Texas Property Tax Time

As you may know...Tax bills were sent out in most counties in early October.
In most cases, the deadline for paying your property taxes is Jan. 31. Taxes that remain unpaid on Feb. 1 are considered delinquent. Penalty and interest charges are added to the original amount.
Most property owners pay their property taxes before the year's end so they can deduct the payments from their federal income taxes. If you haven't received a tax bill because the ARB is still reviewing a protest on your property, you may make a conditional tax payment. You must pay either last year's tax amount for the property or the taxes due on the ARB order, whichever sum is less. Once the ARB sets a value, the tax collector will send you either a supplemental tax bill or a tax refund.
Check with the tax collection office on local payment options that may be available, such as:

• discounts, if you pay your taxes early;
• split payment of taxes, allowing you to pay half your taxes by Nov. 30 and the remainder by June 30 without any penalty;
• partial payment of your taxes;
• payment by credit card, with an additional fee of up to 5 percent;
• escrow agreements for a special year-round account; and
• work contracts, in lieu of paying taxes, for certain taxpayers doing certain duties.

installment payments for homestead taxes for persons aged 65 or older years of age or disabled are available to any taxpayer who qualifies. For more infomation please go to State of Texas Website at http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/remedy10/remedy10_8.html