CCISD TAX OFFICE : Frequently Asked Questions
SECTION 1: OVER 65 OR DISABLED PERSONS
SECTION 2: EXEMPTIONS, APPRAISED VALUES AND OWNERSHIP CHANGES
SECTION 3: TAX BILLS, DUE DATES,PRINT A TAX RECEIPT, PAYMENT PLANS
SECTION 4: BUSINESS ACCOUNTS & PERSONAL PROPERTY (Late Renditions)
SECTION 5: TAX CERTIFICATES & MAPS
Q. How do I get an Over 65 Homestead, Disability, 100% Veteran Homestead or any other exemption?
Exemptions are granted through the county appraisal district where the property is located. Harris County property owners will contact Harris County Appraisal District (713) 957-7800 and Galveston County property owners will contact Galveston Central Appraisal District. 1 (866) 277-4725.
Q. I want to transfer my Over 65 Exemption from another house in Texas to one in your school district, what should I do?
Begin by applying for the Over 65 Homestead Exemption with the county appraisal district where you will be living. Ask them where you need to submit your original “Tax Ceiling Transfer Certificate” or "Port". You can get this certificate from the county appraisal district you are moving from.
Q. I have elected to use the Over 65 or Disabled Persons Payment Option, but my mortgage company sent me a letter that I have unpaid taxes, what is going on?
Texas School Districts offer taxpayers Over 65 or Disabled an option of paying their taxes in four installments. Some mortgage companies outside of Texas may not realize that many of our Over 65 or Disabled Persons use this payment option. This office does not contact any mortgage company regarding unpaid taxes. The mortgage company may have looked on-line and saw there was a balance still due on the account and assumed the taxes were unpaid. There was a letter mailed to you outlining the payment plan. Send the mortgage company a copy of this letter. This should be sufficient documentation of your payment schedule. They can visit our website to verify that you have a declining balance and/or that payments have been made.
Q. I was told that when you turn 65 you do not have to pay school taxes, is this true?
No. When you turn 65 you get an additional exemption that helps to lower the amount of tax that you pay and freezes the tax amount you pay, but it does not eliminate the tax. The county may offer a larger Over 65 exemption amount. In some cases if the exemption amount is greater than the property value there may not be a tax for that office. Please see Tax Basics for more information on Over 65 or Disabled Person Exemptions.
Q. I was told that if I get a tax deferral, I do not have to pay taxes, is this true?
No. Taxes are postponed (deferred) to a later date but it does not eliminate the tax. See Tax Basics for more information
Q. How do I get a Homestead exemption or any other exemption?
Exemptions are granted through the county appraisal district where the property is located. Harris County property owners will contact Harris County Appraisal District (713) 957-7800 and Galveston County property owners will contact Galveston Central Appraisal District. 1 (866) 277-4725.
Q. Why is your homestead exemption different from the county’s exemption?
Each taxing authority can offer a different exemption amount. Some county tax offices offer a 20% exemption. CCISD homestead exemption has two parts: the local option which has a value of 5% or $5000 whichever is greater; and the state mandate which has a straight dollar value of $15,000 regardless the value. (5%+ $15,000) Go to "Tax Basics" for an example of homestead exemption calculation.
Q. My tax bill does not show my exemption(s), what should I do?
Contact the county appraisal district to get the exemption added to the property. You can only qualify for a homestead exemption if you own and live in your home on January 1 of that tax year. If you move in any time after that date you will not qualify until next January. Taxes are always due on or before January 31. We will never suggest that a property owner wait for an exemption to pay the taxes. You do not want any savings from the exemption to be used towards penalty and interest due to late payment. When we are notified of the exemption: we will issue a refund if the tax has already been paid; or will re-bill the unpaid tax with the exemption and any penalty or interest if applicable.
Q. How do I get the name and address changed on my property?
The only authority to change ownership records and or mailing addresses (this includes miss-spellings) is the county appraisal district, not the tax office. Contact the county appraisal office: Harris County Appraisal District (713) 957-7800 or Galveston Central Appraisal District. 1 (866) 277-4725.
Q. The tax bill is still not in my name, should I pay the bill?
It takes time for the ownership information to filter to and from the appraisal district. If you are the current owner of the property, you or your mortgage company should pay the taxes by January 31. We will record the name on the check as the payer of the tax.
Q. How did you determine the appraised value on my property, how do I get this changed?
Property is appraised by a certified appraiser from the county appraisal district, not the tax office. If there is an error in the appraisal, square footage or property description, contact the county appraisal office: Harris County Appraisal District (713) 957-7800 or Galveston Central Appraisal District toll free 1 (866) 277-4725.
