SYLVIA S. ROMO, CPA, RTA, CTA
Bexar County Tax Office News
November 26, 2012
Property tax split payment due this week
Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector Sylvia S. Romo reminds taxpayers, there is still time to take advantage of the split payment plan and reduce the burden of paying the full property tax bill at once.
“The option to make two installment payments is cost effective and simple,” Romo said.
Taxpayers who take advantage of the split payment option avoid paying penalty and interest charges if both payments are made by the legally mandated deadlines of November 30 and June 30 of the following year.
The downtown office of the Tax Assessor-Collector located at 233 N. Pecos will, once again, have two curbside drop boxes available from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday, November 30. Customers can drop off payments near the office entrance at the corner of West Martin and in front of the Vista Verde Plaza on the access road. All lobbies will be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. for taxpayers' convenience.
If residents need more information or want to confirm the amount due, they are urged to visit the website www.bexar.org/tax or call the Tax Office at (210) 335-2251. Payments also may be made online by credit card or e-check (electronic debit directly from checking account) through the Tax Office website or by phone with a credit card by calling (888) 852-3572. As an added convenience credit card payments are now accepted at all office locations. A processing fee is charged by the third party service provider for all credit card and e-check payments.
June 25, 2012
Romo offers more time, more convenient methods of paying property taxes
Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector Sylvia Romo reminds all taxpayers who opt for the popular half-payment option that the deadline to make the second installment of the 2011 property tax is June 30. However, the law provides for the deadline to be extended until July 2 because June 30 falls on a Saturday. Those taxpayers who were able to pay half of their tax bill last November have an extended deadline to pay the other half of the bill.
“The number of property owners who choose the half-payment option increases each year,” Romo said. “For those property owners who manage their own escrow accounts, the half-payment option is an attractive alternative to paying the full bill at once.”
In anticipation of the high volume of customers, the main office of the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector located at 233 N. Pecos La-Trinidad will stay open until 5 p.m. Friday, June 29, and until 6:45 p.m. Monday, July 2. The substation offices will remain open until 5 p.m. both Friday, June 29, and Monday, July 2.
“This year we are enhancing our customer service by providing two days of convenient curb drop-off service for payments,” Romo said.
The curbside locations are in front of the main tax office at 233 N. Pecos La Trinidad or at the side entrance on Martin Street. The curbside drop-off locations will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, June 29, and from 7:30 am to 6:45 p.m. Monday, July 2. All incoming traffic will flow into the parking lot from Martin Street and exit through Pecos-La Trinidad.
The Tax Assessor-Collector’s office will offer an electronic payment station inside the lobby of each tax office location. The public will be able to visit the Tax Office website to make payments electronically using a credit card or e-check. A processing fee is charged by the third party service provider for all credit card and e-check payments.
Taxpayers in need of a duplicate tax statement should visit www.bexar.org/tax or call the office at 335-2251 for an accurate half-payment amount. Payments may also be made online by credit card or e-check (electronic debit directly from checking account) through the Tax Office website, www.bexar.org/tax, or by phone with a credit card by calling (800) 272-9829 and using the access code #5305.
January 30, 2012
January deadline for Property Taxes
Sylvia S. Romo, Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector, announces that the deadline to pay property taxes is tomorrow, and her office will have extended hours and other convenient ways for residents to meet the deadline."January 31 is the deadline for payment of 2011 property taxes. Penalty and interest will begin to accrue at a rate of 7 percent on any unpaid 2011 balance on February 1 and will increase on a monthly basis," Romo said. "This does not apply to taxpayers under the Split or Quarter Payment Options. Taxpayers eligible to pay by the Quarter Payment Plan must also submit their first quarter payment by January 31 in order to qualify."
The Tax Office will once again offer two curbside drop-off locations from 7:30 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. at the main office, 233 N. Pecos-Trinidad at West Martin Street. Customers who drop off their payment are asked to have their payment in an envelope marked with their name, account number and return address. In addition to the curbside drop-offs, the main office lobby will remain open until 6:45 p.m. The Tax Assessor's substations throughout the County will close at 5 p.m.
