August 19th, 2026 Local News
Jefferson City, Mo. (KFMO) - Missouri voters have overwhelmingly rejected Constitutional Amendment 5, a proposal that would have changed the state’s tax structure by phasing out the individual income tax and allowing expanded sales and use taxes.
The measure was defeated during the August 4, 2026 election. According to unofficial election results, 233,309 voters, or 16.684%, voted yes, while 1,165,085 voters, or 83.316, voted no.
Amendment 5 would have amended the Missouri Constitution to require the legislative phase-out and eventual elimination of the individual state income tax based on revenue growth. The proposal also would have allowed changes to sales and use taxes, modified certain limits on taxing goods and services, and required adjustments to some local tax rates if local sales tax revenue increased.
Supporters of the amendment argued eliminating the state income tax could make Missouri more attractive for businesses and residents by reducing the tax burden on income. Opponents argued the proposal could shift more of the tax burden onto consumers through expanded sales taxes and raised concerns about possible impacts on public services and local governments.
The defeat means Missouri’s current individual income tax structure will remain in place, and lawmakers will not move forward with the constitutional changes outlined in Amendment 5.
Tuesday evening, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe said, "throughout this conversation on eliminating the state income tax, we made the case that Missouri should think boldly about its future, challenge the status quo, and pursue policies that make our state more competitive." Kehoe shared that he believes that work is far from over, committing to working with the General Assembly in the years ahead on ways to continue cutting taxes, growing the state's economy, and pursuing conservative policies that will help Missouri families keep more of what they earn.