Property Tax

Harris County property owners can search tax accounts, review statements, make full or partial payments, obtain receipts, and manage certain payment arrangements through systems operated by the Harris County Tax Office. This article explains which office handles each part of the property tax process, how to use the official payment platform, what information to prepare, when payments are considered timely, and which mistakes can delay or misdirect a transaction.

Property Tax Office Responsibilities

The Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar is responsible for collecting property taxes handled by the Harris County Tax Office. Its services include tax statement searches, payment processing, receipts, installment arrangements, delinquent account information, overpayment records, tax certificates, and certain tax sale functions.

The Tax Office does not make every decision that affects a property tax bill. The Harris Central Appraisal District, commonly identified as HCAD, handles property values, exemptions, and changes to the tax billing address. This division of responsibility is one of the most important distinctions for property owners.

Contact HCAD rather than the Tax Office when the issue concerns:

The appraised or taxable value of the property.
A residential homestead or other property tax exemption.
A change to the tax billing address.
Approval of an exemption that may result in a tax refund.

Contact the Harris County Tax Office when the issue concerns:

The amount currently due on a tax account.
A property tax payment or receipt.
A payment that has not posted.
A current or delinquent payment arrangement.
An overpayment or outstanding refund check.
A property tax certificate or tax sale procedure.

Sending a valuation or exemption question to the Tax Office can delay the response because those matters must be resolved through the appraisal district before the Tax Office can adjust the tax account.

Official Property Tax Platform

MyHarrisCountyTax is the official online property tax payment platform of the Harris County Tax Office. Property owners can use it to locate accounts and make payments without visiting a branch office.

A user does not have to create a profile to make a payment. Creating one, however, provides access to additional account-management features. A registered user can link and pay multiple properties, receive email reminders of due dates, enroll in available payment plans, arrange recurring payments, review past payments and bill history, and save payment methods, receipts, and documents.

Before beginning an online search or payment, have the property tax account number available whenever possible. The property address may also be useful, but the account number provides a more direct way to identify the correct record. Owners with multiple properties should verify the account number, property address, tax year, and amount shown for each account before submitting payment.

Statements and Account Records

The tax statement search and payment record system can be used to review property tax information and access available statements or receipts. This can help when a paper statement was misplaced, was sent to an outdated address, or was not received.

A tax statement is not required to make a payment as long as the payer has the correct account number and knows the amount due. Property owners remain responsible for confirming that a bill has been issued and paid on time. The Tax Office states that an owner who has not received a bill by the middle of December should request another statement or look up the account online.

Do not assume that the absence of a mailed statement postpones the payment deadline. Penalty and interest may still apply when a property owner does not receive the bill.

Property Tax Due Date

Property tax payments are generally due by January 31 to be considered timely. When January 31 falls on a weekend or Harris County holiday, the next business day is honored as the timely payment date.

The applicable transaction or receipt date depends on the payment method. The Tax Office recognizes the following dates for determining whether a payment was timely:

The United States Postal Service postmark date for qualifying mailed payments.
The receipt mark from a contract carrier such as UPS or FedEx.
The transaction date recorded by the Tax Office online payment portal.
The transaction date recorded for a telephone payment.

Property owners paying close to the deadline should review the completed transaction immediately and retain the confirmation. Entering an online payment after the deadline can result in a late transaction date even when the owner began searching for the account earlier.

Available Payment Methods

The Tax Office accepts several payment methods. The correct choice may depend on how quickly the payer needs confirmation, the number of accounts involved, and whether the payer is willing to pay a transaction charge.

The official property tax payment options page provides access to payment information maintained by the Tax Office.

Online Card Payments

Online payments may be made with accepted credit or debit cards. The referenced Tax Office information identifies American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa as accepted card brands. Full and partial property tax payments are permitted, and taxpayers may use a combination of credit cards and e-checks.

A nonrefundable surcharge of 2.40%, with a $1 minimum, is added to each credit card transaction. This surcharge is separate from the property tax amount. Review the total displayed before authorizing the payment, particularly when paying several accounts separately.

