Property taxes in Texas are based on the January 1 market value of your property as determined by the county appraisal district (CAD). This is the Appraisal phase of the tax calendar.   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. This is the Equalization phase of the tax calendar.  You have until May 15th (or 30 days after the date of the notice whichever is later) to protest the value.  Please check our homepage and this page for a copy of the booklet, Effectively Protesting Taxes.pdf for additional information on the protest process and attend classes held between April and June (June class is the Phase I - ARB protests portion).

 

After the appraisal roll is certified, local governments adopt budgets and tax rates - typically during the latter part of the summer. This begins the Assessment phase of the tax calendar.  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.  We recently were able to change the law to allow the waiver of penalty and interest if the incorrect mortgage company requested your statement.  The 2020 tax year will be the LAST year we will mail to both the owner and the mortgage company as we will have a mechanism to have the penalties forgiven. 

 

REGARDING MORTGAGE CODES - there is no way to remove a code as these only appear after a mortgage company requests the statement.  We suggest signing up for  e-statements the first year to pay off a mortgage if you have doubts about receiving the statement.

 

The Collection phase of the tax calendar starts when we begin to receive your payments.  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.  Those may be requested to be waived but there are few legal justifications for us to do so.

 

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 and set up a payment agreement (or anytime after the delinquent date - the sooner the better).  ALL property owners are eligible for an installment payment agreement but a downpayment may be required.  Call the Property Tax Department (409) 766-2481 for additional information.

• 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!

•  Can’t pay—call for a payment agreement.  We may be able to save you excessive penalties and interest on your unpaid balance!