Randall County Tax Office: Paying Homestead Taxes in Installments

Texas Tax Code section 31.031 lets certain homestead owners pay their taxes in four equal installments; Randall County's Tax Office collects for the county and the other units on its bills. Its payment page: "Taxpayers over 65, disabled or a veteran may pay current taxes on their qualified homestead in installments without penalty and interest by signing an agreement and paying first installment by January 31. There is 7% penalty and interest applied on the first installment if paid by February 28." The schedule it prints: a quarter by January 31, a quarter by March 31, a quarter by May 31 and a quarter by July 31. Who qualifies under the statute. Not every veteran: section 31.031(a)(2) covers "a disabled veteran or the unmarried surviving spouse of a disabled veteran" who is "qualified for an exemption under Section 11.132 or 11.22", and (a)(1) covers owners 65 and older or disabled with the over-65 or disability homestead exemption. A veteran with a 10% or higher service-connected rating who has the 11.22 exemption on the home qualifies; see the Texas entries on those exemptions. How. Sign the installment agreement with the Tax Office and pay the first quarter before the delinquency date, normally February 1, telling the office that the rest will come in three installments. A missed installment becomes delinquent and draws a 6% penalty plus interest under section 31.031(b). Tax Office: 501 16th Street, Suite 200, Canyon, TX 79015 (weekdays 8 to 5), and the Amarillo Annex, 4320 S. Western, Suite 100; 806-468-5540.