After the transaction is completed, save or print the confirmation. A receipt can be sent by email when an email address is provided. Users with a MyHarrisCountyTax profile can also retain payment history and receipts in the account.

E-Check Payments

An e-check is an electronic payment from a checking or savings account. Harris County real property, business personal property, mobile home, and mineral account taxes can be paid through the online platform by e-check. The referenced Tax Office fee is $0.50 for each e-check transaction.

Before submitting an e-check, verify:

The bank routing number.
The checking or savings account number.
The property tax account being paid.
The payment amount.
That sufficient funds are available.

Funds must be drawn from a United States bank. Credit card checks and home equity line checks cannot be used. Credit union members should confirm that they are entering the institution’s electronic routing number rather than another routing number printed for a different type of transaction.

An e-check payment cannot be reversed after it is submitted. If a payment was made incorrectly, the payer must contact the Tax Office about a possible refund arrangement. A payment rejected by the financial institution is subject to a $30 returned-item charge.

Payments by Mail

Checks and money orders may be mailed to the Tax Assessor-Collector. The payment should be made payable to Annette Ramirez. When available, include the payment coupon from the tax statement. If the coupon is unavailable, write the property tax account number on the check so the Tax Office can apply the payment to the intended account.

Owners paying more than one account should make the account allocation clear. An unidentified payment may require additional review, especially when the payer’s name does not match the owner name shown on the tax roll.

The mailing address for property tax payments appears in the department list at the end of this article.

Branch Office Payments

Property tax payments may be made at Harris County Tax Office branch locations. The accepted methods described by the Tax Office include cash, check, and credit card. Property tax payment appointments are not required, and branch offices accept walk-in payments.

The downtown office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is closed on Wednesdays. Holiday closures may also affect availability.

Tax Office locations have computers available for taxpayers who need to make an online property tax payment. Employees are available to assist with access to the payment system, although the taxpayer remains responsible for verifying the account and payment details.

Telephone Payments

The Tax Office accepts full and partial property tax payments through its touch-tone telephone payment service seven days a week. Accepted card types include American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa credit or debit cards.

The nonrefundable credit card surcharge also applies to telephone transactions. The payment date is the date the telephone transaction is entered. Keep the confirmation information provided during the call.

Receipts and Payment Posting

An electronic transaction receipt identifies the property tax account number, property address, payment amount, and payment date. Taxpayers can print the receipt after an online transaction, receive a copy by email when an email address is provided, or access stored receipts through a registered profile.

Online account records may not show the payment as fully completed immediately. The Tax Office states that an online payment may take up to 10 working days to post. During that period, the account can display a pending status while funds are being transferred.

A pending status does not necessarily mean the transaction failed. Before attempting a second payment, review the original confirmation, check the payment account, and allow for the stated posting period. Submitting another payment too quickly can create an overpayment.

Full and Partial Payments

The Tax Office accepts both full and partial property tax payments online. Partial payments may be made by credit card or e-check, including payments toward delinquent taxes.

When payments are made by mail, credit card, or telephone, the Tax Office applies them to current taxes before delinquent taxes. A taxpayer attempting to reduce a particular delinquent balance should verify how the payment will be allocated before submitting it.

Partial payments do not automatically prevent penalty, interest, or collection charges from being added to the unpaid balance. Paying part of the bill is not the same as entering a formal installment agreement.

Current Tax Payment Plans

For real property, taxpayers may make monthly payments through June. Penalty and interest begin on February 1 when the balance was not paid by the timely deadline.

If a balance remains at the end of June, the taxpayer may be able to enter into an installment agreement with the Tax Office. The agreement can allow the remaining tax, penalty, and interest to be paid over the following six months.

This type of arrangement does not eliminate penalty and interest. Its stated benefit is that a taxpayer who signs the agreement in June and makes the payments on time may avoid an additional collection fee of 15% to 20% on the outstanding balance.

