HowDoPropertyTaxesWorkinTexas?
ACompleteGuidetotheTexasPropertyTaxProcess
Propertytaxesarelocaltaxesthataredeterminedbyyourlocalofficials.Thepropertytaxprocessstartsoffwithvaluingyourproperty, settingyourtaxrate,andfinallycollectingyourtaxes.
However,theentireprocessisgovernedbyTexaslaw.InTexas,propertytaxesareamajorsourceofrevenueandplayamajorpartin offeringgovernmentserviceswhencomparedtoanyothersource.Thepropertytaxcollectedisusedtopayfortheroads,streets,schools, police,fireprotection,etc.
PropertytaxstandardssetbytheTexasconstitution
Thestateconstitutionhassetupafewstandardsforpropertytax.Theseinclude:
Equality&Uniformity:
Thispropertytaxstandardmakessurethatallpropertiesaretaxedequallyandnotevenonesinglepropertypaysmorethanitsshare.
TangiblepropertiestobetaxedwithafewexceptionsattheirmarketvalueasofJanuary1st:
Themarketvaluereferstothepriceatwhichthepropertywouldsellforwithoutanypressureonthesellerorthebuyers’sidewithregards totheprice.Theexceptionsrefertoparks,agriculture,timber,etc.
Allpropertiesaretaxableunlessfederalorstatelawoffersanexemption:
ExemptionstoTexaspropertytaxcanbeappliedtopartoforallofyourproperty’svalue.Mostlocalitiesrequireyoutoapplyforan exemptiontopayingpropertytaxes.
Righttonotice:
Propertyownershavetherighttoreceiveareasonablenoticeiftheappraisalvalueofthepropertyincreases.
Propertiesintheappraisaldistrictcanhaveonlyoneappraisedvalue:
Yourcountycannotassigndifferentvaluestoyourproperty.Itmustusethesamevalue.
AnoverviewofhowtheTexaspropertytaxsystemworks
TherearethreemajorbodiesinvolvedintheTexaspropertytaxsystem:
AppraisalDistrict
Setsupthetaxablepropertyeveryyear.Thechiefappraiserisresponsibleforitsoperations.Findoutmoreaboutyourappraisaldistrict
AppraisalReviewBoard
Settlesdisagreementsonthevalueofthepropertybetweenthetaxpayerandtheappraisaldistrict.
Localtaxingunits
Decidehowmuchmoneytospendeveryyearwhichinturnisusedtodeterminethetaxrate.
WhatistheTexaspropertytaxprocess?
Valuingyourproperty
Protestingpropertytaxvalue
Adoptingyourlocaltaxrate
Collectingthetaxes
PropertytaxseasonanddeadlinesforTexans
January1
JanuarytoApril
May
tyappraisalbegins.Thetaxisdeterminedbasedontheproperty’smarketconditionsasofJanuary1.Market
Theapplicationsareprocessedbytheappraisaldistrictfortaxexemptions.
TheAppraisalReviewBoard(ARB)startswithhearingprotestsfromthepropertyownerswhothinktheirpropertyvaluesareincorrectby May15.OncetheARBisdonewiththisprocess,thechiefappraisergivesthetaxingunitsalistofpropertiesthataretaxable.Thisis calledtheappraisalroll.
SeptemberorOctober
Theelectedofficialsadoptataxrate.Asinglepropertycanbetaxedbymanytaxingunits,forexampleitcanbetaxedbyboththeschool districtandthecountyaswell.
OctoberandNovember
Thetaxbillsaresentouttothepropertyownersandthetaxcollectionbegins.TaxpayershavetimetopaytheirtaxestillJanuary31ofthe nextyear
February
Duringthismonththepenaltiesstartaccumulatingonthepropertytaxbillsthatarestilloutstanding.Thetaxingunitsstartlegalactionsif thetaxesbecomedelinquent.
KnowyourrightsasataxpayerinTexas
Thevalueofyourpropertyhastobethesameasthatofotherpropertiessimilartoyoursexceptincaseswhereitqualifiesforaspecial appraisal.
Anyexemptionsthatyouapplyandqualifyforgivesyoutherighttoreceivethem. Righttonoticeofchange.Youhavethisrightifthereisanychangeinthepropertyvalueorinexemptions. Youcanknowaboutataxingunit’staxrateincreaseandcommentonit.
Knowyouroptionsfortaxreductions
Asataxpayer,ifyoufeelyourpropertyisappraisedmorethanthemarketvalue,orifyouarenotgivenanexemption,youcanprotestor youcantakethecasetothecourt.
Taxpayershavetherighttospeakoutatpublichearingswhentheelectedofficialsdecideonhowtospendthetaxes.
Alongwithyourfellowtaxpayers,youcanlimityourtaxincreasesinanelection. Theresponsibilitiesofapropertytaxpayer
Applyforexemptionsbeforethedeadline.
Checkifthepropertyislistedrightintheappraisalrecords.
Forbusinesspersonalproperties,makesureyourenderiteveryyeartothechiefappraiser
Makesureyourtaxesarepaidontime.
Seekingthehelpofapropertytaxconsultant
Thetaxseasoncanbearealburdenforownersofresidentialorcommercialproperty.ButO’Connorcanhelpyousaveonyourproperty taxesthisyear.Wedonotbillyouforcourtcosts,appraisals,expertwitnessfeesorlegalfees.Youpayusonlyifwereduceyourtaxes! Getintouchwithoneofourexpertsandyouwillknowwhyweshouldbeyourfirstchoice.
PropertyTaxLocations
HoustonOffice (Corporate)
2200NorthLoopWest, Suite200Houston,TX 77018.
713-686-9955
AtlantaOffice (Byappointmentonly)
4751BestRoad,Suite 316CollegePark,GA 30337.
770-835-4126
DallasOffice (Byappointmentonly)
4101McEwenRd,Suite 200Dallas,TX75244.
972-243-9966
ChicagoOffice (Byappointmentonly)
75ExecutiveDrive,Suite 349Aurora,IL60504.
708-630-0944
SanAntonioOffice (Byappointmentonly)
8632FredericksburgRd, Suite105SanAntonio, TX78240.
210-226-0829
NewYorkOffice (Byappointmentonly)
70EastSunriseHwy, Suite500ValleyStream, NY11581.
934-203-9917