Your Harris County property tax bill covers the county, your city, your school district and several other units, but you pay it all in one place: the Harris County Tax Office. Here’s how to pay it on time, what it costs to pay by card, and what to do if you can’t pay it all at once.
At a glance
- Who collects
- Annette Ramirez, Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector
- 2026 taxes due
- Jan 31, 2027 (Sunday; mail it by Fri., Jan 29)
- Pay online
- myharriscountytax.com
- Pay by phone
- 713-274-2273 (card only, 24/7)
- Card fee
- 2.40% (minimum $1.00)
- Can't pay it all?
- 12-, 24- or 36-month plans once past due
Four ways to pay
| How | Where | What it accepts | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | myharriscountytax.com | Card or e-check | Card 2.40% (minimum $1.00); e-check $0.50 |
| Phone | 713-274-2273 | Credit or debit card only | 2.40% (minimum $1.00) |
| P.O. Box 4622, Houston, TX 77210-4622 | Check or money order (include your account number) | None | |
| In person | Any Harris County Tax Office location | Cash, check, money order or card | Card 2.40% (minimum $1.00) |
If you can’t pay the whole bill
- Payment plan (12, 24 or 36 months). Once your account is past due, email installmentpaymentplan@tax.hctx.net with your account number, your name and the property address, or call 713-274-8000. Accounts on a plan aren't sent to the collection law firm, so the 15–20% attorney fee isn't added; 1% interest a month still applies.
- Four penalty-free payments for seniors, disabled owners and veterans. If you have a homestead exemption and are 65 or older, disabled, or a disabled veteran, you can pay in four equal parts: before Feb. 1, Apr. 1, Jun. 1 and Aug. 1. Send the first payment with a note saying you’re using quarter payments.
- Deferral. The same homeowners can defer taxes on their homestead; interest builds at 5% a year instead.
What waiting costs
Unpaid taxes pick up 7% on Feb. 1, 2027 and 18% by July. In July, Harris County sends unpaid accounts to a collection law firm, which adds 15% to 20% more. A payment plan set up before then keeps that fee off. For the month-by-month numbers and a calculator, see BestTexas’s Texas property tax due date and late penalties guide.
Sources
Common questions
When are Harris County property taxes due?
2026 taxes are due by January 31, 2027. Because that's a Sunday, payment on Monday, February 1 is on time under state law, but the Harris County Tax Office asks that mailed payments be postmarked by the last business day in January, which is Friday, January 29, 2027.
Can I make payments on my Harris County property taxes?
Yes. Once an account is past due, the Tax Office offers installment agreements of 12, 24 or 36 months. Email installmentpaymentplan@tax.hctx.net with your account number. Homeowners 65+, disabled or disabled veterans can also split the bill into four payments with no penalty if they start before the due date.
Is there a fee to pay Harris County property taxes by card?
Yes: 2.40% of the payment, with a $1 minimum. An e-check costs $0.50. Cash, checks and money orders in person or by mail have no fee.