Business personal property accounts follow a different schedule. Installment agreements are available only through April 1 for business personal property accounts that were noticed in February. After April 1, the additional collection fee of 15% to 20% applies to those accounts.

The Tax Office maintains an official property tax installment plan page for taxpayers reviewing available arrangements.

Delinquent Property Taxes

A property tax account becomes delinquent when the balance remains unpaid after the timely payment deadline. Penalty and interest begin to accrue under the schedule described by the Tax Office.

Full or partial delinquent payments can be made online by e-check. Card payments are also accepted through the available online and telephone methods. Taxpayers can use the delinquent property tax account search to locate information associated with an unpaid account.

Monthly arrangements for delinquent taxes must be made through the delinquent tax law firm rather than through the same process used for current-tax monthly payments. Taxpayers should determine whether the account has already been transferred for collection before requesting an arrangement.

Waiting until a collection fee has been added can substantially increase the amount owed. Taxpayers who cannot pay the full balance should review the official account information early rather than assuming that occasional partial payments create an installment plan.

Exemptions and Tax Refunds

Property tax exemptions are administered by HCAD. A property owner seeking a homestead exemption must apply through the appraisal district rather than submitting the application to the Tax Office.

The Tax Office provides a tax breaks and exemptions information page that directs users to relevant exemption and deferral resources. The listed topics include residential homestead exemptions, disability homestead exemptions, benefits for qualifying older or disabled property owners, disabled veteran information, military tax deferrals, and disaster installment payment plans.

When HCAD approves an exemption after the taxes have already been paid, the Tax Office processes the resulting refund. The refund check is generally issued to the name and address shown on the tax roll at the time the tax was paid.

Additional review may be necessary when the account involves a change of ownership, a tax agent, litigation, or a name change. A mortgage company’s payment does not prevent an exemption-related refund from being processed after HCAD approves the exemption, but the tax roll information determines the name and address used for the refund.

Overpayments and Refund Checks

An overpayment can occur when more than the required balance is paid, when duplicate payments are submitted, or when an approved account change reduces the amount that should have been collected.

The property tax overpayment and refund check page provides official information for users reviewing possible overpayments or outstanding refund checks.

Keep all payment confirmations when more than one person or organization may be paying the account. Duplicate payments can occur when an owner submits a payment without knowing that a mortgage company has already paid the bill. Reviewing the online account and recent payment history before submitting another transaction can reduce that risk.

Appointments and Tax Certificates

Appointments are not required for ordinary property tax payments. All branch locations accept walk-in property tax payments, and online payment is available for users who do not need in-person service.

The property tax appointment system is available for the downtown branch. Property tax payments and open records request services are available at branch offices, while other listed services may be limited to the Preston branch.

The appointment form requires information such as the requester’s name, phone number, email address, transaction type, branch, date, and time. The requester must also provide either the property tax account number or the property address.

A payment appointment is limited to five tax accounts. A person submitting payments for more than five accounts must schedule additional appointment time.

Tax Certificate Requests

Tax certificates require research before they can be issued. A requester must submit the research request form and wait to be notified that the research is complete before scheduling an appointment to pick up the certificate.

Tax certificates are not issued to walk-in customers at the cashier window. Arriving without completing the research stage can result in an unnecessary trip to the office.

Business Personal Property Bills

A business may receive a personal property tax bill even when it leases its building and does not own the real estate. Business personal property can include furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, inventory, and vehicles.

The business personal property assessment is separate from the tax imposed on the real estate. The real property statement is sent to the real estate owner, while the business may be responsible for the personal property account associated with its taxable equipment and other assets.

Businesses should not disregard a statement merely because they are tenants. Confirm the account type, property description, and owner name before deciding that the bill was sent in error.

Tax Rates and Jurisdictions

A Harris County property tax bill may include taxes imposed by several taxing units. The county, school districts, municipalities, utility districts, and other qualifying entities may each adopt their own tax rates.

