Missouri 2026 State of the State Address: Will individual income tax be a thing of the past?

The Missouri governor’s 2026 State of the State address called on the MO Legislature to carve a pathway to eliminate the individual income tax and place it on the ballot for voter approval.

"The question before Missourians will be clear: Should Missouri begin a phased elimination of the individual income tax, with a full repeal within the next five years," Gov. Mike Kehoe said in the speech.

While this may sound like a taxpayer victory, many are skeptical that Missourians will truly benefit from this change. The concern lies in an expected sharp increase in sales tax, potentially meaning that any gains from a lack of income tax could be rendered useless.