Historic Preservation Tax Credit (HTC)

Historic Preservation Tax Credit (HTC)

Supports restoration of qualifying historic Missouri properties through transferable state income tax credits.

Missouri's Historic Preservation Tax Credit (HTC) is administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development and awards a state income tax credit equal to 25 to 35 percent of qualified rehabilitation expenditures on certified historic structures. The credit is transferable, meaning recipients who do not have sufficient state tax liability may sell or transfer the credit to third parties, making the incentive accessible to a wide range of project sponsors. Projects must meet rehabilitation standards set by the Missouri State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the National Park Service.

Eligible applicants include for-profit entities, nonprofits, and individuals who own or lease qualifying historic properties in Missouri. The credit rate varies by project scale and structure: smaller and community-oriented projects may qualify for the higher 35 percent tier. The program has no single application deadline and operates on a rolling basis tied to when rehabilitation work is certified. There is no published annual cap on individual project credits, though the program operates within DED's overall tax credit authorization limits.

Applicants must obtain a Part 1 (historic significance) and Part 2 (rehabilitation plan) certification from SHPO before work begins, followed by a Part 3 (completed work) certification to claim the credit. Strong applications document adherence to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and demonstrate that all expenses are qualified rehabilitation costs. Historic tax credits are routinely combined with federal HTC (a 20 percent federal credit), making Missouri one of the more favorable states nationally for historic rehabilitation finance.