"We make the payment process as quick and easy as possible to accommodate taxpayers' busy schedules," Romo said.
As a convenience, taxpayers may also pay their bill online by credit card or e-check by going to the Tax Office website www.bexar.org/tax. Credit card payments may also be made by telephone by calling (800) 272-9829 and entering access code #5305. The companies that process credit card and e-check transactions charge convenience fees for this service. Payments submitted by mail must be postmarked by January 31. Taxpayers who mail their payments on the due date should obtain proof of mailing, such as a Certificate of Mailing, Certified or Registered Mail receipt to ensure an accurate postmark date.
"Taxpayers who choose to pay online or by telephone should pay as early as possible because of the high volume of activity on the due date," advised Romo.
Taxpayers unable to pay their taxes in full by January 31 will be able to make payment arrangements beginning February 1. Payment arrangements allow property owners to pay their delinquent tax, penalty, and interest on a monthly basis and prevent the foreclosure of the tax lien when the terms of the arrangement are kept.
"I understand that many property owners are under financial strain at this time and I want to assist taxpayers to the extent that I am able," Romo said. "The best thing to do is come into the office and find out what can be done to reduce frustration or further costs."
Taxpayers who have misplaced their tax bill or have questions about their 2011 balance should contact the office at (210) 335-2251 or view their account online at www.bexar.org/tax.
November 29, 2011
Pay early, Save Money!
Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector Sylvia S. Romo reminds all taxpayers who opt for the popular half-payment option that the deadline to make the first installment is Wednesday, November 30. Those who are able to pay half of their tax bill on or before November 30 have an extended deadline of June 2012 to pay the other half of the bill.
"The number of property owners who choose the half-payment option increases each year," Romo said. "For those citizens who manage their own escrow account, the half-payment option is an attractive alternative to paying the full bill at once."
In anticipation of the high volume of customers, Ms. Romo will extend the business hours to 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Downtown Tax Office, 233 N. Pecos La Trinidad. Substations will close at 5 p.m.
As an added convenience, taxpayers may also drop off payments without leaving the vehicle. Curbside collection will only be available at the Downtown location from 7:30 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. The two designated drop-off locations are in front of the building on North Pecos La Trinidad and at the side entrance on Martin Street. Due to the high volume of traffic on Wednesday all incoming traffic at the Downtown location will flow into the parking lot from Martin Street and exit through Pecos La Trinidad.
Taxpayers in need of a duplicate tax statement should visit www.bexar.org/tax or call (210) 335-2251 for an accurate half payment amount. Payments may also be made online by credit card or e-check (electronic debit directly from a checking account) at www.bexar.org/tax/onlinePayInfo.html, or by phone with a credit card at (800) 272-9829 with the access code #5305.
Once again, the Tax Assessor-Collector's office will offer an electronic payment station inside the lobby of each location. The public will be able to visit the Tax Office Website to make payments electronically with a credit card or e-check. A processing fee is charged by the third party service provider for all credit card and e-check payments.
October 6, 2011
Pay early, Save Money!
October 1 marks the beginning of the 2011 property tax season. Based on certified appraisal values, minus applicable exemptions, the 2011 tax levy is more than $2.3 billion. The property tax collection cycle begins when the statements are mailed out in October with a due date of January 31, 2012, with the exception of split and quarter payments."Tax bills for property owners without an escrow service or mortgage company will be arriving in mailboxes this week," said Sylvia Romo, Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector. Other property owners will receive a statement for information purpose only, later this month.
