Property taxes in Texas are based on the January 1 market value of your property as determined by the county appraisal district (CAD). The CAD handles all ownership,
exemption and value information on your property. Under State law, appraisal districts make all changes to property records and certifies or provides the information
to tax assessor collectors thus if you have an address correction, although we will provide it to the proper appraisal district as a courtesty, it will make the change and
provide it to each tax office.
Each spring, CADs issue notices of appraised value, typically in April. You have until May 15th (or 30 days after the date of the notice whichever is later) to protest the
value. Please check our forms page for a copy of the booklet, Effectively Protesting Taxes.pdf for additional information on the protest process and attend classes
held each April and May. After the appraisal roll is certified, local governments adopt budgets and tax rates - typically during the latter part of the summer. During
the month of October, we produce tax statements and mail them to property owners and mortgage companies. Starting last year, we mail to both property owners
and mortgate companies due to a high number of mortgage refinancing and penalties and interest accruing on accounts in which a bill had not been sent. This
eliminated the issue with the wrong mortgage company requesting a statement. PLEASE NOTE: WE HAVE NO WAY OF REMOVING A MORTGAGE CODE ON
AN ACCOUNT. Sign up for estatements the first year you pay off a mortgage if you have doubts about receiving the statement.
Property taxes are delinquent February 1 (unless January 31st falls on a weekend). Unless you are taking advantage of a payment option (split or half pay or quarter
payments - meaning the total amount is divided by four), payments postmarked AFTER January 31st will incur hefty penalties and interest.
Having a hard time paying the property taxes on your homestead? Sign up for a low penalty payment agreement after February 1st. To avoid the burden of delinquent
attorney fees added July 1st, set up a payment agreement anytime after the delinquency date. Call the Property Tax Department (409) 766-2481 for additional information.
Payment Methods & Options
You have several methods of paying property taxes in Galveston County:
1. Click on the large red button and pay online via electronic check, debit or credit card (incurs fees - see #2)
2. Pay via telephone by calling 1-866-865-1433 (English) or 1-866-865-1435 (Spanish). Please note that electronic check incurs a $1 bank fee, debit card (except in person)
and credit cards incur a 2.5% bank fee. Debit cards in person incur a $3 bank fee.
3. Pay via US Postal Service (use envelope included with statement). Postmarks are everything so be sure to drop in the box BEFORE the last pick-up time or mail a couple
of days in advance of the deadline to insure the proper postmark.
4. Place payment in an envelope and drop in one of the yellow (black in Friendswood) payment boxes located outside each GCTO location (except Crystal Beach). PLEASE
NOTE DATE DROPPED IN THE BOX ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENVELOPE.
5. Come in person—we love seeing our customers!
Payment options include:
Homesteads of seniors, disabled persons, disabled veterans, spouses of a disabled veteran or Governor declared disaster victims may be eligble to make four equal
installments (by January 31, by March 31, May 31, and July 31) without penalty and interest. If in doubt, call us.
Split or half pay—for all but Dickinson and Dickinson ISD, you may divide your bill by two and, as long as the first half is paid by November 30th, the second half is
not due until June 30th (unless it falls on a weekend then the next business day) without penalty and interest!
E-Statements - Participate in Reducing the Cost of Government
Each year you may sign up to receive your property tax statement(s) via electronic mail (email) but must do so by September 15th. Click the large red button on the homepage,
locate your account(s) and scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up. Once you are signed up for e-statements you will receive a statement via email automatically every year.
In order to remove your request or update your email address please email us at
galcotax@co.galveston.tx.us.
Important Property Tax Deadlines are included at the Tax Office Events tab!
PROPERTY TAX FORMS
Request for Waiver of Penalty & Interest
Residence Homestead/Over 65/Disabled Person Application
Tax Deferral - Seniors and disabled persons are eligible to defer their property taxes which means they may be paid (once deferral approved) and if not, interest per year is added
to the unpaid balance.
Change of Name or Address Forms
Military Waiver
GCTO Government Tax Collection Partners (note Clear Lake Shores has zero property taxes)
Consolidated tax assessment and collection services saves property owners money. We charge less than $0.26 per parcel to assess and collect taxes for Galveston County governments
and $1.01 per parcel for partners with boundaries in Harris County such as the cities of Friendswood and League City. Beginning in 2019, fees will drop to $0.21/parcel for Galveston
County properties and $0.97 for Harris County parcels. If your governments are not included in the listing below - ask them why not! Our services are less than their cost to mail the bill!
Galveston County & County Road & Flood
All Cities except Clear Lake Shores (it does not assess a property tax). Cities include Bayou Vista, Dickinson, Friendswood, Galveston, Hitchcock, Jamaica Beach,
Kemah, League City, League City, Santa Fe, Texas City, Tiki Island
Dickinson ISD
Galveston ISD
High Island ISD
Hitchcock ISD
Galveston College
Bacliff MUD
Bayview MUD
Emergency Services District #1
Emergency Services District #2
GC Drainage District #1
GC Drainage District #2
GC Fresh Water Supply District #6
GC MUD #12
GC Navigation District #1
San Leon MUD
Tara Glen MUD
WCID #1
WCID #12
WCID #19
Westwood Management District
PID Assessments for League City - NEW FOR 2018!
Delinquent Taxes for Crystal Beach, MUD #1, MUD #2, MUD #3, MUD #29, SH MUD 3, SH MUD #6 and
the State of Texas
2018 Truth in Taxation Notices for Assessment & Collector Partners Listed Above
Although it seems Truth in Taxation is anything but, its legislative purpose is to insure the public has access to and knowledge of the actions of their local governments. With that in mind,
we are including the public meeting or hearing notices for each of our partner governments below. After all rates have been set, we will also include the five year summary of rates also
required to be published on each Texas County website.
Cheryl E. Johnson, PCC
Galveston County Tax Assessor Collector