Paying property taxes, deadlines, and what happens if you're late (DRAFT – not published)

In short

Pay by Jan 31. On Feb 1, a penalty and interest are added, and they grow each month. If taxes stay unpaid, more fees are added in July, and the taxing units can sue. In the end, a court can order the property sold. There are payment plans, and homeowners get extra protections.

The 30-second version

• Due: When you get the bill. Late: if not paid by Jan 31.¹ For 2026 taxes, that is Sunday, Jan 31, 2027.²
• Feb 1: 6% penalty plus 1% interest (7% total) is added.³²
• Each month after: penalty goes up 1% until it hits 12% on July 1. Interest keeps adding 1% a month.³
• July: an extra collection fee can be added for taxes still unpaid.³
• Help: payment plans, partial payments, and (for 65+/disabled) quarter payments.²

Ways to pay

The county tax office takes payments online, in person, at drop boxes, by mail, and by phone.²

• E-check online: no fee. Card: 2.15% fee, at least $2.50.²
• Online on time: paid by 11:59 p.m. Central time on Jan 31.²
• Partial payments: accepted, but the rest still goes late on Feb 1.¹²
• Prepayments: you can pay ahead toward next year’s bill.²
• Mortgage escrow: many owners pay through their lender. Check that the lender paid.

Quarter payments and payment plans

Owners 65+, disabled or disabled veterans can pay in four parts.¹ Late homestead taxes can go on a 12 to 36 month plan.³ How both work: help paying property taxes.

How late charges add up

If paid in…	Penalty	Interest	Total added
February	6%	1%	7%
March	7%	2%	9%
April	8%	3%	11%
May	9%	4%	13%
June	10%	5%	15%
July (on or after July 1)	12%	6%	18%

Penalty and interest come from Tax Code §33.01.³ The table is our math from that section.⁴ Interest keeps adding 1% each month after July.

The July fee. Taxing units can hire a collection lawyer. For taxes still late on July 1, they can add a fee up to the amount in that contract. They must mail a notice first.³ (We could not find a set percent in the law text; ask the tax office what this county charges.)

Waivers. The law requires or allows penalty and interest to be waived in some cases, such as a tax office mistake. You must ask in writing within 180 days of the delinquency date.³

If taxes stay unpaid: lawsuit and sale

This part is explained neutrally. It is the legal process; it is rare compared to the number of bills.

1. Lawsuit. Any time after taxes go late, a taxing unit can sue to collect. It can ask the court to enforce the tax lien on the property.³
2. Costs grow. In a suit, lawyer fees of 15% can be added, plus court costs.³
3. Pay to stop it. Paying the full amount before the sale ends the lien and stops the sale.³
4. Judgment and sale. If the court rules for the units, the property can be sold at a public sale by a sheriff or constable.³
5. Buying it back (redemption). A homestead or farm land owner has 2 years after the buyer’s deed is filed to buy it back. They pay what the buyer paid plus costs, plus a 25% premium in year one or 50% in year two. For other property, the window is 180 days.⁵
6. Time limits. Challenges to a sale must be filed within 1 year, or 2 years for a homestead.³

Deferral instead. If you are 65+, disabled, or a disabled veteran, a deferral filed with WCAD can stop a suit on your home. Interest adds up at 5% a year, with no penalty.³ See property tax exemptions.

The other side (counterweight)

• The charges are set by state law, not by the county. Local units choose whether to add the July collection fee and hire a collection lawyer.³
• The charges stack. Penalty, interest, the July fee and lawyer fees in a suit can add up to much more than the tax itself.³
• The law also gives owners ways out. Payment plans, deferrals and the right to buy a sold home back are all in the law. Buying back costs a 25% or 50% premium.³⁵

Questions to ask

• Where does the tax office post its collection-lawyer contract and fee?
• How does the tax office tell owners about late penalties before they apply?

Changes to this page

• Nov. 2, 2026: Added questions to ask.
• Nov. 2, 2026: Added a note that shows how we worked out the figures.
• Nov. 2, 2026: We checked every figure against its source. We replaced views we could not source with what the law itself says.

What you can do next

• If you can’t pay in full, pay what you can by Jan 31. It lowers the charges.²
• If you’re behind on a homestead, ask the tax office about a §33.02 plan before a suit is filed.
• If you are 65+ or disabled, ask about quarter payments or a deferral. Compare them: help paying property taxes.

Numbers marked “our math” are our estimates, not official figures. The notes show the inputs and the steps.

Footnotes

1. Texas Tax Code ch. 31, §§31.02 (due on receipt; late if not paid before Feb 1), 31.031 (quarter payments for 65+, disabled and disabled veterans), 31.07 (partial payments). https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TX/htm/TX.31.htm ↩ ↩² ↩³

2. Williamson County Tax Office, “Payment Options” and “Property Tax” pages (online, in person, drop box, mail, phone; card fee 2.15%, $2.50 minimum; e-check; partial payments; prepayments; quarter plan due Jan 31, Mar 31, May 31, Jul 31; 2026 taxes due by Jan 31, 2027, with 7% penalty and interest on Feb 1, 2027). https://www.wilcotx.gov/755/Payment-Options; https://www.wilcotx.gov/propertytax (checked 2026-11-01) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹

3. Texas Tax Code ch. 33, §§33.01 (penalty 6% the first month, plus 1% each month to 12% by July 1; interest 1% a month), 33.011 (waivers), 33.02 (homestead payment plans, 12–36 months), 33.06 (65+/disabled deferral, 5% interest), 33.07 (extra collection penalty for taxes still late on July 1), 33.41 (lawsuits), 33.48 (15% attorney fees in a suit), 33.53 (paying before the sale ends the lien), 33.54 (time limits to challenge a sale). https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TX/htm/TX.33.htm ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶

4. Our math from §33.01: penalty 6% in February, then 1% more each month, to 12% on July 1; interest 1% a month. February 6% + 1% = 7%. March 7% + 2% = 9%. April 8% + 3% = 11%. May 9% + 4% = 13%. June 10% + 5% = 15%. July 12% + 6% = 18%. ↩

5. Texas Tax Code §34.21 (right of redemption: 2 years for a homestead or farm land, with a 25% premium in year one and 50% in year two; 180 days for other property). https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TX/htm/TX.34.htm ↩ ↩²