The property I purchased isn’t in my name yet. What should I do?
Contact your local Appraisal District.
Why do I owe prior taxes with penalty and interest when I just purchased the property?
Taxes follow the property and not the property owner. If a property is sold with property taxes still due, those unpaid property taxes are billed to the new owner. The amounts being billed may include an increase or decrease in the property tax levy for a current or prior tax year. For example, the tax may increase if the previous owner qualified for an exemption that the new owner does not, or it may decrease if the new owner made an appeal on the property’s value and the Appraisal District approved a value reduction.
Most often, property taxes are part of the negotiated closing process at the time of sale, with a portion of what is due or will become due, being allocated to the seller and a portion being allocated to the buyer.
If a title company is utilized for the sale/purchase of the property, the title company will ensure that there are no surprises for the buyer regarding property taxes. Prior to closing the sale of the property, they research all matters related to property taxes on the property, by working with the Appraisal District to anticipate any changes in exemptions, etc. which could impact the amount due for the current or a previous tax year. Title companies typically carry a form of errors and omissions insurance to protect all parties, if the title company’s property tax estimate is inaccurate for any reason. The parties involved in the sale may want to contact their title company to discuss the delegation of funds or what amounts they used, or to see if they have the insurance to protect all parties.
If I pay taxes on a property, do I obtain possession of the property?
No, not according to Texas law. However, other states may have different laws on this matter.
How can I determine who owns a particular property?
Contact your local Appraisal District.
How can I obtain my legal property description or value of the property?
Go to the Property Tax Lookup/Payment Application, contact your local Appraisal District, or call 214-653-7811.
If we buy or sell a home in mid-year, who is responsible for the taxes?
Refer to your closing papers or call your title company or real estate agent to determine your agreement. Normally, the taxes are prorated between the buyer and the seller. However, taxes can be paid per any agreement between the buyer and seller. Under Texas law, taxes follow the property.
Whom do I notify that I’ve paid off my mortgage?
Your mortgage company should send you a release of lien, and it must be filed with the County Clerk 214-653-7099 If you do not receive a tax statement by mid-November, go to the Property Tax Lookup/Payment Application, or call our Customer Care 214-653-7811.
How do I remove a lien on my property for property taxes that have been paid?
Except for Aircraft, the payment of the property tax will remove this lien. The process is automatic each year. When property tax becomes due, the lien is automatically applied to the property. When property tax is paid, the lien is automatically removed from the property in all cases except Aircraft. For Aircraft, in addition to the payment of the property tax, the FAA requires a form to be filed with them after the property tax has been paid. This form may be obtained through Linebarger, Goggan, Blair and Sampson, LLP at 1-800-441-0960 or 214-880-0089.