Diane Trautman for Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector



Duties of the Harris County Tax Office According to the Texas Constitution, the Tax Assessor-Collector is a constitutionally required office for counties with more than 10,000 population. In the past, the Tax Assessor-Collector determined the value of property and collected taxes within the county. The office could also contract with other governmental units to perform the same services. However, effective January 1, 1982, state law required that counties participate in a single appraisal district. Under the revision, many duties regarding property taxes that had been performed by the county Tax Assessor-Collector, such as appraisal, became the duties of the office of the chief appraiser of the districts. Although the functions and responsibilities of the Harris County Tax Office are numerous and complex, three distinct functions are most noticeable to citizens. These involve the collection of property taxes, the licensing and titling of vehicles, and serving as the registrar of voters. Property Taxes The Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector: Mails tax statements to taxpayers each year Submits a list of delinquent tax accounts to the designated authorities Collects property taxes for contracting taxing jurisdictions in Harris County Distributes tax collection to contracting taxing jurisdictions Issues receipts for taxes paid Notifies delinquent taxpayers of their delinquent status Assists property owners in applying for exemptions, such as homestead exemptions, disability exemptions, and "over-65" exemptions Motor Vehicle Registration The Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector: Registers motor vehicles for the Texas Department of Transportation Processes applications for certificate of title for automobile purchase/owners Collects fees for the Texas Department of Transportation Distributes registration and title fees to the Texas Department of Transportation Distributes motor vehicle sales tax fees to the Texas State Comptroller Issues special license plates Processes applications for certificates of title for motorboats Voter Registration The Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector, acting as Registrar of Voters: Registers eligible voters in Harris County Maintains a voter registration database Provides a list of eligible voters for governmental bodies to use in conducting elections Deputizes volunteers to register voters Maintains maps of voting precincts and districts in Harris County indicating the jurisdictions into which each voting precinct falls. Paid political ad by Diane Trautman Campaign, P. O. Box 6067, Kingwood, TX 77325 Copyright 2005-2008 ©. All Rights Reserved.

Duties of the Harris County Tax Office

According to the Texas Constitution, the Tax Assessor-Collector is a constitutionally required office for counties with more than 10,000 population.

In the past, the Tax Assessor-Collector determined the value of property and collected taxes within the county. The office could also contract with other governmental units to perform the same services. However, effective January 1, 1982, state law required that counties participate in a single appraisal district. Under the revision, many duties regarding property taxes that had been performed by the county Tax Assessor-Collector, such as appraisal, became the duties of the office of the chief appraiser of the districts.

Although the functions and responsibilities of the Harris County Tax Office are numerous and complex, three distinct functions are most noticeable to citizens. These involve the collection of property taxes, the licensing and titling of vehicles, and serving as the registrar of voters.

Property Taxes
The Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector:

Mails tax statements to taxpayers each year
Submits a list of delinquent tax accounts to the designated authorities
Collects property taxes for contracting taxing jurisdictions in Harris County
Distributes tax collection to contracting taxing jurisdictions
Issues receipts for taxes paid
Notifies delinquent taxpayers of their delinquent status
Assists property owners in applying for exemptions, such as homestead exemptions, disability exemptions, and "over-65" exemptions

Motor Vehicle Registration
The Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector:

Registers motor vehicles for the Texas Department of Transportation
Processes applications for certificate of title for automobile purchase/owners
Collects fees for the Texas Department of Transportation
Distributes registration and title fees to the Texas Department of Transportation
Distributes motor vehicle sales tax fees to the Texas State Comptroller
Issues special license plates
Processes applications for certificates of title for motorboats

Voter Registration
The Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector, acting as Registrar of Voters:

Registers eligible voters in Harris County
Maintains a voter registration database
Provides a list of eligible voters for governmental bodies to use in conducting elections
Deputizes volunteers to register voters
Maintains maps of voting precincts and districts in Harris County indicating the jurisdictions into which each voting precinct falls.