You can pay by cash or check at any of our 15 branch office locations throughout Harris County.

Payments by check only should be mailed to:
Don Sumners, Tax Assessor-Collector
P.O. Box 3547
Houston, Texas 77253-3547

Please make your check payable to Don Sumners, and if possible, enclose the coupon from your tax statement with your payment.

Online and telephone property tax payments by credit card or e-check are also accepted (see below for more information).

In order to obtain a duplicate VEHICLE REGISTRATION RECEIPT, the Harris County Texas Office will assist you in changing your address or providing a duplicate copy. (Please note the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) website does NOT does not provide receipts online.)

To apply for a duplicate VEHICLE REGISTRATION RECEIPT, complete and submit a Request for Texas Motor Vehicle Information (Harris County Tax Office Form MV-440) and indicate if an address correction is needed. Forms can also be found at any of the 15 Harris County Tax Office locations or download a copy by clicking here.

1. Check the following box: “I am the current recorded owner of the vehicle.”
2. Complete all boxes in the APPLICANT INFORMATION section, listing the homestead address where indicated.
3. Check the following box: “Title and registration verification of a vehicle record.”
4. Sign and date the form
5. Present a valid Texas Driver License or Texas ID (attach a photocopy when applying by mail). The address MUST MATCH the homestead address. If not, contact the Texas Department of Public Safety to correct. Otherwise, the Harris County Appraisal District will not grant the Homestead Exemption.
6. $2.00 duplicate Vehicle Registration Receipt fee is required.

Submit the completed form to the Harris County Tax Office:

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE MAIL:
Harris County Tax Office
Attn: Renewal Mail
P.O. Box 4089
Houston, Texas 77210-4089

DELIVER IN PERSON to any of the 15 Harris County Tax Office locations.

HOURS OF OPERATION: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

MAIN TELEPHONE NUMBER: (713) 368-2000

HARRIS COUNTY TAX OFFICE AUTO WEBSITE: www.hcauto.net

General Residence Homestead Exemptions: You may only apply for residence homestead exemptions on one property in a tax year. A homestead may include up to 20 acres of land that you actually use in the residential use (occupancy) of your home. Arbitrary factors that are unrelated to that use, such as acreage limits, matching legal descriptions, and contiguous parcels, may not be considered in determining if the land qualifies. To qualify for a homestead exemption, you must own and reside in your home on January 1 of the tax year. If you temporarily move away from your home, you still can qualify for an exemption if you don’t establish another principal residence and you intend to return in a period of less than two (2) years. Homeowners in military service outside the U.S. or in a facility providing services related to health, infirmity, or aging may exceed the two-year period.

Over-65 or Disability Exemptions: You may receive an over-65 or disability homestead exemption immediately upon qualification for the exemption. If you have not provided your birth date on this application, you must apply before the first anniversary of your qualification date to receive the exemption in that tax year. For example, if you turn 65 or are disabled on June 1 of the current year, you have until May 31 of the next year to apply for the current tax year’s over-65 or disability exemption. This special provision only applies to an over-65 or disability exemption and not to other exemptions for which you may apply.

Disability Exemptions. You are entitled to the exemption if you meet the Social Security Administration's tests for disability. In simplest terms: 1) You must have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment; 2) The impairment must prevent you from engaging in any substantial gainful activity; and 3) The impairment must be expected to last for at least 12 continuous months or to result in death. Alternatively, you will qualify if you are 55 or older and blind and cannot engage in your previous work because of your blindness. To verify your eligibility, attach a copy of your disability determination letter from Social Security (or other recognized retirement system), or have your physician complete and mail us the HCAD form titled Physician's Statement Verifying Eligibility for Disability Homestead Exemption.

Tax Limitations: The over-65 or disability exemption for school taxes includes a school tax limitation, or ceiling. Other types of taxing units – county, city, or junior college – have the option to grant a tax limitation on homesteads of homeowners who are disabled or 65 years of age or older.

100% Disabled Veterans: Certain disabled veterans are eligible for 100% exemptions for their residence homesteads. Current documentation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must be submitted to prove that the veteran receives full VA compensation and is either rated at 100% disabled or has a determination of unemployability from the VA.

Surviving Spouse Age 55 or Older: Age 65 or older – You qualify for an extension of this exemption if (1) you are 55 years of age or older on the date your spouse died and (2) your deceased spouse was receiving the over-65 exemption on this residence homestead or would have applied and qualified for the exemption in the year of the spouse’s death. You will not receive the school tax limitation for the over-65 exemption unless your spouse died on or after December 1, 1987

Disabled: You will not qualify for a disability exemption claimed by your deceased spouse. You are not entitled to continue the school tax limitation; however, you will be entitled to continue the local option county, city or junior college limitation.

