Tax Lawsuit FAQ

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What to do if you have been served with a tax lawsuit

If you have been served with a lawsuit regarding delinquent City tax, the Revenue Division can no longer be contacted to resolve your tax issue. Our most frequently asked questions are listed below. If you still have questions, you can contact our office at 816-513-3105 or by email. At the bottom of this page are some links to frequently requested documents and websites.

Tax Collections
- What is the earnings tax?
  The earnings tax (sometimes referred to as “e-tax”) is a one percent tax on an individual’s earned income such as salaries, wages, commissions, tips and other compensation. It generates revenue that pays for a wide variety of basic City services used by all those who live and work in Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to helping fund basic City services such as repairing roads and weekly trash collection, the revenue from the earnings tax also pays for police officers, fire fighters, paramedics and ambulance services. Revenue from the earnings tax also helps fund snow removal, codes inspection, historic preservation and other City needs.
  
  The earnings tax is paid by any business or person who lives or works in Kansas City, Missouri.
- How can I tell if the taxes were withheld?
  If you live or work in Kansas City, Missouri, you must pay the earnings tax if the tax was not deducted from your paycheck. Please check your W-2 (boxes 18-20) or paystubs from the tax year in question to see if earnings tax was deducted.
- Why do you think I owe the tax?
  The City makes assessment of tax liability based on filed returns, audits, or other tax records/documents, such as match information we receive from the IRS.
- Where are you located?
  We are in City Hall on the 19th Floor in suite 1903. City Hall is located at 414 E. 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64106. Our office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, excluding holidays.
- How can I pay?
  You can pay in person, by mail, or through the Quick Tax portal online. Unfortunately, we cannot accept payments over the phone. You can pay by cash, check, money order, or debit/credit card. Payments must be received at least 3 days before your court date to ensure the payment is processed prior to court. If our office is informed that you paid in full prior to your court date, a dismissal will be filed in your case.
  
  No appointment is needed for in person payments. We accept all types of payments in person.
  
  To pay by mail, please make checks and money orders payable to “City Treasurer-KCMO” and mail them to:
  Attn: Tax Collections Unit, Law Department
  414 E. 12th St, Suite 1903
  Kansas City, MO 64106
  
  To pay online through the Quick Tax portal, you can pay as a guest or you can create an account. Both options require that you have a statement of collection (included with your summons). If you do not have a statement of collection and want to pay online, please call our office at 816-513-3105 for assistance.
  
  To pay as a guest, you will need the statement of collection included with your summons. On the Quick Tax portal, choose "Make Payment as Guest" and follow the instructions.
  
  To create an account chose "Register Here" under Businesses and Individuals. You will need your social security number or taxpayer identification number, your letter ID from the statement of collection included with your summons (second to last page of the packet), and the account type and account ID from the top of page 2 of the statement of collections included with your summons (last page of the packet). Once you have created your account and logged in, be sure to choose the tax type and specific tax year you are wanting to pay otherwise your payment will be applied to the oldest tax year.
  
  The City has how-to videos on using Quick Tax.
- Can I have a payment plan?
  The City offers payment plans starting at $50 per month. To set up a payment plan, you will need to come to our office in City Hall, 19th floor, and sign some documents. Our office will ask the court to enter the payment plan agreement into the court record as a judgment. Your timely payment plan payments will stop further collections efforts by our office. Payment plan paperwork must be completed in or office at least 3 business days prior to your court date. Our office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, excluding holidays. No appointment is needed.
  
  If you would like your payments automatically deducted from your bank account, please bring a completed ACH Authorization form with you when coming to sign your paperwork.
- Can the amount I owe be reduced?
  City ordinance prohibits waiving interest and penalties generally cannot be abated. However, if you pay the tax, interest, and legal fees (if a case has already been filed with the court), then you can submit a request for a penalty waiver to the Revenue Division. Penalty waivers can also be submitted through your account on the Quick Tax portal. Penalty waivers are reviewed on a case by case basis.
- What if I don’t think I owe the tax?
  I didn’t live in Kansas City or work in Kansas City during all or part of the tax year in question.
  You can provide documents to our office, by mail, email, or in person, showing you were a non-resident or did not earn wages or profits. Documents generally requested include: state and federal tax returns, lease or mortgage documents, personal property tax receipts, utility bills, insurance bills, and/or voter registration.
  
