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Property Tax

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The Galveston County Tax Office (GCTO) assesses, collects, and disburses property taxes for nearly half of governments in the county (see listing below). This means you may receive multiple tax statements from various tax collectors. The full list of governments taxing you may be found at the Galveston Central or Harris Central Appraisal Districts. The CADs also provide a listing of tax collectors for each local government along with contact information.

Important Property Tax Deadlines are included at the Tax Office Events tab. To make a payment - click on the VERY large red Look Up/Pay Property Taxes button. Please note that when paying via mail, use the 722 21st Street, Galveston, TX 77550 address. USPS does not always recognize Moody Avenue!

Cheryl E. Johnson, PCC, CTOP
Galveston County Tax Assessor Collector

Property Tax Basics in Texas

Property taxes in Texas are based on the January 1 market value of your property as determined by the county appraisal district (CAD). This is the APPRAISAL phase. CADs handle ownership, exemption and value information.

Only the CADs may make changes to your property records (ownership, mailing addresses, etc.). It then provides updates to the appropriate tax collectors. As a courtesy, we will assist you with changes and will provide the information to the appropriate CAD. Forms for each are here: HCAD Request to Correct Name or Address Form, GCAD Request to Correct Name or Address on Property

Each spring, CADs issue notices of appraised value, typically in April. This is the EQUALIZATION phase. You have until May 15th (or 30 days after the date of the notice whichever is later) to protest the value. For additional information about protesting the value, see the Tax Office link and download a copy of the booklet Effectively Protesting Taxes for additional information. You may hire a property tax consultant to protest your values but know that once hired, in order to end the relationship you must CANCEL the agreement using this form: Cancel Appointment of Agent CPA 50-813

After the appraisal roll is certified by the CADs, local governments adopt budgets and tax rates - typically during the latter part of the summer. This is the ASSESSMENT phase. During the month of October, we produce tax statements and mail them to property owners and mortgage companies. In advance of that, you have the right to provide input to your local governments regarding the rates being considered. Visit our Truth and Taxation tab to locate the proposed rates and hearing dates, etc.

TEXAS TAX TRANSPARENCY DATABASE:

Visit Texas.gov/PropertyTaxes to find a link to your local property tax database on which you can easily access information regarding your property taxes, including information regarding the amount of taxes that each entity that taxes your property will impose if the entity adopts its proposed tax rate. Your local property tax database will be updated regularly during August and September as local elected officials propose and adopt the property tax rates that will determine how much you pay in property taxes.

View the Truth in Taxation tab to find a listing of each local government assessing or charging property taxes throughout Galveston County (and the names and contact information of the elected officials determining what the tax rate will be each year). For a listing of the local governments taxing you, visit the appropriate county appraisal district office (in Galveston www.galvestoncad.org and in Harris hcad.org), look up your property and scroll down to the government listing. Only GCTO collection customers are listed on our website under the large red button.

MORTGAGE CODES: We cannot remove a mortgage code as these only appear after a mortgage company requests the statement. Sign up for e-statements the first year after paying off a mortgage or refinancing to ensure you receive the statement.

The COLLECTION phase begins after statements are mailed and customers begin paying the new year taxes. Property taxes are delinquent February 1 (unless January 31st falls on a weekend). Unless you are taking advantage of a payment option (split/half pay or quarter installments), payments postmarked AFTER January 31st will incur hefty penalties and interest. Request a waiver through the Penalty & Interest Committee (see application below).

PT 30 Penalty and Interest Packet 04-24-2024

HAVING A HARD TIME PAYING the property taxes on your homestead? Sign up for a low penalty payment agreement after February 1st. ALL PROPERTY OWNERS may avoid the burden of delinquent attorney fees that are added July 1st by setting up a payment agreement. Down payments MAY be required. Call the Property Tax Department (409) 766-2481 for additional information.

