Taxpayers who have not paid their delinquent 2009 taxes by June 30 will get hit by a big penalty, but there is a way to soften the blow, Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Leo Vasquez pointed out.
Taxpayers can reduce their overall bill – which will include a 23 percent penalty on the unpaid delinquent amount – by setting up an installment agreement before the June 30 deadline. “Eligible taxpayers can sign an installment agreement with my office and make a partial payment. Please call us today to see if you are eligible and to make these arrangements,” Vasquez urged. The number is 713-368-2000.
Taxpayers who make a partial payment, even without an installment agreement, also reduce the amount of delinquent taxes owed and thus the cost of the 23 percent penalty. “It makes a difference,” said Vasquez.
What’s at stake? What was a tax bill of $100 in January if paid on time, has grown to $115 with penalty and interest through June and will grow to $142 on July 1.
Whatever their choice, property taxpayers can follow Vasquez’s suggestion to ‘Skip the Lines’ and pay online or by telephone. Online or on the telephone, please allow a few minutes to finish the transaction by 11:59 p.m. CDT on June 30. Note that installment agreements cannot be executed online.
“For delinquent taxpayers with multiple properties, we will do only five agreements per taxpayer before sending them to the end of the line,” Vasquez warned. “If they have to do more than five at a time – and we’ve had people come in wanting to do 50 – this year they must come downtown to our office at 1001 Preston.
“We can’t let persons who have many delinquencies delay persons who have one delinquent account or are trying to conduct routine business,” he explained.
The Tax Office accepts full or partial payment of property taxes. Taxpayers may use any combination of credit cards and/or e-Checks for payment online at http://www.hctax.net/. Credit card and e-Check payments are also accepted by touch-tone telephone by calling 713-368-CARD (2273). We accept American Express, Discover and MasterCard credit cards, and VISA credit or debit cards. A non-refundable surcharge of 2.15 percent will be added to each credit card payment transaction processed. VISA debit cards will be charged a flat fee of $3.95. E-checks are free.
About 7,000 delinquent tax notices were sent to homeowners who are over 65 or disabled. These notices included a Harris County Appraisal District form to request a property tax deferral, which allows these homeowners to delay payment of their property taxes. Active military personnel may also qualify for a deferral/waiver.
If taxpayers wish to arrange for an installment agreement or a military deferral/waiver or have any other questions regarding their property tax account, taxpayers should contact the Tax Office at 713-368-2000. Taxpayers who are over 65 or disabled should complete the form enclosed with the notice and send it to the Harris County Appraisal District or call HCAD at 713-957-7800.