  Documents must be provided to our office for review at least 7 days before your court date. Additional documents may be requested.
  
  I already paid the tax.
  If you live or work in Kansas City, Missouri, you must pay the tax if the tax was not deducted from your paycheck. Please check your W-2 (boxes 18-20) or paystubs from the tax year in question to see if earnings tax was deducted. If the tax was deducted, please provide proof to our office.
  
  I previously filed a tax return with the City.
  If you filed a return and paid, please provide proof of your payment.
  
  If you filed a return but believe the information on the return is incorrect, you will need to file an amended tax return. You will also need to submit supporting documentation with your amended tax return.
- What if I can’t make it to my court date?
  Our office cannot grant you a continuance, only the court can grant continuances. You are free to contact the court and request a continuance.
- What happens if I miss my court date?
  A judgment may be entered against you and the City may pursue additional collections actions against you. A criminal warrant will not be issued by the court. Please call our office to set up a payment plan to avoid garnishment. To have payments automatically withdrawn from your bank account, please fill out the ACH Authorization form and return it to our office. Automatic withdrawal requires payments greater than $50.
- Will a judgment affect my credit?
  The City does not affirmatively report to any reporting agencies. However, judgments are public records.
- Can someone else contact your office on my behalf to resolve my case?
  These cases involve sensitive taxpayer information. As such, we can only speak to the taxpayer about their case. If you need to have someone else (accountant, spouse, parent, child, etc.) speak to us about your case, please fill out and return a Power of Attorney. However, even with a power of attorney, only the taxpayer can sign payment arrangement documents. Only a licensed attorney can represent you in court.
- Why did I receive a letter from an outside/private attorney about my court case?
  Private attorneys send solicitation letters to try to gain clients. We do not sell or provide your information to any attorneys outside our office. Your information is obtained by these attorneys from the court’s public database after a lawsuit is filed against you.
  
  While it is your right to hire an attorney, we are more than happy to work with you directly to resolve your case.
- What if I already hired an attorney?
  Please have your attorney contact our office on your behalf. We are prohibited from speaking with you once you have hired an attorney.
- Do I owe for other tax years?
  Our office only handles tax years that are referred to our office for collection. To find out if you owe taxes for other years, please contact the Revenue Division.
- What is a garnishment?
  A garnishment is a legal process for collecting a monetary judgment on behalf of a plaintiff from a defendant. The City employs the garnishment process to recover money owed after a judgment if you don’t set up a payment plan and/or make your payments timely.
  
  A garnishment runs to a date certain. After the money from the garnishment has been received from the court, you can set up a payment arrangement for the remainder. Contact our office at 816-513-3105 to set up a payment arrangement.
- Your garnishment froze my bank account. What can I do?
  Typically, your account will remain locked until the return date of the garnishment. Generally, we will not release your bank account unless you pay the full amount due in certified funds (cash, cashier’s check, or money order). This payment must be made in person in our office in City Hall. Our office does not know how much money is in your bank account and will not know until the money is sent to our office by the court. Please contact your bank with any questions about their procedures.
- You are garnishing my wages. What can I do?
  Your employer is required to withhold a certain amount from your check pursuant to Missouri law. Typically, we will only release a wage garnishment if you pay the full amount due in certified funds (cash, cashier’s check, or money order). This payment must be made in person at our office in City Hall.
- I previously filed bankruptcy and received a discharge. Why do I still owe taxes to the City?
  There are several provisions within the bankruptcy code that determine whether your taxes were discharged. Many times, a bankruptcy discharge does not include City taxes. We encourage you to contact your bankruptcy attorney with questions about the effect of your discharge.