Certain qualifying homeowners may pay property taxes in four installments instead of all at once, but they must meet the notice and timing rules.
Sec. 31.031. INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS OF CERTAIN HOMESTEAD TAXES. (a) This section applies only to: (1) an individual who is: (A) disabled or at least 65 years of age; and (B) qualified for an exemption under Section 11.13(c); or (2) an individual who is: (A) a disabled veteran or the unmarried surviving spouse of a disabled veteran; and (B) qualified for an exemption under Section 11.132 or 11.22. (a-1) An individual to whom this section applies may pay a taxing unit's taxes imposed on property that the person owns and occupies as a residence homestead in four equal installments without penalty or interest if the first installment is paid before the delinquency date and is accompanied by notice to the taxing unit that the person will pay the remaining taxes in three equal installments. If the delinquency date is February 1, the second installment must be paid before April 1, the third installment must be paid before June 1, and the fourth installment must be paid before August 1. If the delinquency date is a date other than February 1, the second installment must be paid before the first day of the second month after the delinquency date, the third installment must be paid before the first day of the fourth month after the delinquency date, and the fourth installment must be paid before the first day of the sixth month after the delinquency date. (a-2) Notwithstanding the deadline prescribed by Subsection (a-1) for payment of the first installment, an individual to whom this section applies may pay the taxes in four equal installments as provided by Subsection (a-1) if the first installment is paid and the required notice is provided before the first day of the first month after the delinquency date. (b) If the individual fails to make a payment, including the first payment, before the applicable date provided by Subsection (a-1), the unpaid installment is delinquent and incurs a penalty of six percent and interest as provided by Section 33.01(c). The penalty provided by Section 33.01(a) does not apply to the unpaid installment. (c) An individual may pay more than the amount due for each installment and the amount in excess of the amount due shall be credited to the next installment. An individual may not pay less than the total amount due for each installment unless the collector provides for the acceptance of partial payments under this section. If the collector accepts a partial payment, penalties and interest are incurred only by the amount of each installment that remains unpaid on the applicable date provided by Subsection (a-1). (d) Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 226 , Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2015. Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1990. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 171, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 510, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1274 (H.B. 2254), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 4 (S.B. 1), Sec. 36.01, eff. January 1, 2012. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 122 (H.B. 97), Sec. 7, eff. January 1, 2014. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 161 (S.B. 1093), Sec. 19.004, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 643 (H.B. 709), Sec. 2, eff. January 1, 2014. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 935 (H.B. 1597), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 226 (H.B. 1933), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 226 (H.B. 1933), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 725 (S.B. 1047), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2018.