Ron Houseman says counties which have a voter-approved use tax, such as StoneCounty, will not be as greatly impacted.

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The Missouri Supreme Court has ruled in a Greene County case that collection of county and city sales tax on vehicles purchased out of state is unconstitutional.  That means until the language in the statute is changed, cities and counties cannot collect sales tax on those purchases, but state sales tax collection may continue.  The ruling is expected to impact Taney County revenue by an estimated 250-thousand dollars this year.  Presiding Commissioner Ron Houseman says counties in which voters did not approve a use tax on purchases made outside the state are in a difficult situation…

Ron Houseman 2012B025    

During an open session this week, commissioners discussed the Supreme Court ruling and its impact.  In addition, local officials are awaiting a ruling in a separate case heard last week, which seeks to have the past five years of those tax collections declared unconstitutional, and refunds issued.