Property taxes
Behind on property taxes, sued by the county, or facing a sheriff’s or constable’s sale? Find the paper you got, see the dates and the money, and write to the right office yourself.
General information about Texas law, not legal advice. Techoclaro is not a law firm. Amounts and dates are estimates from the statute — the tax office’s written statement and your court papers control.
Your tax timeline
From the January 1 lien to the last day to buy the home back. Enter the dates on your papers; every step shows the section of law it comes from. Steps that depend on a paper you have not entered say so — nothing is guessed.
The bill
- Tax lien attaches for 2025Jan 1, 2025
On January 1 each year a lien for that year’s taxes attaches to the property automatically. It comes ahead of a mortgage and an HOA lien.
Tex. Tax Code § 32.01(a) - Usual deadline to apply for an exemptionApr 30, 2025
Exemption applications go to the appraisal district, normally before May 1. A homestead application can still be filed late — up to two years after the delinquency date — and the tax on the exempt amount is taken off the bill or refunded.
DeadlineTex. Tax Code § 11.43(d) - Protest deadline (May 15, or 30 days after your value notice if later)May 15, 2025
A protest of the value goes to the appraisal review board. It does not move the delinquency date — it is a tool for next year’s bill.
DeadlineTex. Tax Code § 41.44(a)(1)
LateYou are here
- Taxes become delinquent — penalty (6%) and interest (1%) startFeb 1, 2026
Unpaid taxes are delinquent on this day. Each month after, the penalty rises 1% and interest adds 1%. 65+ or disabled homeowners on quarter payments must have paid the first quarter (with notice) by now — or before the first day of the next month.
DeadlineTex. Tax Code § 31.02(a) - Collection-penalty notices go out (30–60 days before July 1)May 2, 2026
If the taxing unit uses a delinquent-tax attorney, you should get a notice between 2026-05-02 and 2026-06-01.
Tex. Tax Code § 33.07(d) - July 1: penalty jumps to 12%; a collection penalty of up to 20% may be addedJul 1, 2026
Paying before July 1 avoids the collection penalty. After July 1 the total with interest is about 18% before any collection penalty, and interest keeps adding 1% a month.
DeadlineTex. Tax Code § 33.07(a) - Any time: ask the tax collector for an installment agreementany time
For a homestead with a homestead exemption, the collector must agree on request (if you have not had one with that unit in the past 24 months): monthly payments over 12–36 months, no new penalty while you keep it, and no suit or sale while it is kept. Signing admits you owe the amount.
Tex. Tax Code § 33.02(a)
Lawsuit
- Tax lawsuit filedneeds the date from your paper
A taxing unit may sue any time after the tax is delinquent. The date is on the petition’s file stamp.
Tex. Tax Code § 33.41(a) - Deadline to answer the lawsuitneeds the date from your paper
The answer deadline is printed on the citation. It is short. Read it today and call legal aid — a deferral affidavit (65+/disabled) filed in the court abates the suit.
DeadlineTex. Tax Code § 33.06(c) - Judgment and order of saleneeds the date from your paper
The judgment fixes the amount (taxes, penalties, interest, fees, costs) and the property’s adjudged value. Penalty and interest keep running after it.
Tex. Tax Code § 33.01(a)
Sale
- Sheriff’s or constable’s saleneeds the date from your paper
Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the first Tuesday of a month (or an online auction ending then). If no one bids enough, the property is “struck off” to the taxing unit.
Tex. Tax Code § 34.01(r-1)
If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, do not count on an extension — act earlier. Dates are counted from the papers you entered; if a paper shows a different date, the paper controls.