When Are Property Taxes Due in Texas?

If you’ve lived in the Lone Star State long enough, there’s an undeniable fact you’re certainly aware of: Texas property taxes are high, especially compared to other states. There are several reasons why property taxes are so high in Texas, but it mostly comes down to the fact there is no personal income tax. While that might seem like a fair trade-off, the sales tax rate isn’t exactly low either, making the overall tax burden quite significant. And, while many have called for it, it doesn’t look like there will be substantial state tax reform anytime soon. There’s a good reason why Texans dread getting a tax statement in the mail. But when are property taxes due in Texas? Don’t fear the tax collector — we’ll take you through all the important due dates so you can stay on top of things.

When Are Texas Property Taxes Due Exactly?

The final Texas property tax due date is January 31st every year. Technically, your property taxes are due as soon as you receive a tax bill. However, you have until January 31st to pay without accruing interest fees or penalties.

Other Relevant Texas Property Tax Due Dates

In addition to the Texas property taxes due date for payment, there are further due dates and deadlines to be aware of.

The Texas Comptroller lists deadlines that impact you (the property owner), as well as your appraisal district and local taxing unit. We’ve compiled the Texas property tax due dates that are most likely to be relevant to you below, but be sure to check with your local appraisal district or tax assessor-collector for details on any specific questions you have.

January 1st: Property values are determined for the year, and the exemption qualifications are set. A tax lien is placed on all property to ensure pay each tax bill is paid.
January 10st: If your tax bill (for the previous year) is mailed after this date, the date for delinquency is delayed.
January 31st: Your Texas property taxes are due. It’s also the last day for individuals who qualified for exemptions to notify authorities if they intend to pay in installments (and the first installment is due).
February 1st: The delinquency date — if you didn’t pay, you now owe delinquent property taxes.
March 31st: Second installment of tax payment is due for those who qualified.
April 30th: Deadline for property owners to file various applications with their appraisal district (certain exemptions, requests, etc.).
May 2nd: Taxing units start to notify those who owe delinquent property taxes that they will get hit with additional penalties on July 1st.
May 31st: Third installment of tax statement is due for qualifying individuals.
July 1st: The biggest penalty of the year hits for those in delinquency.
July 31st: Fourth installment of payment plan is due for those who qualified.
September 1st: Appraisal districts must have their budgets set for the next year.
September 29th: Taxing units must set their tax rates.
October 1st: The tax assessor’s office starts mailing out tax bills for the property taxes due the following January.

Again, this is just a partial list of Texas property tax due dates to keep in mind. Certain dates may differ by county, so check your appraisal district or tax assessor’s website. But no matter where you are in Texas, your tax bill is always due on January 31st.

How to Pay Property Tax in Texas

Instead of asking, “When is my property tax due in Texas?” you may be wondering, “How do I pay?” We’ve got that info for you below.

There are a variety of different payment methods accepted for paying your Texas property taxes. However, the specific procedures and methods differ by county or appraisal district. We’re listing some examples below for counties that people often inquire about — if yours isn’t listed, check the official website for your area to learn more.

Paying Property Taxes in Smith County

To pay Smith County property taxes, you can:

Pay by phone, mail or online.
Use check, electronic check or credit/debit card (with a convenience fee).

Paying Property Taxes in Williamson County

There are a variety of Williamson County payment options for your property taxes, including:

Online
Standard Mail
In-Person
Phone
Drop Box
Bank Bill Pay
Partial/Quarterly Installments

There are other methods available, and Williamson County offers different ways to pay for each (i.e., check, credit card, etc.), though some may incur nominal transaction fees.

Paying Property Taxes in Denton County

The Denton County Tax Assessor-Collector accepts the following:

Checks (including eChecks)
Visa
MasterCard
Discover

There is a convenience fee of around 2.30% when paying Denton County property taxes by credit card.

Paying Property Taxes in Collin County

Home to most of Plano, Texas, Collin County encourages residents to pay property taxes online using:

eCheck
Credit Card
Debit Card
Discover

However, there is still the option to pay by mail or at a Collin County tax office.

Paying Property Taxes in Dallas County

In Dallas County, Texas, property taxes can be paid in the following ways:

At a tax office
On the Dallas County website
Through the mail
Over the phone
Via wire transfer

There are different options for paying these ways, with fees attached to card transactions.

Paying Property Taxes in Harris County

To pay Harris County property taxes, you can:

Visit a tax office and use cash, check, money order or credit/debit card.
Mail in a check or money order.
Pay online with credit/debit card or eCheck.
Submit an eCheck or charge by phone.
Via wire transfer

See the Harris County Tax Assessor’s website for more information.

What Happens if You Missed When to Pay Property Taxes in Texas?

When there are property taxes due, Texas residents can’t always pay right away. Unfortunately, that can lead to a whole host of problems.

If you miss the January 31st Texas property tax due date, the issues will start to compound immediately.

You’ll be considered delinquent as of February 1st.
The penalties and fees will start to pile up monthly.
Your home could be foreclosed and sold at a tax sale.

Obviously, each of these will negatively impact your life in a multitude of ways. The simple fact is that you can’t go long without paying property taxes in Texas.

When Do You Pay Property Taxes in Texas If You’re Delinquent?

You need to pay off your delinquent property taxes as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more debt will pile up. Also, paying in full is the only way to release the tax lien on your property. As long as the lien exists, the tax collector has the option to foreclose your property.

The fastest and most efficient way to pay is with a property tax loan — and Tax Ease is your best option.

Don’t Let the Texas Property Tax Due Date Sneak Up On You — Let Tax Ease Help

If you’ve already asked, “When are property taxes due in Texas?” and realized that you’re not going to make the deadline, all hope is not lost. Fill out an application with Tax Ease, and we’ll get you a loan that will pay off your debts quickly. And, we’ll make sure you can repay us on a schedule that works with your budget. Reach out to us today!

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