The jurisdiction tax rate table allows users to search and sort information by jurisdiction code, taxing entity, tax year, adopted tax rate, maintenance and operations rate, debt rate, no-new-revenue rate, voter-approval rate, and other listed fields.

The adopted tax rate is the rate approved by the governing body of the taxing unit. The maintenance and operations portion supports operating expenses, while the debt rate supports the entity’s debt service. The no-new-revenue rate is calculated to show the rate that would produce the same revenue from property taxable in both the current and preceding tax year. The voter-approval rate is the highest rate a taxing unit may generally adopt before voter approval is required.

Each taxing unit is responsible for calculating and providing its rate information. A question about why a specific taxing unit adopted a rate may need to be directed to that unit rather than the Harris County Tax Office.

Property Tax Transparency

The property tax transparency database information page explains how owners can access information about proposed and adopted tax rates and how those decisions may affect their bills.

The transparency database is updated during August and September as local officials propose and adopt the rates used to calculate property taxes. Property owners may register for email notifications about database updates through instructions provided by HCAD.

Common Payment Mistakes

Many property tax problems result from incorrect account information or assumptions about how the process works. Review the following issues before completing a transaction:

Waiting for a mailed bill: A missing statement does not remove the owner’s responsibility to locate the account and pay by the deadline.

Contacting the wrong agency: Property value, exemption, and billing-address matters belong with HCAD, while collection and payment issues belong with the Tax Office.

Entering the wrong account: Match the property tax account number and address before paying, especially when an owner has several properties.

Using the wrong routing number: Credit union customers should verify the electronic routing number before submitting an e-check.

Expecting immediate posting: An electronic payment may remain pending and take up to 10 working days to appear as posted.

Attempting to reverse an e-check: An e-check cannot be reversed after submission. An incorrect payment may require a refund request.

Overlooking transaction charges: Card payments include a nonrefundable surcharge, and e-checks have a separate transaction fee.

Assuming partial payments stop charges: Penalty, interest, and possible collection fees can continue on the unpaid balance.

Making duplicate payments: Review recent account activity when a mortgage company, co-owner, or tax agent may also have submitted payment.

Arriving for a tax certificate without notice: Certificate research must be completed before the pickup appointment is scheduled.

Property Tax Offices

Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar
1001 Preston Street, Houston, Texas 77002
713-274-8000

Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Property Tax Payments
P.O. Box 4622, Houston, Texas 77210-4622
713-274-8000

Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Property Tax Correspondence
P.O. Box 4663, Houston, Texas 77210-4663
713-274-8000

Property Tax FAQs

Can I pay taxes for property I do not own?

Yes. The Harris County Tax Office allows a person to pay another owner’s property taxes by e-check. Before submitting the payment, confirm the tax account number, property address, tax year, and amount. Paying the wrong account does not transfer ownership rights or create a legal interest in the property. Because an e-check cannot be reversed after submission, save the electronic receipt and verify every account detail before authorizing the transaction.

Why is a mailed check payable to the tax assessor-collector?

The Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector is an office established by the Texas Constitution. The person holding that office is responsible for collected funds until they are deposited with the county treasurer. That is why checks and money orders are made payable to the current tax assessor-collector rather than simply to Harris County. The official property tax frequently asked questions explain this constitutional responsibility.

Can a mortgage company submit one electronic payment?

Large taxpayers and mortgage companies may use the Harris County Tax Office Commercial Portfolio program to pay multiple accounts through ACH. The program does not limit the number of accounts included in one payment, but the Tax Office does not process this type of electronic payment for fewer than five accounts from one taxpayer. Individuals paying a smaller number of accounts should use the regular online payment system instead.

Are bank details protected during online payment?

The official MyHarrisCountyTax payment platform encrypts information submitted during a transaction. According to the platform, personal data is not sold, and payment information is not shared with parties outside the transaction process. Taxpayers should still use a private device and secure internet connection, verify that they are on the official website, and close the browser after completing the payment.