Tax Office Urges Taxpayers to Take Precautions When Paying by Mail

PRESS RELEASE

Tax Office Urges Taxpayers to Take Precautions When Paying by Mail

Tarrant County property owners will begin receiving tax bills this month. Taxpayers have several payment methods to choose from, including cash, checks, debit, and credit cards. All payment methods are considered safe and secure when presented in person at any of our Tarrant County locations, online through our payment portal, or by phone. However, taxpayers are reminded to be diligent about protecting their financial information by being aware of where and how they make a payment.

The U.S. Postal Service reports that the average time for mail delivery is 2.5 days. While we believe that most mail is delivered timely, there have been recent reports by local media and by the United States Postal Inspection Service of random acts of theft and violence.

“Due to the rise in mail theft in recent months, we urge taxpayers to protect themselves against potential theft by dropping their tax payments inside a post office rather than the blue mail collection boxes found outside the building or in neighborhood locations,” said Wendy Burgess, Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector.

A secure website to make an E-check payment with the same bank account taxpayers might use to write a check from is available 24/7 at no cost to the taxpayer. Navigate to the property tax page of our website to access the payment portal. “There is no fee to pay with E-check. Our payment portal is secure, user friendly, and does not require a login to make a payment. Taxpayers can access the portal from any computer or mobile device with internet access,” said Burgess. “E-checks are also accepted by phone.”

Taxpayers who mail their payments should view their account online to be sure payment has been posted. Please allow 1-3 business days. Due to the high volume of payments we receive in December and January, please allow 7-10 business days.

Customer Service Representatives are available by phone at 817-884-1100 and online chat during normal business hours and can verify payments are posted. Take the steps necessary to ensure you do not fall victim to mail theft. There is no consideration in the Tax Code for undelivered mail, and penalty and interest will begin accruing on the unpaid balance of any account paid or postmarked after the due date.

Debit and credit cards are accepted online and by phone with an additional convenience fee charged by the card company. Branch locations are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., except County holidays, and in-person payments are accepted with cash, check, and credit or debit card payments.