How to Pay Your Tarrant County Property Taxes
Where and how to pay Tarrant County property taxes
Tarrant County property taxes are collected by the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD), which sends you the bill, and the Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector, which receives the payment. You can pay online through the Tax Assessor-Collector's website, by mail, in person at their office in Fort Worth, or through an automatic bank transfer. Online payment is the fastest route and shows as received immediately; mailed checks take 7 to 10 business days to clear.
The Tax Assessor-Collector's office is located at 100 East Weatherford, Fort Worth, TX 76196. You can also pay at any of their satellite offices in Arlington, Grand Prairie, or other Tarrant County cities. If you pay online, you will need your account number (found on your tax bill) and a valid payment method. The county does not charge a fee for online payments made directly through their website, though some third-party payment processors may add a convenience fee.
Key Takeaways
- Pay online through the Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector website for the fastest confirmation, or mail a check to their Fort Worth office.
- Your tax bill arrives in October each year and is due by January 31 of the following year, though you can pay in installments.
- Late payments trigger a penalty of 5 percent of the unpaid amount, plus interest that accrues daily at a rate set by the state.
- If you cannot pay in full, you can set up a payment plan or request a deferral through the Tax Assessor-Collector's office.
- Homeowners over 65, disabled homeowners, and low-income households may be may be able to access for exemptions or deferrals that reduce or delay what you owe.
When property taxes are due and what happens if you miss the deadline
Tarrant County property tax bills are mailed in October and are due by January 31 of the following year. This is a hard deadline set by state law. If you do not pay by that date, a 5 percent penalty is added to your unpaid balance, and interest accrues daily at a rate determined by the state (currently around 8 percent per year, though this varies). The longer you wait, the more you owe in penalties and interest alone.
If your payment arrives after January 31, the county will not remove the penalty. However, you can still stop the interest from growing by paying as soon as possible. The Tax Assessor-Collector's office will send you a notice if you are delinquent, but waiting for that notice costs you money. If you know you cannot pay by the deadline, contact the office before January 31 to discuss a payment plan or deferral.
Setting up a payment plan or deferral
If you cannot pay your full tax bill by January 31, the Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector can set up a payment plan that spreads the cost over several months. You must request this before the deadline or immediately after if you are already delinquent. The office will work with you to establish monthly payments that fit your budget. Even on a payment plan, interest continues to accrue on the unpaid balance, but you avoid the 5 percent penalty if you set up the plan before the deadline passes.
A tax deferral is different from a payment plan. Deferrals postpone payment entirely for a set period, usually for homeowners over 65, disabled homeowners, or those with very low income. During a deferral, interest still accrues, but you do not have to pay anything until the deferral period ends or you sell the property. To explore either option, call the Tax Assessor-Collector at (817) 884-1424 or visit their office in person.
Exemptions that reduce or eliminate your property tax bill
Tarrant County offers several exemptions that lower your taxable property value, which in turn reduces your tax bill. The most common is the homestead exemption, which reduces the taxable value of your primary residence by a set amount (the amount varies by school district and other taxing units). You must own and live in the home as your principal residence to may have access to. The exemption is not automatic—you must file for it with the Tarrant Appraisal District by April 30 of the year you want it to take effect.
Other exemptions include those for homeowners over 65, disabled homeowners, disabled veterans, and surviving spouses of military members. Each has different income or age requirements. If you are over 65 or disabled, you may also be may be able to access for a tax deferral that postpones payment indefinitely as long as you own the home. To find out which exemptions you may be may be able to access for, contact the Tarrant Appraisal District at (817) 462-8000 or visit their website. Filing for an exemption takes a few weeks, so apply early in the year rather than waiting until tax time.
Protesting your property tax assessment
If you believe your home's assessed value is too high, you can protest the appraisal through the Tarrant Appraisal District. The protest must be filed by May 15 of the year you are challenging (this date is set by state law). You do not need a lawyer or professional appraiser to protest—you can do it yourself by submitting a written statement explaining why you think the value is wrong, along with supporting evidence such as recent sales of comparable homes, repair estimates, or photos of damage.
The Tarrant Appraisal District will review your protest and either adjust the value or uphold it. If you disagree with their decision, you can appeal to the Appraisal Review Board (ARB), which is an independent panel. The ARB hearing is free and informal. If you still disagree after the ARB decision, you can take the case to district court, though this requires a lawyer and costs money. Most protests are resolved at the district or ARB level. Filing a protest does not stop you from owing taxes on time—you still owe based on the current assessment while the protest is pending.
Online payment and account management
The Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector's website allows you to pay your bill, view your account balance, and set up automatic payments. To pay online, go to the Tax Assessor-Collector's website, enter your account number and property address, and choose your payment method (debit card, credit card, or bank account). Payments made before 5 p.m. Central Time are typically posted the same day. If you pay by credit or debit card through a third-party processor, a convenience fee (usually 2 to 3 percent) is added to your payment.
You can also set up automatic monthly payments from your bank account, which avoids convenience fees and ensures you do not miss a deadline. Automatic payments are deducted on a date you choose each month. If you prefer not to use the online system, you can mail a check to the Tax Assessor-Collector's office or pay in person at any of their locations during business hours.
What to do if you receive a tax bill you do not recognize
If you receive a property tax bill for a property you do not own or no longer own, contact the Tarrant Appraisal District immediately. The bill may be the result of a data error, a property transfer that was not recorded correctly, or a mistake in the mailing address. Do not ignore it—if you do not respond, the county may place a lien on the property or attempt collection.
Call the Tarrant Appraisal District at (817) 462-8000 and explain the situation. Bring your deed or other proof of ownership (or non-ownership) if you have it. If the property was recently sold, the previous owner may still be receiving bills if the transfer was not recorded with the county. The district can correct the mailing address or remove your name from the account once they verify the information. This process usually takes a few weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my Tarrant County property taxes in installments?
Yes. You can pay in four installments if you pay by the deadline for each one, or you can request a payment plan from the Tax Assessor-Collector that spreads payments over several months. Interest accrues on unpaid balances, and the 5 percent penalty applies if you miss the January 31 deadline, even if you are on a plan.
What happens if I pay my property taxes late?
A 5 percent penalty is added to your unpaid balance, and interest accrues daily at the state rate (currently around 8 percent per year). The longer you wait, the more you owe. Contact the Tax Assessor-Collector before the deadline to set up a payment plan and avoid the penalty.
How do I know if I may have access to for a homestead exemption?
You must own and live in the home as your primary residence. The exemption reduces your taxable value by a set amount that varies by school district. File for it with the Tarrant Appraisal District by April 30 of the year you want it to take effect. Call (817) 462-8000 to confirm your may be able to access.
Can I protest my property tax assessment if I already owe taxes?
Yes. You can protest the appraisal by May 15 of the year you are challenging, and you still owe taxes on time based on the current assessment while the protest is pending. If the protest succeeds and your value is lowered, you may receive a refund or credit for overpayment.
What should I do if I cannot pay my property taxes at all?
Contact the Tax Assessor-Collector at (817) 884-1424 to discuss a payment plan or deferral. If you are over 65, disabled, or have very low income, you may be may be able to access for a deferral that postpones payment indefinitely. Do not ignore the bill—the county can place a lien on your property or foreclose if taxes remain unpaid for several years.