The Tax Office Brief

June 2025 | Issue 1

Free Workshops

Payment Plans

Homestead Exemptions

Register

to Vote

Auto Inspections Changes

Meet your Harris County Tax Assessor

Dear Harris County Resident, 


It’s a privilege to serve as your Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar and to work alongside an incredible team that supports Harris County residents each day. The Tax Office serves millions of people every year—we're where you go when you need to register to vote, pay your property tax, or take care of paperwork for your car. Public service is at the center of everything we do.  

As a proud first-generation Mexican American, Texan, and mother of three—I understand the difference that quality public service can make and learned the value of public service from my own mother, a teacher, while growing up in El Paso. After earning my law degree from South Texas College of Law, my career in public service began over 23 years ago in the Aldine Independent School District’s legal department. As Assistant General Counsel, I oversaw the district’s in-house property tax collection and other matters that have prepared me to lead the Tax Office. 



When I took office in January, I made it a priority to listen and learn. In my first six months, I’ve visited our branch offices, headquarters, and distribution center and have seen firsthand the dedication and professionalism our staff bring to their work—even while navigating significant challenges due to limited resources and staff. We are working hard to address long wait times at branches, reduce hold times at our call centers, and modernize the services you all rely on.



An investment in the Tax Office is an investment in the people of Harris County. That’s why, in March, I presented a supplemental budget request to the Commissioners Court, asking for the resources needed to support this work. I’m grateful the Court approved a $2.5 million investment for Fiscal Year 2025, which will allow us to invest in our workforce and launch initiatives to reduce wait times, modernize services, and better serve all residents.

 

Our goal is simple: Provide best-in-class service to everyone who contacts or visits our office. That work is already underway, and I look forward to continuing it with you in mind every step of the way. 


Thank you for your trust, your time, and your partnership. I am committed to serving the communities of Harris County with transparency, accountability, and respect. We are here to serve—and we’re building a better, stronger Tax Office to meet the needs of a growing and thriving Harris County. 


Sincerely, 

Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector & Voter Registrar 

What the Harris County Tax Office Does for You 

If you’ve ever paid your property taxes, renewed your vehicle registration, or registered to vote in Harris County, then you’ve already interacted with one of the most essential public offices in the county—the Harris County Tax Office. 

With 16 locations across the county, our office provides direct services to more residents than any other department in Harris County. Here's a closer look at what we do and how we serve over 4 million residents every day. 

Core Services 

We collect property taxes for more than 1.7 million tax accounts. These collections help fund local governments and vital public services across Harris County. 

As the official Voter Registrar for Harris County, we maintain a voter roll of 2.61 million registered voters—making us critical to safeguarding democratic participation in the third-largest county in the nation. 

From processing over 3.4 million vehicle registrations annually to managing title transactions and other auto-related services, our Motor Vehicle Division is one of the busiest in the state. 

Why It Matters 

The Tax Office is more than a transactional hub—it’s a financial engine for Harris County. We’re responsible for collecting and disbursing billions in revenue each year, funds that power the essential services residents rely on every day, including: 

  • Health care access 
  • Public infrastructure 
  • Community safety 
  • Public health initiatives 

We don’t just collect payments—we help power and empower Harris County. 

Helpful Information for Homeowners

Exemptions are available  

  • Assessor Ramirez urges homeowners to seize the opportunity to lower their property tax bills by applying for homestead exemptions through the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD). You may be able to significantly reduce the taxable value of your property with qualifying exemptions. 
  • To apply for your exemption, simply visit hcad.org and navigate to FORMS > ALL FORMS > RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION. Complete the form and include a copy of your valid Texas ID or Driver’s License that matches the address on your application. 
  • Learn more about the types of exemptions available.

Payment plans are available for homeowners 

  • Assessor Ramirez and the Tax Office team are committed to helping Harris County property owners experiencing difficulty paying their past-due property taxes and offer payment plans. Payment plans range from 12 up to 36 months.
  • Entering a payment plan and making payments as scheduled helps homeowners avoid additional fees.

Check important deadlines

Check insurance policies ahead of Hurricane Season  

  • Review your insurance policies for home and auto to understand what it covers and what it does not. It's important that homeowners look into adding flood insurance because standard homeowner policies exclude flood damage. Flood insurance typically takes 30 days to get activated. 
  • Document your valuables and include costs. 

Assessor Ramirez Joins the League of Women Voters of Houston for Annual Meeting

Last month, Assessor Ramirez joined the League of Women Voters of Houston as a guest speaker at their annual meeting! She shared her vision for the Tax Office, spoke about how key challenges are being addressed, and highlighted the opportunities ahead.

We’re grateful to the League and its dedicated members who are always on the frontlines of democracy— registering voters, educating the public, and empowering communities.

Kicking Off Pride Month

This month, Assessor Ramirez joined local leaders and community members at the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce’s Pride in Business luncheon. The chamber plays a vital role in Harris County’s economic growth while championing equality and opportunity.

Estella Gonzalez, who leads Harris County’s Department of Equity and Economic Opportunity, received a Chamber Champion Award! Congratulations to Director Gonzalez, the Chamber, and all the honorees for an outstanding event.

Click to view more photos

Important FYI

In partnership with the Harris Central Appraisal District, the Tax Office offers homeowners free property tax workshops. The workshops provide homeowners an opportunity to learn how to protest property value, apply for exemptions, and understand how taxes are calculated. Homeowners can also learn and ask questions about payment plans for delinquent taxes.

Click for full schedule

If you are confused about changes to car inspections, you are not the only one! While a safety inspection is no longer required, most vehicles in Harris County must still pass an emissions test to be registered. Once your car passes the emissions test, you can go to any vehicle renewal location in Harris County to obtain your vehicle registration.

Click here for more information about changes.

Connect with Us on Social

In case you missed it, here are some important updates from our social media channels! You can find us on all major platforms—just click here to follow us.

Stay connected to receive the latest information, valuable resources, and urgent emergency notices straight to your feed.

Thank you for being part of our community!

Celebrating the Mothers of the Tax Office 🌸  

Assessor Ramirez and the team hosted a luncheon in honor of all the hard-working mothers at the Harris County Tax Office.

It was a heartwarming experience for everyone to come together, share stories, and celebrate all mother figures everywhere.  

Assessor Ramirez Teams Up with Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia to Host Town Hall and Resource Fair

Over 200 seniors attended a Town Hall and Resource Fair hosted by Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. This event provided a valuable opportunity to share information about exemptions for seniors over 65, payment plans, and various property tax resources that can assist them. 

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