Missouri prejudgment interest rate
United States Missouri prejudgment interest — 9% for some non-tort claims; tort rules have two stages.
→ All Missouri judgment & prejudgment interest rates
Statutory formula / table Formula rate
2026 Missouri prejudgment interest at a glance
- Current rate
- 9% non-tort; tort rule varies per year
- Effective date
- July 9, 2026
- Controlling authority
- Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 408.020, 408.040.3–.4
- Rate basis
- Statutory formula / table
- Source checked
- July 9, 2026
- Recorded history
- 1 data point
Missouri prejudgment interest is claim-specific. Liquidated or contract claims may use the 9% rule in §408.020. For qualifying tort claims, §408.040.3 awards prejudgment interest within the subsection that sets the tort judgment rate at the intended Federal Funds Rate plus 5 points; §408.040.4 separately sets a Federal Funds plus 3-point rate on the prejudgment-interest portion after it becomes part of the judgment.
When Missouri prejudgment interest applies
Prejudgment interest is NOT freely available; it is claim-type restricted.
When it starts accruing
TORT (§ 408.040.2): accrues from a date 90 days AFTER the demand/offer was received (per certified-mail return receipt), OR from the date the demand/offer was rejected without a counteroffer, whichever is earlier.
Simple or compound
Simple. The statute states a per annum rate and does not authorize compounding; Missouri courts apply § 408.020 and § 408.040 prejudgment interest as simple interest.
How the rate is set
Do not treat the two Missouri formulas as interchangeable. Section 408.040.3 uses intended Federal Funds Rate + 5 points for the tort judgment and contains the qualifying prejudgment-interest award. Section 408.040.4 separately applies Federal Funds + 3 points after the awarded prejudgment interest becomes part of the judgment.
→ Compare with the Missouri post-judgment interest rate (interest after judgment)
Liquidated or contract claims may bear 9% under § 408.020. For qualifying tort claims, § 408.040.3 awards prejudgment interest within the subsection that sets the tort judgment rate at the intended Federal Funds Rate plus 5 points. Section 408.040.4 separately says the judgment for prejudgment interest bears Federal Funds plus 3 points after entry. Because those are distinct stages, this reference record does not flatten the tort rule into one headline percentage. Not legal advice.
Current recorded observation
| Effective date | Rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2026 | 9% non-tort; tort rule varies | Statute |
Source & provenance
Observation recorded July 9, 2026 (00:00 UTC) from the cited source (Missouri — revisor.mo.gov):
https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=408.040
Cite this page
StatuteRates. “Missouri Prejudgment Interest Rate.” StatuteRates.com. Accessed today. https://statuterates.com/rates/missouri-prejudgment-rate/ Rate recorded under Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 408.020, 408.040.3–.4, effective July 9, 2026.