Texas property tax bills go out starting in October, and you can pay as soon as yours arrives. The deadline is the same in every county, and so are the penalties for missing it. Here’s what you’ll owe each month you wait.
At a glance
- 2026 taxes due
- January 31, 2027 (a Sunday, so Monday, Feb. 1 counts)
- Late on Feb. 1
- 6% penalty + 1% interest = 7%
- By July 1
- 18%, plus up to 20% more if sent to a collection attorney
- After that
- 1% more interest every month, no cap
- Pay in 4 parts
- Homestead owners 65+, disabled or disabled veterans
Late property tax cost calculator
For 2026 taxes due January 31, 2027. Uses the Texas Comptroller's penalty and interest chart. Your tax office's bill has the exact amount.
Penalty and interest by month
| If you pay in | Penalty and interest added |
|---|---|
| February 2027 | 7% |
| March 2027 | 9% |
| April 2027 | 11% |
| May 2027 | 13% |
| June 2027 | 15% |
| July 2027 | 18% |
| August 2027 | 19% |
| September 2027 | 20% |
If your bill came late
If your bill was mailed after Jan 10, the delinquency date moves to the first day of the next month that gives you at least 21 days to pay; it's printed on the bill. Not getting a bill doesn’t excuse the tax, so if nothing has arrived by mid-January, call your county tax office.
Ways to spread out the payment
- Four quarter payments, no penalty. If you’re 65 or older, disabled, or a disabled veteran (or the unmarried surviving spouse of one) with a homestead exemption, you can pay in four equal parts: before Feb 1, before Apr 1, before Jun 1, before Aug 1. Pay the first part and tell the tax office in writing before the due date.
- Deferral. The same homeowners can put off paying taxes on their homestead for as long as they live there. Interest still builds at 5% a year instead of the penalty schedule, and the taxes come due after the home is no longer their homestead.
- Installment agreement after the deadline. Most tax offices offer delinquent homestead owners a plan of up to 36 months. You’ll still owe interest, but you can usually avoid the collection attorney penalty.
- Active-duty military can pay delinquent taxes without penalty or interest in some cases (Tax Code § 31.02).
Sources
- Texas Comptroller: 2026 and 2027 penalty and interest chart
- Texas Comptroller: Paying your taxes
- Tex. Tax Code § 31.031 (quarter payments for 65+, disabled and disabled veterans)
- Tex. Tax Code § 33.01, § 33.06, § 33.07 (penalty and interest, deferral, collection penalty)
- Tex. Tax Code § 1.06 (deadlines on weekends and holidays)
Common questions
When are Texas property taxes due?
For 2026 taxes, by January 31, 2027. That date is a Sunday, so a payment on Monday, February 1, 2027 is still on time under Tax Code section 1.06. If your bill was mailed after January 10, the due date printed on your bill is later.
What is the penalty for paying Texas property taxes late?
Taxes unpaid on February 1 get a 6% penalty and 1% interest, 7% in all. The penalty grows each month to 12% on July 1, and interest keeps adding 1% a month. From July, a collection attorney's penalty of up to 20% can be added.
Can seniors pay Texas property taxes in installments?
Yes. Homeowners 65 or older, disabled, or disabled veterans with a homestead exemption can pay in four equal payments with no penalty or interest, if they pay the first quarter and tell the tax office before the due date.