Simplifying a Complex Issue

While we at O’Connor are all about property taxes, we know that they are a complex issue. Not only do you have to keep up with deadlines, exemptions, taxable values, and more, but you have to do so during the first month of the year. The holidays have often hit your wallet hard, and you have a whole new year to get ready for. In Texas, your tax bills should have arrived in November, making them easy to forget with Thanksgiving and the holiday season resting between when you receive them and when they are due. It is easy to forget them, and with their growing values, it is understandable. As most of Texas is currently in the grips of a winter freeze that has caused numerous disaster declarations, getting to your local tax office is obviously a low priority, if possible at all.

The My Harris County Tax portal offers an easy way to view your property, see what exemptions you have, and how much you owe. You simply create an account, look up your property, and link it to your email. It also allows you to link your account to multiple properties, so you can view information on all the real estate you own and see how much you owe. Having the ability to view multiple properties in one place is a first for Harris County. The integrated system and options for automated payments also have the benefit of ensuring that all of your properties are paid fully, which helps prevent you from missing a deadline and falling into delinquency.

Never Miss a Deadline

Typically, in Texas, once you receive your bill in the mail, you will not experience any communication from the CAD unless you are delinquent. Even then, this is usually months later, when the fees, interest, and other penalties have piled up. You may not even hear from anyone until you get a collections letter from a law firm. This means even more fees to sort out, which can quickly add up in a short window. With a hectic schedule, it is quite easy to become delinquent without even realizing it. This is usually true for older homeowners, who might not keep up with things, though any busy taxpayer can fall into this trap.

The assessor-collector added an alert system that will email property owners a reminder when deadlines are upcoming or even passed. When coupled with centralizing your Harris County tax bill, this means that you will get a reminder every year for every property you own, even between when the bills were sent out and when you have to pay. Now you do not have to worry about your bill being lost in the mail or losing it at home, you will always have a reminder in your inbox. You can even use the portal to pay your taxes in advance, if you have the means. This way, you avoid pressure at the start of the new year, allowing you to budget before spending money on holiday gifts.

Easy Payments

Previously, it could be difficult to pay your tax bills online with the Harris County collector, as it typically required an e-check to pay. This was not instantaneous like a credit card or ACH transfer, and could not be tracked as efficiently. Also, if an error occurred, it would be harder to correct than a paper check. The new portal allows credit cards, e-checks, and ACH transfers. This gives a broader and faster means of payment. This finally makes online payment viable for most taxpayers, while simplifying the process once again. There are fees for the use of credit and debit cards, which should be minded. These can even be seen as relatively steep, but it does offer instant payment, ensuring that your taxes are paid in full, blocking any chance of delinquency. Partial payments can also be made online, though delinquent fees will still accrue.

Other Texas Counties are Rolling Out Similar Systems

Harris County appears to have one of the newer and more advanced portals, but several other counties are using similar systems, or will be. Tarrant County now utilizes a surprisingly robust system with many traits similar to My Harris County Tax. Dallas County has a simpler system, but it is still an upgrade over the one formally in place. Most major counties now allow a taxpayer to group properties together, helping business owners and landlords. As more counties start to transition, greater leaps are sure to be achieved in the future. If you are up against the deadline or are delinquent, you should check your assessor-collector’s website to see what options they offer. Be sure that the portal you are using is the official site of your county.

Are your Taxes Too High? O’Connor can Help

While paying your taxes is now much easier, it still does not help if your taxes are too high. While it may be too late to lower your 2025 tax bill, it is the perfect time to get started on lowering your bill for next year. Exemptions are the first step, and can save you big, especially thanks to recent statewide overhauls. But, if exemptions are not enough, you also have property tax appeals to consider. These can lower your taxable value, therefore also possibly lowering your tax bill. As the 2025 tax season closes, the 2026 appeal opens.

Appraisal notices are typically mailed in late March, arriving by April 1. When you receive this notice, you have until May 15 to protest the taxable value. Let us at O’Connor help you with this. We will analyze your appraisal, gather evidence, and file an appeal on your behalf. We will represent you in hearings to get you the best possible outcome. We will use our patented database to find comparable properties, look through sales records, and even offer a concierge service to visit your property for a personalized touch. Best of all, you are not charged an upfront fee for these services. Rather, you will only pay a contingency fee if we are able to lower your taxes. This makes working with us a no-risk proposition.