A Guide to Understanding Ad Valorem Property Taxes

Who Can Assess Taxes? • Cities • Counties • School Districts • Must Be

Two Types of Property are Taxed • Real Property • Personal Property

Many Agencies are Involved • • HCAD www. hcad. org Taxing Units www. houstontx.

Payment Options • • • Cashier’s Check Money Order Credit Card In Person, Over

Tax Calendar • January 1 – Value & Exemptions – Lien Attaches • April

What Does the Law Firm Do? • • • Make Phone Calls Mail Collection

Tax Foreclosure Sales • Internet Sales Listings INTERNET TAX SALE MARKETING Linebarger Goggan Blair

Delinquent Business Personal Property Account Field Visits • Visits made to local businesses •

Putting Properties Back on the Tax Roll • Struck-off April 2002 • Sold at

Putting Properties Back on the Tax Roll • Sold at Auction in July 2003

Putting Properties Back on the Tax Roll • Sold at Auction in July 2002

Exemptions • • • Homestead Veterans Over 65 Disability Surviving Spouse – Over 55

How to Protest • • • Take Pictures Gather Comps Bill of Sale File

Contact Info • HCAD 713 -957 -7800 www. hcad. org • Harris Co Tax

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A Guide to Understanding Ad Valorem Property Taxes April 28, 2017

Ad Valorem: (Latin) from the value

Who Can Assess Taxes? • Cities • Counties • School Districts • Must Be in the Charter

What Do Property Taxes Pay For?

Two Types of Property are Taxed • Real Property • Personal Property

Many Agencies are Involved • • HCAD www. hcad. org Taxing Units www. houstontx. gov Tax Offices www. hctax. net Law Firm www. lgbs. com

HCAD

Taxing Units Set Rates

Tax Offices Generate Bills, Collect $$

Payment Options • • • Cashier’s Check Money Order Credit Card In Person, Over the Internet or Via Mail

Tax Calendar • January 1 – Value & Exemptions – Lien Attaches • April 15 – Rendition Deadline • May 1 – Exemption Apps Due • May 31 – Last Day to Protest • May – June – ARB Hearings • October – Tax Bills Mailed • January 31 – Taxes Are Due • April 2 – 4 – BPP is turned over to lawfirm (actual date varies by year) • July 1 – Real Estate Turned over to Law Firm

What Does the Law Firm Do? • • • Make Phone Calls Mail Collection Letters File Lawsuits Sell Property at Sheriff’s Sale Property Inspections Tax Warrants & Seizures

Phone Banks

Mass Mailings

Litigation

Tax Foreclosure Sales • Internet Sales Listings INTERNET TAX SALE MARKETING Linebarger Goggan Blair &Sampson, LLP The law firm of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP places x sale ta property listings online for the benefit of the public. You can search current listings by compl eting the following form: www. publicans. com www. lgbs. com

Delinquent Business Personal Property Account Field Visits • Visits made to local businesses • 150 Tax Warrants Executed (Property and Bank Account Seizures)

Putting Properties Back on the Tax Roll • Struck-off April 2002 • Sold at Resale Auction in August 2002 – $5, 000 Opening Bid – Sold for $43, 000 • 2005 Appraised Value - $315, 000

Putting Properties Back on the Tax Roll • Sold at Auction in July 2003 for $7, 400 • 2005 Appraised Value - $74, 439

Putting Properties Back on the Tax Roll • Sold at Auction in July 2002 for $10, 200 • 2005 Appraised Value - $139, 200

Exemptions • • • Homestead Veterans Over 65 Disability Surviving Spouse – Over 55 (65) – Disabled Vet – Killed in Action

How to Protest • • • Take Pictures Gather Comps Bill of Sale File on Time DON’T MISS THE HEARING!

Contact Info • HCAD 713 -957 -7800 www. hcad. org • Harris Co Tax Office 713 -368 -2000 www. hctax. net • Linebarger Goggan 713 -844 -3400 www. lgbs. com • Tracy L. Jones 713 -844 -3582 tracy. jones@lgbs. com