"I have seized the opportunity to save taxpayer dollars and print both our statement and newsletter in-house by partnering with Bexar County Information Technology. BCIT now has the necessary, high quality equipment to handle the job," Ms. Romo said. "The reduction in production costs is substantial." "Once again, we have made a concerted effort to group property tax statements by owner to reduce the number of envelopes sent to tax payers with multiple accounts. We have received positive feedback from property owners with multiple accounts for reducing the cost and amount of mail sent," Ms. Romo said. BCIT also assisted in the stuffing and mailing of the statements.
Tax Assessor-Collector Romo encourages taxpayers who may be struggling financially to look at all their payment options. There are two advantageous payment options available to reduce the strain of paying the bill all at once. The split payment option is available to everyone, wherein a property owner is able to pay their bill in two equal installments, the first-half by November 30 and the second-half on June 30, 2012, without incurring penalty or interest costs. Qualifying property owners who are age 65 and over or disabled may elect to pay their bill using the quarter payment option, in four equal installments beginning in January, and then the 31st day of March, May and July 2012.
Ms. Romo advises taxpayers who may have questions about their tax statement to contact the Tax Office at 335-2251 or verify their bill by going to the Tax Office website at www.bexar.org/tax.
Payments may be made online by credit card or e-check through the Tax Office website, www.bexar.org/tax, or by telephone with a credit card by calling 1-800-272-9829 and using the access code #5305. Credit card and e-check services do carry a processing fee.
For questions, please contact Sylvia S. Romo, CPA, RTA, CTA,Bexar County Tax Assessor‐Collector, 335‐6585; 394‐6261, or Lisa Anderson, Chief Deputy of Administration, 335‐6588; 913‐8854.
June 15, 2011
Bexar County Tax Assessor‐Collector Sylvia S. Romo reminds all taxpayers that the deadline to make the second half payment of the 2010 property taxes is Thursday, June 30.
The lobby of the Downtown tax office at 233 N. Pecos will be open from 8 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. on June 30; curbside drop‐off service will be offered from 7:30 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. at the entrance to the Downtown office on West Martin and at the frontage road on N. Pecos. Additionally, the lobbies of all locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For a list of locations, visit www.bexar.org/tax.
Thursday, June 30, is also the last day to make payment arrangements with the Tax Assessor‐Collector to avoid additional collection fees and penalties. Tax payments that are mailed must be postmarked on or before the due date. If mailing on June 30, taxpayers should obtain official proof of mailing or certification.
Ms. Romo strongly encourages those property owners who have not been able to pay the full balance of their 2010 property taxes to come into the main tax office and negotiate a payment agreement.
"My office has sent out several notices to delinquent taxpayers and at this point there are no surprises about the balances due," Ms. Romo said. "There are property owners that are reluctant to visit my office however, the worse thing you can do is to do nothing. My staff and I are here to help."
Attorney collection fees of up to an additional 20 percent will be attached to any unpaid balances on those accounts lacking a valid payment agreement by close of business on Thursday, June 30.
Payments may also be made on‐line by credit card or e‐check (electronic debit directly from checking account) at www.bexar.org/tax or by telephone with a credit card by calling 1‐800‐272‐9829 and using the access code #5305. A processing fee is charged by the third party service provider for all credit card and e‐check payments.
Taxpayers who have not received a statement but would like to pay the second half of their split payment should visit the Tax Assessor‐Collector's Website or call (210) 335‐2251 for an accurate half payment amount.
Tax Assessor‐Collector makes paying property taxes quick and convenient. More than 175,000 property owners should be reminded that the last day to pay 2010 property taxes without penalty or interest is Monday, Jan. 31. Bexar County Tax Assessor Sylvia Romo wants to make certain that the deadline is a well known fact.
"All unpaid 2010 taxes, with the exception of split pay and quarter pay accounts, will become delinquent on Tuesday, February 1, and 7 percent penalty and interest will be added to the amount due," Romo said.
In anticipation of the high volume of customers on Monday, Jan. 31, the Bexar County Tax Assessor‐Collector's Downtown Office at 233 N. Pecos will be open from 8 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Because of the high volume of traffic expected, all incoming vehicular traffic will flow into the Downtown parking lot from Martin Street and exit through Pecos La Trinidad.