Q. I need proof that my taxes are paid/ print a receipt .
Use the search tax records link above left. Pull up your account > Press Duplicate Receipt > Click on a Tax Year > Print receipt.
Q. When are tax bills mailed and when are payments due?
Tax bills are usually mailed by Thanksgiving. If you have not received a tax bill by December, you can print one from this site or call our office. All taxes are due on or before January 31 without penalty and interest. Taxes become delinquent on February 1. Many taxpayers pay their taxes on or before December 31 for income tax purpose. Tax offices must mail tax bills to the address provided by the county appraisal district. It is the responsibility of the property owner to promptly notify the appraisal district of any change in ownership or mailing address.
Q. What if I mail my taxes and they get there after the due date?
This office honors the postmarks of the US Postal Service. Metered mail dates will not be considered. We are required to collect the amount due on the date of the postmark. If your check is dated January 31, but your postmark is dated February 12, we are required to collect the amount for February. May we suggest that you mail your payment in advance to ensure proper postmarks or walk your payment into the post office.
Q. Do you have payment plans or can I make partial payments on my taxes?
Clear Creek ISD Tax Offices does not offer any payment plans nor do we take partial payments. Taxes need to be paid in full for the amount due on the date payment is rendered or postmarked.
Q. I never received a tax bill, why do I have to pay penalty and interest?
It is the responsibility of the property owner to know which taxing authorities tax their property and when taxes are due. Tax bills are mailed and the taxes are due at the same time each year. If you have not received a tax bill by December, print one from this website or call our office. It is not necessary to have a tax bill to make a payment as long as you have your account number and know the correct amount. You can either mail or bring your payment to our office. Sec 31.01 Texas Tax Code: Failure to receive a tax bill is not grounds for waiver of penalty and interest and does not affect the validity of the due date.
Q. My mortgage company pays my taxes, why did I get a tax bill?
If your mortgage company did not requested the tax bill before we printed and mailed the original bill, the tax bill will be mailed to the property owner. If you have received a tax bill that is to be paid by your mortgage company, write your mortgage loan number on the tax bill and forward it your mortgage company’s escrow department. Any mortgage company can print a tax bill from this website
Q. Where should I mail my payment if I use my bank's On-Line bill pay?
Payments made via On-line bill pay between October 1 through January 31 can be made to: CCISD Tax Office, P.O. Box 650395, Dallas, Texas 75265. Since the payment will not be accompanied by a tax bill, it is imperative that you verify your CCISD account number will appear correctly and that our mailing address (the bank has on file) is the same address as shown. For payments mailed after January 31, Over 65 or Disabled payments and all other correspondence should be mailed to CCISD Tax Office, P.O. Box 799, League City, Texas 77574. If you choose to submit your payment to the Dallas address after January 31, understand that the bank will not process the payment but will forward the payment to our office for posting.
Q. Why do you have two different payment mailing addresses?
Payments mailed October 1 through January 31 with the detachable portion of the tax bill should be mailed to: CCISD Tax Office, P.O. Box 650395, Dallas, Texas 75265. We use a bank lockbox service to process a large portion of our payments during the peak of tax season. The Dallas address is the address for our bank’s payment processing center. Payments are opened and processed electronically and promptly posted to the account. Please do not use staples or send correspondence to Dallas. Payments mailed without a tax bill, payments mailed after January 31, Over 65 or Disabled payments and all other correspondence should be mailed to CCISD Tax Office, P.O. Box 799, League City, Texas 77574. If you choose to mail your payment to the Dallas address after Jan 31 understand that the bank will not process the payment but will forward the payment to our office for posting.
Q. Why does your payment address change?
As a school district we are required to go out for bids on financial services every few years. Therefore we will use the selected bank's lockbox address for payment processing. Please update your online payment address to the mailing address on the tax bill (home & office computers, too).
Q. I have not received all of my tax bills, how do I get a missing tax bill?
Click on the search tax records button to the above left. It will take you to our records search page. You can search by account number, name, or street address of property. Less is sometimes better. Instead of searching for Brown, Thomas G, III try .... Brown T or Brown, T or just enter Brown and scroll through the accounts. If you are the new owner, you may want to try the previous owner’s name. If you have the county account number, plug this number into the "Search by County CAD number", use example shown. If you are unable to locate the account call our office.
