|
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Property Tax
When are taxes due?
Tax bills for each
year are mailed in October. Taxes are due upon receipt of a statement. In
order to be timely, payment of taxes must be paid in person or postmarked on or
before the due date. If you mail payment for your taxes, the envelope must be
postmarked not later than January
31st.
What if I don't receive a tax bill?
If you do not receive
a bill, please contact our office or access our website for a copy of your bill.
Failure to receive a tax bill does not affect the validity of the tax, penalty,
or interest, the due date, the existence of a tax lien, or any procedure
instituted to collect a tax (sec.31.01 (g), Texas Property Tax Code).
I received a tax statement but my taxes are
paid by my mortgage company. What should I do?
Original tax
statements are sent to all taxpayers. A duplicate statement will be mailed to
your mortgage company if requested by them. If your mortgage company did not
request the statement, write your loan number on the statement and send it
immediately to the mortgage company.
What happens if I can not pay my taxes by the
due date?
If
taxes are not paid by January 31st, penalties and interest will
accrue are follows:
|
IF TAX PAID
IN :
|
ADD
|
IF TAX PAID IN :
|
ADD
|
|
|
PENALTY
|
|
INTEREST
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
PENALTY
|
|
INTEREST
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
FEBRUARY
|
6%
|
+
|
1%
|
=
|
7%
|
MAY
|
9%
|
+
|
4%
|
=
|
13%
|
|
MARCH
|
7%
|
+
|
2%
|
=
|
9%
|
JUNE
|
10%
|
+
|
5%
|
=
|
15%
|
|
APRIL
|
8%
|
+
|
3%
|
=
|
11%
|
JULY
|
12%
|
+
|
6%
|
=
|
18%
|
Penalty reaches a 12% maximum and interest will increase 1% each month
thereafter.
Personal property and
mobile home accounts not paid in full by March 31st of the year in
which they become delinquent will be referred to the delinquent
tax attorney
for enforced collection, and will incur an additional penalty equal to 15% -
20% of the total taxes, penalties, and interest due.
All real property
accounts not paid in full by June 30th of the year in which they
become delinquent will be referred to the delinquent
tax attorney
for enforced collection, and will incur an additional penalty equal to 15% -
20% of the total taxes, penalties, and interest due.
Who is responsible for paying taxes?
State law
automatically places a tax lien on property on January 1 of each year to ensure
that taxes are paid. The person who owns or acquires a property on or after
January 1 of the tax year is personally liable for the tax. A person is not
relieved of the obligation because he no longer owns the property. (Sec. 32.07,
Texas Property Tax Code).
What form of payments do you accept for
property taxes?
We accept cash in
person and checks, cashier's checks or money orders in person or by mail.
Credit card payments can be made in our office with an additional convenience
fee.
Do you accept partial payments?
Partial payments are
accepted; however, any remaining amount not paid by January 31st
will begin to accrue penalty and interest. Should you wish to make partial
payments beginning in October when you receive your statement, please write you
property account number on your check with the words "Partial
payment" in remarks.
What kinds of payment options are available
to taxpayers with an over-65 or disabled person exemption?
ONLY taxpayers with
an Over-65 or Disabled Person Exemption may pay current taxes on their
homestead residence in four installments without penalty or interest; however,
the taxpayer MUST request the quarter payments in writing and MUST pay at
least:
1/4 by January 31st
1/4 by March 31st
1/4 by May 31st
1/4 by July 31st
If an installment is missed, the 6% penalty
is imposed and interest begins to accrue.
If I miss paying my taxes on time, can I
request a waiver of penalty and interest?
A request for a
waiver of penalty and interest must be made before August 1st after
the delinquency and in writing to:
Special Audit
P.O. Box 90223
Denton, Texas 76202
Penalty and Interest
may only be waived on a delinquent tax if an act or omission of an officer,
employee or agent of the taxing unit or appraisal district caused or resulted
in the taxpayer's failure to pay the tax before delinquency.
(sec.33.011 (a) & (d), Texas Property Tax Code).
What are exemptions and how do I file for an
exemption?
Exemptions reduce the
taxable value of your property and lower the tax amount billed. Common
exemptions are General Residence Homestead, Disabled Person exemptions, Disable
Veteran or Survivors of a Disabled Veteran and Over-65 exemptions. To file
for an exemption, contact the appraisal
district
in your county.
My address is not correct on my bill, how do
I get it corrected?
Contact
the appraisal
district
in your county.
|
