FULL PAYMENT OPTION:
You have from October 1 of the tax year to January 31 of the following year to pay the full amount of your taxes without penalty or interest. Taxes become delinquent on February 1st. Any unpaid balance will accrue penalty and interest at the following rates:
February – 7%, March – 9%, April – 11%, May – 13%, June – 15%, July – 18%.
1% will be added for each additional month the tax or portion of tax remains unpaid. Taxes remaining due are subject to an additional collection fee of 15%.
SPLIT PAYMENT OPTION:
Each year of tax may be paid in TWO EQUAL PAYMENTS. The first half must be paid on or before November 30 of the tax year to qualify for this payment option. The remaining half payment may be made without penalty or interest on or before June 30 of the following year. Original tax statements include payment stubs with half payment information.
Taxes which become delinquent in a split payment plan accrue 12% penalty and 1% interest in the first month of delinquency. Any portion of tax that remains delinquent will accrue an additional 1% interest per month until paid in full. On September 1st, taxes remaining are subject to an additional collection fee of 15%.
QUARTER PAYMENT OPTION:
Installment Plan
Sec. 31.031 of the Property Tax Code provides for payment in 4 equal installments on certain qualifying homestead properties. This payment option is available to individuals who are disabled/disabled veteran/surviving spouse of a disabled veteran or at least 65 year of age. Late payment will be charged penalty and interest per the Texas Property Tax Code.
Installment Schedule
1st installment due on or before - January 31
2nd installment due on or before – March 31
3rd installment due on or before - May 31
4th installment due on or before - July 31
**Note: A notice that the owner intends to pay the tax in the four installments should accompany the first installment.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Property tax payments should be made payable to:
Melissa Leonard, Tax A/C
Property tax payments (by check only) should be mailed to:
Brazos County Tax Office
4151 County Park Ct.
Bryan, TX 77802
All payments must be made in United States currency. Cash, checks, money orders and cashier’s checks are acceptable.
CREDIT CARD / DEBIT CARD
IN PERSON
You may make full or partial payments using credit or debit by using any of the following credit card providers:
A 1.99% transaction fee + $0.25 convenience fee will be applied to the total bill.
ON-LINE
NOTE: Once a payment is submitted online and/or over the phone, accounts are locked until the transaction is fully processed by the tax office.
At the homepage of this site, click on the ‘Search and Pay Property Taxes’ radio button displayed. You may make full or partial payments using credit or debit by using any of the following credit card providers:
A 1.99% transaction fee + $0.25 convenience fee will be applied to the total bill.
BY PHONE You may also make a payment by phone. Please call 979-364-0485 for our automated system.
A 1.99% transaction fee + $0.25 convenience fee will be applied to the total bill.
NOTE: There is no maximum payment by phone. Once a payment is submitted online, accounts are locked until the transaction is fully processed by the tax office, .
E-CHECK
ON-LINE At the homepage of this site, click on the ‘Search and Pay Property Taxes’ radio button displayed. You may make full or partial payments using an E-CHECK.
NOTE: Once a payment is submitted online, accounts are locked until the transaction is fully processed by the tax office, .
The fee to pay by e-check online is a flat rate of $0.50.
BY PHONE
You may also make a payment by phone. Please call 1-979-364-0485 for our automated system.
A $0.50 fee applies to echeck payments submitted by phone.
NOTE: There is no maximum payment by phone.
BY MAIL
Please make your check, money order, or cashier's check payable to Melissa Leonard, Tax Assessor Collector, include the Property ID, and if possible, enclose the copy of your tax statement with your payment. Please be sure to have your envelope postmarked by the post office on or before a deadline date. If your envelope is postmarked after a deadline date, you will be charged penalty and interest for that payment per Section 31.02 (a) Texas Property Tax Code.
DROP BOX
Payments dropped in either external drop box must be made by close of business (5:00PM) to be credited on that date. Payments dropped after 5:00 PM, Central Standard Time are considered next day payments and may result in accrual of penalty and interest.
Secure payment boxes are located at both the entrance of the tax office and in drive through lane 1. Payments should be placed in an envelope with account information for accurate processing.
ABOUT PAYMENTS
Q. Why do I make checks payable to Melissa Leonard Tax A/C?
The office of County Tax Assessor-Collector was created by the Texas Constitution. Under the Constitution’s provisions, the Assessor-Collector is personally liable for the funds collected and therefore under statute must be deposited in separate bank accounts under his/her control. The Assessor-Collector is relieved of this responsibility and liability when reports are completed and the funds remitted to the County Treasurer or any other entity the office collects for.
Q. Can I make monthly payments on my current taxes?
Prepayment of taxes is not provided by the county tax office. However, you can make partial payments on your current taxes from the time tax statements are mailed until January 31st. Any unpaid balance remaining on February 1 will begin to accrue penalty and interest until paid in full.
Q. Can I make monthly payments on my delinquent taxes?
Partial payments on delinquent taxes are also accepted. In some situations, formal payment agreements can be made which provide for specific protections. Penalty and interest continues to accrue on any unpaid balance.
