EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
Most people dug deeper in their wallets at the end of December to pay their property taxes on their homes, and in Seward County, many paid those under protest because of the massive increase that exceeded the Revenue Neutral Rate included questions of whether the commission followed statute.
What many may not know is the mill levy also affects the amount of annual taxes charged on automobiles as well.
According to the Kansas Department of Revenue, automobiles are considered taxable personal property, and the rate calculation includes the local mill levy.
For example, if someone owned a 2024 Chevy Tahoe LS and originally paid $57,195, their 2026 taxes would be $1,173.76 in Seward County according to the KDOR Vehicle Property Tax calculator which can be accessed at https://mvs2.dmv.kdor.ks.gov/vehiclepropertytaxlookup/.
The way the tax is calculated is by taking the original Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price and then depreciating that value by 15 percent for each year after the original year. That number is then taken at 30 percent, and then that number is multiplied by the local mill levy to determine the taxable value.
When Seward County passed a massive property tax hike, albeit under protest by many taxpayers in the community, that new rate is then added to the calculation in determining the taxes paid by vehicles owners.
Many believed the massive tax hike only affected those who own homes, but that is not the case. All taxable personal property also pays at the local rate established by the mill levy.
It was unclear as of press time if a taxpayer could protest their vehicle taxes the same way they protest their home taxes. Vehicle taxes are collected throughout the year and are divided by the first letter of the vehicle owner’s last name as to which month they pay their vehicle taxes.
If the mill levy increase is repealed by the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals, refunds of the higher rate should be issued to not only those who paid the higher rate for their home taxes, but also for those who will be paying higher rates for their vehicle taxes as well.
