Downtown Harris County Tax Office open late 2 evenings to aid taxpayers
HOUSTON – Jan. 19, 2011 – Monday, Jan. 31 is the last day taxpayers can pay their 2010 property tax bill free of penalty and interest charges. On Tuesday, Feb. 1, 7 percent penalty and interest will be assessed.
“Don’t make this more painful than it has to be. Even if you can’t pay all your tax bill by Jan. 31, we can take a partial payment as late as Monday, Jan. 31,” Tax Assessor-Collector Don Sumners said. “You can reduce the penalty and interest that way. The sooner you pay the better. The penalty and interest keep increasing every month.”
For taxpayers’ convenience, the Harris County Downtown Tax Office Branch at 1001 Preston will extend its hours until 5:30 p.m. on both Friday, Jan. 28 and Monday, Jan 31. The other 14 branch offices will be open their normal hours, 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (The hours will change to 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 1.)
The Tax Office also accepts payments online through its website, www.hctax.netand by mail, by phone and in person. Those paying online can use any combination of credit cards, debit cards and/or e-Checks. The same options are available if you pay by touch-tone telephone. Call 713-368-CARD (2273). Online customers are cautioned to start early enough to complete their payment by 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time on Jan. 31.
All of the 15 tax office branches take credit and debit cards at the counter. And all have a computer terminal kiosk that taxpayers can use to pay via credit card. A surcharge of 2.15 percent is added to each credit card transaction, as well as MasterCard debit transactions. When using a VISA debit card, there is a flat fee of $3.95. E-Checks are free.
The Downtown office extend its hours until 5:30 p.m. only on Friday, Jan. 28 and Monday, Jan. 31.
For more information, taxpayers may call 713-368-2000 or visit the Tax Office Web site at www.hctax.net.
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