Surviving Spouse Age 55 or Older: If your deceased spouse was receiving or qualified for the over-65 exemption at death, you may be entitled to receive the exemption, as well as the school tax ceiling if you were 55 years of age or older on the date of your spouse's death. If your deceased spouse received the disability exemption and not the over-65 exemption, you may be eligible for continuation of a tax ceiling granted by a city, county, or junior college, but you are not eligible for the disability exemption or the school tax ceiling.

For more details, please refer to the Exemptions website of Susan Combs, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

The Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) sets the taxable value of your property each year. Homestead exemptions affect the value of your property and must be approved by the Harris County Appraisal District. The Harris County Tax Office (HCTAX) only collects property tax and does not determine the value of the property or the tax amount owed

Please refer to the Guide to Understanding The Property Tax Process prepared by the Harris County Appraisal District for additional information.

To obtain a Homestead Exemption, please submit the completed APPLICATION FOR RESIDENTIAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION (Form 11.13 – 09/11) and submit it directly to the Harris County Appraisal District.

HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT CONTACT INFORMATION

OFFICE LOCATION:
13013 Northwest Freeway
Houston, Texas 77040-6305

MAILING ADDRESS:
P.O. Box 920975
Houston, Texas 77292-0975

OFFICE HOURS
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday

TELEPHONE INFORMATION CENTER
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday
(713) 957-7800

TDD for the Hearing Impaired:
(713) 957-5660

Switchboard:
(713) 812-5660

E-MAIL FOR ACCOUNT QUESTIONS
help@hcad.org

WEBSITE:
www.hcad.org

If your application was postmarked August 31, 2011 or sooner or if it has been granted, you do not have to file for that particular homestead exemption again.

However, if you apply for another homestead exemption, you must follow the new rules. For instance, you already have a General Residential Exemption but now can apply for the over-65 exemption. In this case, you have to follow the new rules to apply for the over-65 exemption.

If you do not own a vehicle, simply complete the Non-Ownership of Motor Vehicle Affidavit (found on page 4 of the Application for Residential Homestead Exemption), sign it before a Notary Public and attach a copy of a utility bill showing the homestead address.

To change your address for a Texas Driver License or Texas ID, simply go to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) website. To be eligible for an online change of address, you must have your current Driver License/ID card in your possession; valid credit card for $10.00 processing fee (MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express), the last four digits of your Social Security number, and ensure:

1. Texas Driver License or Texas ID is not currently expired.
2. At least 18 years of age.
3. Not currently suspended or have outstanding traffic tickets or warrants.
4. U.S. Citizen

Otherwise, go in person to one of the Texas DPS locations listed below.

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FEES:
$25.00 for a driver’s license (expiration 6 years)
$16.00 for an ID card (under 60 years of age and expiration of 6 years)
$6.00 for an ID card (over 60 years of age and an indefinite expiration date)

Texas DPS Statewide Information: (512) 424‐2600

To obtain a new Texas Driver License or Texas Identification Card (first time license or moving to Texas from out of state) go in person to a Texas DPS location. You will need to complete an application, provide proof of identity (proof of Social Security, birth certificate, or an out-of-state driver license), proof of vehicle registration, consent to be photographed, fingerprinted, and provide a signature. Passing a vision examination is required. First time applicants need to schedule a time for taking the driving test and pass both the driving and written test. Out of state applicants should apply within 90 days after entry into the state and need to be prepared to surrender their valid out-of-state driver’s license upon application.

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FEES:
$25.00 for a driver’s license (expiration 6 years)
$16.00 for an ID card (under 60 years of age and expiration of 6 years)
$6.00 for an ID card (over 60 years of age and an indefinite expiration date)

Texas DPS Statewide Information: (512) 424‐2600

Texas DPS Statewide Information: (512) 424‐2600

HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT CONTACT INFORMATION

OFFICE LOCATION:
13013 Northwest Freeway
Houston, Texas 77040-6305

MAILING ADDRESS:
P.O. Box 920975
Houston, Texas 77292-0975

OFFICE HOURS
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday

TELEPHONE INFORMATION CENTER
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday
(713) 957-7800

TDD for the Hearing Impaired:
(713) 957-5660

Switchboard:
(713) 812-5660

E-MAIL FOR ACCOUNT QUESTIONS
help@hcad.org

WEBSITE: www.hcad.org

The rendition penalty is a penalty created by the Texas Legislature on those businesses failing to file their business personal property rendition, or filing their rendition late, to the Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD).

The rendition penalty is generally equal to 10% of the amount of property taxes ultimately imposed on the property.

Your application letter must be received by the appraisal district within 30 days of the date you received your bill. Send a cover letter, a detailed explanation of the reason(s) for your failure to timely file, and a completed rendition form (or supporting statement, if the penalty relates to a supporting statement).

If the chief appraiser fails to approve your request for waiver, you may protest the decision to the appraisal review board.

• Are you refinancing with your current mortgage company? Congratulations – no further action is needed.
• Does your mortgage payment include escrow for taxes and insurance?
• Is your closing scheduled between November 15th and January 31st?