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Behind on Houston-area property taxes? How penalties and interest add up.
By Captain Saves A Home · Published October 24, 2026 · Updated October 24, 2026 · 1 min read
Texas property taxes do not wait. Once a bill goes delinquent, the cost grows every month. Here is the schedule county tax offices publish, so you can see what waiting costs.
When taxes become delinquent
Texas county tax offices treat property taxes as delinquent if they are not paid by January 31. From February on, a penalty and interest are added each month.
The monthly schedule
| Month paid | Penalty | Interest | Total added |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | 6% | 1% | 7% |
| March | 7% | 2% | 9% |
| April | 8% | 3% | 11% |
| May | 9% | 4% | 13% |
| June | 10% | 5% | 15% |
| July | 12% | 6% | 18% |
From August 1 on, the penalty stays at 12% while interest keeps accruing at 1% per month. Real property that is still delinquent on July 1 may also be charged an additional collection penalty of 15% or 20% of the taxes, penalties and interest due, depending on the taxing jurisdiction.
This schedule does not apply to taxes paid under a quarterly or half-payment plan, or in years when a rollback election succeeded. A change to your value or exemptions by the appraisal district can also move the delinquency date. Your tax statement and county tax office are the final word.
What you can do
- Look up your tax statement and see which years are unpaid and what the office says you owe today.
- Ask your county tax office what payment options are available for delinquent taxes.
- Check whether you qualify for assistance with our free grant pre-screen. It is a pre-screen, not an approval.
- If you are thinking of selling, ask a title company for a payoff figure so you know what the sale has to cover.
Selling with back taxes
Delinquent property taxes are typically paid off at closing out of the sale proceeds, so the house can change hands with a clear title. We buy houses as-is, including houses with back taxes, and we can show you exactly what you would walk away with. Start on our sell fast page.