Please Notice Potential Tax Relief, for additional information and forms please contact:
Cheryl E. Johnson, RTA
Galveston County Tax Assessor Collector
722 Moody, Galveston, Texas 77550
cheryl.e.johnson@co.galveston.tx.us
1-877-766-2284
Special Taxpayer Relief Provisions for Victims of Hurricane Ike
Several taxpayer relief provisions are available in the Texas Property Tax Code (TPTC) for governments as well as property owners in counties that have been declared a disaster area. Section 23.02 allows governments to require the appraisal district to reappraise all properties located in their jurisdiction in order to determine after-storm-value. Galveston County is one of 29 Texas counties declared to be a disaster area thus all taxing jurisdictions in the County are eligible. Cost of a reappraisal is shared by all governments participating. Values that are adjusted apply only to the taxes of participating jurisdictions. This means that if the school district asks for a reappraisal but the county does not, only the school taxes will be lowered. Taxes are prorated on the before-Ike-value plus the after-Ike-value.
Owners of residential properties may be eligible to make installment payments as provided by Section 31.032 (TPTC). This section allows owners of residential properties of less than five units damaged by the storm to make installment payments without incurring penalty and interest if the following conditions are met: 1) the first payment is received by February 2 (second by March 31, third by June 1, and fourth by July 31); and 2) a formal request is made to the Tax Office along with the first payment. All residential properties of less than five units qualify if they have sustained damage.
The newsletter included with the tax statement includes a form that may be signed and returned to our office for eligible residential property owners (and one is included below). For additional information, please call the Property Tax Department at 1-409-766-2481 or toll free1-877-766-2284.
Cheryl E. Johnson, RTA
INSTALLMENT PAYMENT REQUEST FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS
Owners of residential properties damaged by the storm are eligible to make four installment payments without incurring penalty and interest if the following conditions are met: 1) The property must be residential (and have less than 5 dwelling units); 2) the first payment must be received by February 2 (second by March 31, third by June 1, and fourth by July 31); and 3) damages must have been experienced and a request to take advantage of this payment option be provided to the Tax Office. Should you wish to take advantage of this payment option, please sign and return the statement below and mail it along with your first installment payment to GCTO, 722 Moody, Galveston, Texas 77550.
I attest that damages caused by Hurricane Ike to my residential property qualify me for the special taxpayer relief provisions available under the Property Tax Code.
