If you've been on the lookout for your property tax bill, you're not alone. I put a call in to the Travis County Tax Assessor's office today and learned that some tax rates require voter approval next month at the November 8th election. Tax bills will be available online in mid-November, and property owners can expect to receive mailed notices by mid-December.
If You Bought a Property in Travis County in 2022:
The Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) may have your information updated on their website at property search, but the Travis County Tax Assessor may NOT have updated their billing information on their end at travis taxes! Why does this matter to you?
If you were a buyer, as always, the title company collected prorated taxes from the sellers at closing, with a credit given to you against the full amount of taxes due at the end of the year. If you do not have your property taxes and insurance escrowed with your lender, or you paid cash for your property, tax bills for 2022 may be sent to the person who owned the property as of January 1st, 2022, but you are still responsible for the payment!
Buyers, please remember you are liable for the property tax bill regardless of whose name is on the tax record at Travis County! If you have taxes and insurance escrowed with your lender, I highly recommend you contact your loan servicing company by the end of November to confirm they have the tax bill from Travis County and are paying on your behalf.
If you do not have taxes escrowed, please visit Texas Taxes in mid-November to obtain your 2022 property tax bill.
Tax bills are due by January 31, 2022. Late fees can accrue quickly, as Texas state law requires the Travis County Tax Assessor to apply a 7% penalty and interest on unpaid taxes beginning on February 1, 2023.
If You Sold a Property in Travis County in 2022:
Please be aware that you may get a property tax bill for a property you sold earlier in the year. You are not liable for this tax bill as the title company collected prorated taxes from you as the seller at closing, with a credit given to the buyer against the full amount of taxes due at the end of the year.
Please visit Travis Taxes to easily access information regarding your property taxes, including updates regarding the amount of taxes each entity that taxes your property will impose if the entity adopts its proposed tax rate.
To my knowledge, Travis County is the only county Tax Assessor's office in the Austin metro area that has implemented this change, but if you live in Williamson/Comal/Hays counties, I highly recommend you confirm your tax information as well.
As always, if you have questions about the market value of your home,or the ever-changing Austin real estate market, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Please email me at kimberly.zipfel@gmail or call/text at (512) 739-4560. I'd love to hear from you!
