Property Taxes, Alcohol Beverage Licenses, Special Inventory Taxes, Hotel Taxes Frequently Asked Questions during Stay at Home Work Safe Order:
Q. Where can I pay my property taxes?
- All payments must be mailed, paid online or made via the telephone. Payments by check or money order should only be sent by mail to:
Ann Harris Bennett
Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector
P.O. Box 4622
Houston, TX 77210-4622 - Please make your check payable to Ann Harris Bennett and, if possible, enclose the coupon from your tax statement with your payment. You may also print your bill with a payment coupon from our website at www.hctax.net. Please do not send cash.
- All payments must be mailed, paid online or made via the telephone. Payments by check or money order should only be sent by mail to:
Q. Can I pay my property taxes online?
- Yes. The Harris County Tax Office accepts full or partial payments of property taxes online 24/7. Property taxpayers may use any combination of credit cards/debit cards/e-Checks for payment. We accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa credit/debit cards.
- A non-refundable surcharge of 2.35% of the total payment ($1.00 minimum) will be added to each credit card and some debit card transaction. A flat fee of $3.95 is charged for Visa consumer debit cards. E-Checks are free.
Q. Can I pay my property taxes by telephone?
- Yes. The Harris County Tax Office accepts full or partial payment of property taxes by touch-tone phone by calling 713-274-CARD (2273) from any place in the world 24/7. Property taxpayers may also use any combination of credit cards/debit cards/e-Checks for payment. We accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa credit/debit cards.
- A non-refundable surcharge of 2.35% of the total payment ($1.00 minimum) will be added to each credit card and some debit card transaction. A flat fee of $3.95 is charged for Visa consumer debit cards. E-Checks are free.
Alcoholic Beverage License
Q. How can I apply for a Beer and Wine or Liquor licenses?
- Applications for Beer and Wine licenses are available from the TABC at P.O. Box 13127, Austin, TX 78711. For more information, see TABC website.
Q. How can I renew my Beer and Wine or Liquor licenses?
- In order for the Tax Office to process your license renewal, you must provide payment in the form of a check, cashier’s check or money order.
- Renewals by mail should be addressed to:
Ann Harris Bennett
Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector
Attn: Beer & Wine
P.O. Box 4663
Houston, TX 77210-4663
Special Inventory Taxes
Q. Where can I pay for my Special Inventory Tax?
- Payments by check or money order only should be mailed to:
Ann Harris Bennett
Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector
P.O. Box 3486
Houston, TX 77253-3486 - Please make your check payable to Ann Harris Bennett. Do not mail cash.
- Payments by check or money order only should be mailed to:
Q. Where can I file my Special Inventory Tax (Dealer) Forms?
- The Dealer must file a Monthly Inventory Tax Statement and Declaration to the Harris County Tax Office and Harris County Appraisal District:
Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office
P.O. Box 3486
Houston, TX 77253-3486
AND
Harris County Appraisal District
Dealer Inventory Section
P.O. Box 922015
Houston, TX 77292-2015
- The Dealer must file a Monthly Inventory Tax Statement and Declaration to the Harris County Tax Office and Harris County Appraisal District:
Hotel Taxes
Q. Where can I pay my hotel occupancy taxes?
- Payments by check or money order only should be mailed to:
Ann Harris Bennett
Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector
Attn: Hotel Occupancy Tax
P.O. Box 3547
Houston, TX 77253-3547 - Please make your check payable to Ann Harris Bennett and include your hotel occupancy tax report with your payment. Please do not send cash.
- Payments by check or money order only should be mailed to:
Q. Can I pay my hotel occupancy taxes online?
- Yes. The Tax Office accepts full or partial payments of hotel occupancy taxes online. Hotel occupancy taxpayers may also use any combination of credit cards/debit cards/e-e-Checks for payment. We accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa credit/debit cards.
- A non-refundable surcharge of 2.35% of the total payment ($1.00 minimum) will be added to each credit card and some debit card transaction. A flat fee of $3.95 is charged for Visa consumer debit cards. E-Checks are free.
Important information regarding vehicle registration during COVID-19 disaster:
The State Announces the End of the Temporary COVID-19 Pandemic
Waiver of Vehicle Title & Registration.Harris County residents have until April 14, 2021 to complete overdue transactions
Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Ann Harris Bennett announces the state’s termination of the temporary waiver of certain vehicle title and registration requirements. The waiver will expire at 11:59 p.m. on April 14, 2021.
If you have not renewed your expired vehicle registration sticker, you should make plans to renew on or before April 14, 2021. It is not necessary to wait until the deadline to complete any overdue transactions.
Options for renewing your vehicle registration:
- Online: Visit www.hctax.net to renew online. Online renewal is available up to nine (9) months past your registration expiration date.
- Mail: Return the bottom portion of your registration renewal form, payment, copies of insurance and inspection to:
Ann Harris Bennett
Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector
Attn: Renewal Department
P.O. Box 4089
Houston, TX 77210-4089 - In Person: Visit www.hctax.net to schedule an in-office automobile appointment. You may also renew your vehicle registration at partner renewal locations at certain grocery stores (HEB, Kroger, Fiesta, and Food Town) and AAA. Your vehicle must not be past nine (9) months expired.