Q. This is not my property or I no longer own the property, what should I do?
The tax office can not change any ownership records. The current owner of the property or owner’s agent is responsible for making sure the ownership and mailing information is recorded with the county appraisal district shortly after acquiring the property. If you are concerned that this may not have been done you can contact the appraisal district yourself. Contact the county appraisal office: Harris County Appraisal District (713) 957-7800 or Galveston Central Appraisal District. 1 (866) 277-4725.
Q. I did not own the property for the entire year, why am I being billed for the entire year.
We do not take partial payments. We normally do not know what the taxes are going to be for a property until near the end of the year. Since we are required to collect the total due at the time payment is made, we can not take part of the money from the seller then bill the buyer for the balance. You should check your closing papers as to the disposition of unpaid taxes due at the time of your closing. There may have been funds allocated at closing for the seller’s portion of the unpaid tax. You may have received a check or a credit to your closing cost. Your closing papers or Title Company should help you with this.
Q. Why am I getting a delinquent tax bill on a property I just purchased?
The tax laws require that tax office’s mail delinquent tax bills to the current owner of the real estate. Because a tax lien exists against that parcel, it is in the current owner's best interest to have knowledge of that lien. In the State of Texas the taxes follow the property. You should check with your title company as to the disposition of unpaid taxes due at the time of your closing. There may have been funds allocated at closing to settle these taxes.
Q. I received a tax bill, but I am just renting the property for my business?
All businesses are taxed on their personal property, such as furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, inventory and vehicles used to generate income. Most likely, the tax bill that you received is for your business personal property and not for the real estate itself. The real estate is taxed separately and the tax bill sent to the property owner. Questions about personal property should be directed to the county appraisal office: Harris County Appraisal District (713) 957-7800 or Galveston Central Appraisal District toll free 1 (866) 277-4725.
Q. I closed my business but I keep getting a tax bill, how do I get this corrected?
If you operated your business on January 1 of a tax year you will still owe business personal property tax for the entire year. Business Personal Property taxes are not prorated. It is important that you notify the county appraisal district to close your tax records when you close your business. If you fail to notify them, your business may remain on future tax rolls. The county appraisal office is the only authority to remove an account from the tax roll not the tax offices. Harris County Appraisal District (713) 957-7800 or Galveston Central Appraisal District toll free 1 (866) 277-4725.
Q. The value you show for my business property is too high or you have property on my bill that I do not own , how do I get this corrected?
Tax Offices use the value and property descriptions provide to them by the county appraisal district to bill the taxpayer. You must contact the county appraisal district to have a correction made to the account or set up a protest hearing. If a correction is made, the appraisal office will certify the change and notify each tax office of change. The tax office in turn will rebill the account with the change. This notification process can take anywhere between 4-12 weeks. If the account is paid when we receive a correction, a refunded will automatically be issued for overpayment. If the tax is unpaid on February 1, we will make the correction and rebill you for the tax , penalty and interest if applicable. Please remember that taxes are due January 31 even if you are waiting for a change. Harris County Appraisal District (713) 957-7800 or Galveston Central Appraisal District toll free 1 (866) 277-4725.
Q. I was charged a Late Rendition, what is this?
Chapter 22, Texas Tax Code, requires owners of business personal property to file a rendition describing the property with the chief appraiser by April 15 of each year and also prescribes the penalty for failure to comply. The rendition penalty is a penalty created by the Texas Legislature on those businesses failing to file their business personal property rendition, or filing their rendition late, to their County Appraisal District. The rendition penalty is generally equal to 10% of the amount of property taxes ultimately imposed on the property.
Q. How do I get this Late Rendition Penalty removed?
You must contact your county appraisal district. The tax office does not have any authority over this matter. Contact the Business Personal Property Department of your county appraisal district: Harris County Appraisal District (713) 957-7800 or Galveston Central Appraisal District 1 (866) 277- 4725.
Q. If I do not pay the Late Rendition Penalty, what happens?
You will be subject to civil action for collection in the courts.
Q. How do I get a tax certificate and is there a fee?
You can get a tax certificate from our office for a fee of $10.00. We do not prepare tax certificates in advance. Our system requires a payment source before we can generate a tax certificate. Once we receive the fee we will prepare the certificate while you wait. The wait time for a tax certificate is usually 5-10 minutes per certificate. Please allow additional wait time during December and January. We will need either the CCISD account number or the County account number.
Q. Do you have property maps that we can use to locate a property.
This office does not keep maps of any kind. Your best bet would be to contact the mapping department of your county appraisal district. They can tell you which school district or taxing entity that a property is located in. Harris County Appraisal District (713) 957-7800 or Galveston Central Appraisal District 1 (866) 277- 4725.