Q. If I choose the split payment option, can I make partial payments?
No. A partial payment cannot be made on either the first half or second half payment. The option to pay in “half payments” must be made in two equal payments.
Q. Why do I have to pay penalty and interest when I never received a bill?
As a property owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that you receive a bill and that it is paid on time. The statements are mailed and the taxes are due at the same time each year. If you have not received a bill by mid-November, you should call and request that another one be mailed to you. You are also able to call and get an amount due over the phone as soon as the tax rolls are calculated, or look up your account on the website. The website provides an option to sign up for E-alerts on your property tax account. Once you register for an E-alert, a notice that includes a link to your account will be emailed and/or texted to you as soon as a new tax roll is available each year. It is not necessary to have a statement to make a payment as long as you have your account number and know the correct amount. You can either mail or take your payment to the Brazos County Tax office. You may also make payments online or by phone.
TAX STATEMENTS
Q. I paid off my house and my mortgage company will not be paying my taxes this year. How do I make sure that I receive my tax statement?
Whether requested by a mortgage company or not, a statement is automatically mailed to each property owner in Brazos County. The statements are typically mailed out by mid-October of each year. If you have not received your statement by mid-November, it is your responsibility to notify us and request another statement. Taxes are due upon receipt, and should be paid no later than January 31st of the year following the year the tax statements are mailed to avoid penalties and interest for late payment.
Q. Can you send me a statement on my taxes for part of the year?
No. The Texas Property Tax Code does not provide for partial or prorated tax bills.
Q. This is not my property. What shall I do with this statement?
If you know the name of the owner, please return the statement to this office with the name of the owner. If you do not know the name of the owner, return the statement with that notation.
Q. Why am I getting a delinquent tax bill on a parcel I just purchased?
The tax laws require this office to mail delinquent tax bills to the current owner of real estate, rather than to the previous owner. Because a tax lien exists against that parcel, it is in the current owner's best interest to have knowledge of that lien. If a lawsuit were filed to foreclose the lien, the current owner (not the previous owner) risks losing the property to foreclosure.
Q. Who am I paying taxes to?
The specific taxing entities you pay taxes to are listed on your tax statement. The Brazos County Tax Office provides collection services to the following entities:
Brazos County
City of Bryan
City of College Station
City of Kurten
City of Navasota
Bryan ISD
College Station ISD
Navasota ISD
Emergency Services #1
Emergency Services #2
Emergency Services #3
Emergency Services #4
Q. I received a bill for personal property taxes, but I do not own any real estate; I just lease it for my business. Why am I receiving a bill on property I do not own? Should the property owner be paying this?
All businesses are taxed on their personal property, such as furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, inventory and vehicles. Most likely, the bill that you received is for your business personal property and not for the real estate itself. The real estate is taxed separately and the tax statement is sent to the property owner.
Q. I received my tax statement and it does not show my exemption. Why?
Perhaps you have not filed the proper affidavit with the appraisal district. You are entitled to a homestead exemption if you own your home on January 1 and it is your primary residence. In order to receive a homestead exemption, an affidavit must be filed with the Brazos Central Appraisal District. All exemptions, such as homestead, over 65, disabled persons, and disabled veterans require execution of an affidavit with the Brazos Central Appraisal District. You can obtain forms directly from Brazos Central Appraisal District by calling 979-774-4100.
TAX SALES
Q. Can the delinquent tax attorney sell my property for unpaid taxes?
It is possible that property can be sold for delinquent taxes. A lawsuit for tax lien foreclosure can be filed and a judgment subsequently granted by the court. The delinquent tax attorney, with the approval of the Brazos County Tax Assessor Collector, can then proceed with tax sale procedures.
Q. What is the procedure for purchasing property with delinquent taxes?
Property can be bought for delinquent taxes only after a lawsuit for tax lien foreclosure has been filed, and a judgment for taxes has been granted by the court.For additional information, please contact the law firm that administers delinquent tax sales on behalf of Brazos County.
McCreary, Veselka, Bragg, and Allen (MVBA)
979-775-1888
www.mvbalaw.com
Truth in Taxaion Five Year Summary of Tax Rates
The Brazos County Tax Office bills and collects Brazos County local fees connected to various liquor licenses held. The authorization for the fees can be found in Section 11.38 of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code. For billing questions, please contact the Brazos County Tax Office Accounting Division at 979-775-9930.
For information on applying for a permit or license and associated fees for Brazos County locations, please contact the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) office listed below:
Primary Licensing Office
Bryan Office - Licensing and Enforcement/Audit and Investigations Personnel
1716 Briarcrest Drive, Suite 508
Bryan, TX 77802-2700
(979) 260-8222
Fax: (979) 260-8224
8:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday - Friday
For all additional assistance please visit the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Website;
PLEASE CONTACT THE BRAZOS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT FOR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS REGARDING THE FOLLOWING TOPICS:
BRAZOS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT
4051 Pendleton Dr.
BRYAN, TX 77802-2465
979-774-4100
www.brazoscad.org