Mo. Rev. Stat. § 144.400
Except as in sections 144.010 to 144.510 otherwise provided, all suits for taxes herein required to be filed shall be filed in the county wherein the person resides or has a place of business or agent for the transaction of business in this state or where he or it may be found. If such suit be by attachment it shall be brought in the county wherein the property attached is located. Such suits may be heard by circuit or associate circuit judges in the same manner as other civil cases, with the amount of the tax being the amount demanded for purposes of determining whether the case may be heard and determined by an associate circuit judge without special assignment.
§ 144.400, RSMo
RSMo 1939 § 11438, A.L. 1941 p. 698, A.L. 1943 p. 1012, A.L. 1945 p. 1865, A.L. 1978 H.B. 1634