TEXAS PROPERTY TAX CALENDAR APPRAISAL PHASE

TEXAS PROPERTY TAX CALENDAR

APPRAISAL PHASE JANUARY 1 – MAY 15

 Lien attaches to property January 1 – lien extinguished when taxes paid to collectors.

 Appraisal District records property ownership and determines property value as of January 1.

 Appraisal District adds new records, removes old records and identifies property situs.

 Appraisal Districts review, approve or deny exemptions and special land use appraisals.

 Taxpayers submit renditions (required for business personal property).

 Chief Appraiser sends Notices of Appraised Value to taxpayers.

EQUALIZATION PHASE MAY 15 – JULY 20

 Chief Appraiser presents records to Appraisal Review Board (ARB).

 ARB reviews records prepared by the Appraisal District.

 ARB hears taxing unit challenges and taxpayer protests.

 ARB presents changes based on hearings to the Chief Appraiser and notifies property owners by written

order.

 ARB approves appraisal records by July 20.

 Chief Appraiser certifies appraisal roll to each taxing unit by July 25.

 Most changes to appraisal roll after certification must be reviewed by ARB.

ASSESSMENT PHASE JULY 25 – OCTOBER 1

 Assessor receives certified appraisal roll from the Chief Appraiser and presents it to the taxing units

governing body for review with budget preparation.

 Assessor calculates the effective and rollback tax rates.

 Taxing unit publishes the calculated rates and other financial information for taxpayer review.

 Taxing unit governing body holds public hearings, adopts tax rate and finalizes budget.

 Assessor calculates a bill for each taxpayer and mails by October 1 or as soon as practicable.

COLLECTION PHASE OCTOBER 1 – COLLECTED

 Taxes due when bill received and delinquent if not paid by February 1. Penalty and interest begins to

accrue on prior year taxes. The accrual of 6% penalty and 1% interest which increases by 1% each month

cannot be waived by the tax collector.

 Collectors send supplemental bills based on updates and changes from the Appraisal District and the ARB.

 Tax bills mailed after January 10, delinquency date is the first day of the next month that provides at least 21

days after date of mailing for payment of taxes.

 July 1 – 20% collection fee accrues against delinquent tax amount.

 Collectors send out delinquent bills and take legal action to secure payment of overdue taxes, penalties, and

interest. Failure to send or receive a tax bill does not affect the validity of the tax, penalty or interest, due

date, existence of a tax lien, or any procedure instituted to collect a tax.