Payment Methods & Options

Click on the large red button and pay online via electronic check, debit or credit card (fees apply). You will be able to print a receipt upon payment but files are not received by our office until the following business day for review. If you enter a bank account or credit card number incorrectly, we will receive an error message for your payment and taxes could become delinquent! We make every effort to contact property owners as quickly as possible when this occurs but penalty and interest could accrue if payment is made on a deadline and you do not correct the error before the delinquency date!

Pay via credit or debit card or e-check via telephone by calling 1-800-420-1663 (English) and (Spanish). Bank fees apply. Use the 722 21st Street, Galveston, TX 77550 address instead of Moody as USPS does not recognize Moody.

Pay via US Postal Service (use envelope included with statement). Postmarks are everything so be sure to drop in the box BEFORE the last pick-up time or mail a couple of days in advance to insure the proper postmark.

NOTE: IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE COST - we have eliminated the post office box! Please mail payments to:

GCTO
722 21st Street
Galveston, TX 77550

Save on Postage - Use Our Drop boxes Yellow drop boxes are located at each full time office. All payments deposited in yellow drop boxes are collected each morning after 8:30 am and processed as of the previous business day within three days. The Friendswood satellite office has a black drop box located at the side driveway of Friendswood City Hall. Items deposited in Friendswood are picked up every Monday and processed as of the Friday before. We suggest noting the date and location on the envelope to insure proper postings for all items placed in our drop boxes.

Come in person—we love seeing our customers!

Payment options:

Homesteads of seniors, disabled persons, disabled veterans, spouses of a disabled veteran or Governor declared disaster victims may be eligible for quarterly installments (four equal payments due NO LATER THAN January 31, March 31, May 31, and July 31) without penalty and interest. If in doubt, call. We will send payment coupons to you before the second 1/4 is due! Please note these deadlines move to the first business day after if date falls on the weekend or a holiday.
Split or half pay—divide your bill by two and, as long as the first half is paid by November 30th, the second half is not due until June 30th without penalty and interest! We will send a letter reminder before the second half is due!
Can’t pay—call for a payment agreement. We may be able to save you excessive penalties and interest on your unpaid balance!
You may always pay in advance - essentially escrowing throughout the year. You MUST note ESCROW in the subject line (along with the account number).

E-Statements

Participate in Reducing the Cost of Government. Sign up to receive your property tax statement(s) via electronic mail (email) NO LATER THAN September 15th. Click the large red button on the homepage, locate your account(s) and scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up. Once signed up, you will receive a statement via email automatically every year in October. In order to remove your request or update your email address please email galcotax@co.galveston.tx.us.

GCTO Government Tax Collection Partners

(note Clear Lake Shores has zero property taxes)

Consolidated tax assessment and collection services saves property owners money. We charge $0.21 per parcel to assess and collect taxes for Galveston County governments and $0.97 per parcel for partners with boundaries in Harris County such as the cities of Friendswood and League City. If your governments are not included in the listing below, ask them why not! Our services are less than their cost to mail you a bill!

Galveston County & County Road & Flood
All Cities except Clear Lake Shores (it does not assess a property tax).
Dickinson ISD
Galveston ISD
High Island ISD
Hitchcock ISD
College of the Mainland
Galveston College
Bacliff MUD
Bay Colony West MUD
Bayview MUD
Emergency Services District #1
Emergency Services District #2
GC Drainage District #1
GC Drainage District #2
GC Fresh Water Supply District #6
GC MUD #12
GC MUD #35
GC MUD #44
GC MUD #82
GC Navigation District #1
San Leon MUD
South Shore Harbour MUD 7
WCID #1
WCID #12
WCID #19
Westwood Management District
PID Assessments for League City
Bayou Maison PID for Dickinson
City Center PID for Friendswood
Mulberry Farms PID for Santa Fe
Delinquent Taxes for Crystal Beach, MUD #1, MUD #2, MUD #3, MUD #29, SH MUD 3, SH MUD #6, Tara Glen MUD and the State of Texas