Reminder: Before renewing a vehicle registration, Harris County residents will need to obtain a passing vehicle inspection at the state vehicle inspection station of their choice, unless their vehicle is exempt from inspection requirements.
The expiring temporary waiver covers the following services:
- Initial vehicle registration.
- Vehicle registration renewal.
- Vehicle titling.
- Renewal of permanent disabled parking placards.
- 30-day temporary permits.
Auto FAQs
Q. I’m temporarily in another state, how can I renew my registration?
- Registrations can be renewed online, if not expired more than 6 months - https://renew.txdmv.gov/Renew/RegistrationRenewalServlet . When asked, select that you are out of state.
- Renew by mail;
- Send VTR-270 along with payment in the form of check or money order
Send all of the documents and fees to:
Ann Harris Bennett
Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector
Attn: Renewal Dept.
P.O. Box 4089
Houston, Texas 77210-4089
- Send VTR-270 along with payment in the form of check or money order
Q. I gave my vehicle to a relative that lives in Texas, what do we do now?
- The new owner would submit the follow to their local tax office:
- Title – assigned to the new owner (The buyer must also sign to acknowledge the mileage if the vehicle is 10 years old or less.)
- Form 130-U (Title application)
- Form 14-317 (Gift Affidavit) This must be completed and notarized.
- Proof of current liability insurance in the new owner’s name
- Valid ID (new owner)
- Fees ($10.00 gift tax, $33.00 title and current registration will transfer to the new owner for $2.50)
- The previous owner would notify TXDMV that they have sold the vehicle by visiting www.TXDMV.gov and completing the “Vehicle Transfer Notifcation”.
- The new owner would submit the follow to their local tax office:
Q. I just bought a vehicle from a individual, what do I do now?
- The new owner would submit the follow to their local tax office through the mail (Once normal operations resume these transactions can be processed in person):
- Title – assigned to the new owner (The buyer must also sign to acknowledge the mileage if the vehicle is 10 years old or less.)
- Form 130-U (Title application)
- Valid ID (new owner)
- If bought from Out of State, submit an Original, signed Vehicle Inspection Report. To find your nearest inspection station, please visit the Texas Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) website : http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/vi/VIactiveStationLocator/default.aspx
- Fees (sales, $33.00 title and current Texas registration will transfer to the new owner for $2.50/new registration starts at $76.25 depending on weight)
- The new owner would submit the follow to their local tax office through the mail (Once normal operations resume these transactions can be processed in person):
Q. I’ve lost / never received my original Texas Title. Can the Harris County Tax Office print another one?
- Titles are issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TXDMV). Duplicate /Replacement titles are issued through their offices.
Submit the following through the mail (Once normal operations resume these transactions can be processed in person.):- VTR-34, completed and signed by all recorded owners (www.hctax.net/About/Forms or www.txdmv.gov/forms)
- Original lien release if a lien was record.
- Fees
- Address for submission indicated on application. Once normal operations resume these transactions can be processed in person.
- Titles are issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TXDMV). Duplicate /Replacement titles are issued through their offices.
Q. Where can I send mail to the Tax office?
- Ann Harris Bennett, Tax Assessor-Collector
P.O. Box 4089
Houston, Texas 77210-4089
Overnight
Ann Harris Bennett, Tax Assessor-Collector
1001 Preston
Houston, Texas 77002
- Ann Harris Bennett, Tax Assessor-Collector
Q. I just bought a trailer from an individual how can I register it?
- Trailers with a gross weight of 4,001 must be titled if receiving regular trailer plates.
- Non-title/no-Vin – if under 4,001 lbs:
- Form 130-U (Non-Title application) Complete and sign this form. (blank form attached)
- A certified weight certificate
- Bill of Sale
- Valid ID
- Fees (sales tax, $33.00 title, $62.25 registration plus P&H)
- Titled or Registered in Texas
- Form 130-U (Non-Title application) Complete and sign this form. (blank form attached)
- A certified weight certificate
- Title/Bill of Sale
- Valid ID
- Fees (sales tax, $33.00 title, $62.25 registration plus P&H)
- Originally Titled/registered out of state or no VIN
- A VIN must be assigned by TXDMV (2110 East Governors Circle Houston, TX 77092), if the trailer is homemade or does not have a VIN from a manufacturer.
- Notice of Assigned or Reassigned Identification Number (Form VTR-68-N) issued by TXDMV, if applicable
- Law Enforcement Identification Number Inspection (Form VTR-68-A), issued by Law Enforcement (Police or Sheriff)
- Form VTR-141 Trailer Verification Statement completed with the applicable information.
- Form 130-U (Title application) Complete and sign this form. (Blank form attached)
- A certified weight certificate
- Bill of Sale
- Valid ID
- Fees (sales tax, $33.00 title, $62.25 registration plus P&H)