Ballot text
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to prevent the state, counties, and other political subdivisions from imposing any new tax, including a sales tax, on the sale or transfer of homes or any other real estate?

It is estimated this proposal will have no costs or savings to state or local governmental entities.

What it’s asking
Amendment No. 3 asks voters to consider a statewide prohibition on a real estate transfer tax, levied on property that is sold or inherited. Such a tax can hypothetically be imposed on either the buyer or the seller.

The state currently does not have a transfer tax, and there have been no movements to implement one.

Supporters of the amendment say that any transfer tax would hurt consumers and the market for homes by charging a transfer tax on top of the real estate tax that property owners already pay. The supporters thus argue that transfer taxes are a form of double taxation.

Those who oppose the amendment say that tax policy should be written into state law, not into the Missouri Constitution, and that real estate transfer taxes are not an issue in Missouri.

Our take
No. Changes to state tax policy should happen through state law and not the state constitution. Also, we don’t feel options for the future should be limited, in case revenue is needed later.