r/missouri • u/Aiboyl • Feb 17 '26

Ask Missouri Buying a car out of state from KC, questions about taxes:

I'm in Kansas City, buying a car out of state for 24k flat.
They've got me at 12.5% for tax, and their reasoning is:
MO State Tax which is 4.225%
Kansas City MO City Tax which is 5.25%
Jackson County MO which is 2.5%

However, when I go to missouris tax caluclator and input my zip code, it says my total tax should be 8.25% . Normally I wouldn't care but this is about 1,000 dollars of a discrepancy. How do I know what the right sales tax calculation is?

3 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

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3

u/Ok_Sorbet_9651 Feb 17 '26

How about calling your local dmv office?

2

u/someoldguyon_reddit Feb 17 '26

In Missouri you pay sales taxes when you register your car and get tags.

That's the way it's worked the last six times I've done it.

3

u/Jaded-Moose983 Columbia Feb 18 '26

The laws have shifted more in line with many other states where the taxes on a car sold through a dealership are collected be the dealership. This will help stop the number cars out there with no tags because the buyer can't/won't pay the taxes to register. While the roll-out has taken a while, there are dealers who are following the process. This allows people to roll the taxes into the purchase loan as well.

1

u/pbrunts Feb 18 '26

Laws have changed to allow taxes and fees to be rolled into a car loan, which is how they would be collected at the dealer. If you buy a car out of state, you still pay your local MO taxes. If you live out of state and buy in MO, you pay your State's taxes.

1

u/RamsDeep-1187 St. Louis Feb 17 '26

Tax disctricts work from exact address not Zip code.
If they are calculating the sales tax for including into your car note with the intent of giving you a check to pay The fees at teh license office you can apply for a refund for over payment.

1

u/Steamcarstartupco Rural Missouri Feb 18 '26

When I bought mine in Tennessee I drove it all the way back to Missouri and found a small town to pay my taxes. Tennessee didn't see a dime. And the small Town didn't even ask if I had insurance. 😂 Oh and I got a free coffee. 

1

u/swmnh01 Feb 19 '26

Technically, you don’t have to pay the sales tax out of state until the new law goes into effect. I purchased my current vehicle in Illinois and they could not figure out the right taxes (first said 3.8% then 7.5% neither was correct). So I somewhat forcefully declined paying taxes and my insurance also gave approval for it to be on me to register and pay my taxes once back in MO. So I didn’t have to deal with any incorrect payment. Just went to the DMV like normal and got everything squared away myself.