As an additional convenience, the Downtown Office also will offer two curbside payment drop‐off locations outside the main entrance from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday. The first curbside location is on Pecos La Trinidad, directly in front of the Vista Verde Plaza, and the other will be on West Martin Street.
Additionally, to better serve the public, each of the Tax Assessor's four locations will have a payment drop box in the lobby beginning Monday, Jan. 24. Using an envelope, taxpayers may deposit their payments (checks only, no cash) and payment stubs in any one of the secure drop boxes. Substations will maintain regular hours of operation from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Taxpayers who have misplaced their tax bill, or have questions about the 2010 amount owed, should contact the Tax Office at 335‐2251 or verify their balance by going to the Tax Office Web site at www.bexar.org/tax.
Credit card or e‐check payments may be made online through the Tax Office Web site; credit card payments also can be made over the phone by calling (800) 272‐9829 and using the access code #5305. Credit card and e‐check services do add a processing fee.
In the event a property owner is unable to pay taxes in full by the deadline, they are encouraged to initiate a payment arrangement at the Downtown office after Jan. 31. A down payment of 10% to 20% of the balance will be necessary to begin a payment arrangement.
For anyone wishing to participate in the split payment option, Tuesday, November 30th is the final day to pay the first-half of your 2010 taxes.
In anticipation of the high volume of customers, the Office of Sylvia S. Romo, Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector will be extending its downtown business office hours on Tuesday, November 30th to 6:45 p.m. Substations will close at 5:00 p.m. on November 30th.
To meet the demands of your busy schedule, our four locations will have a secure drop box available in the lobby beginning on Monday, November 22nd until Tuesday, November, 30th. In order to better serve you, please place your payment (checks only, no cash) and payment stub in an envelope and deposit it in any one of our drop boxes.
As an added convenience, you may also drop off your payment without ever leaving your vehicle. This service will only be available at our downtown location from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p . m. The two designated downtown locations are: 1) in front of the building located at 233 N. Pecos La Trinidad, and 2) the side entrance located at Martin Street.
Due to the high volume of traffic on Tuesday, November 30th at our downtown location, all incoming traffic will flow into our parking lot from Martin Street and exit through Pecos La Trinidad.
Our downtown office hours have been rescheduled for Wednesday, December 1st from 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Ms. Romo is pleased to announce that her Northwest Substation, previously located at 6812 Bandera Road, has been relocated to 8407 Bandera Road (corner of Bandera and Guilbeau at the Festival Marketplace). The location is more accessible to the public, and the office is more spacious to better support the rapid growth in the Northwest sector. Ms. Romo is confident that our new location will better accomodate the citizens of Bexar County. Our office hours will continue to be from 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. If anyone should have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office at (210) 335-2251.
Total Exemption to Homesteads of 100 Percent Disabled Veterans: House Bill 3613 of the 81st Texas Legislature authorized the creation of Section 11.131 of the Texas Property Tax Code. This newly created section entitles a 100% exemption for a residence homestead of a qualifying Disabled Veteran. In accordance with the Tax Code, a Disabled Veteran who has a 100% service connected rating from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or is unemployable, is exempt from taxation on the veteran´s residential homestead. The exemption is effective for 2009 tax year. Because this is a newly created exemption, you will need to submit an application (Form 50-114 REV) with the Bexar Appraisal District. You may download the Disabled Veteran's Homestead application at:
http://www.bcad.org/PDFs/2010_HS_Exempt_Form_No_50-114.pdf
Disabled Veteran Specialty Plates: The Transportation Code previously allowed a disabled veteran specialty license plates and disabled placards for two registered vehicles. A new state law lifted the two vehicle limit and allows eligible disabled veterans to obtain DV plates for each qualifying motor vehicle that they own or lease. Qualified applicants will also be eligible to receive a parking placard for each set of DV plates that are issued. Eligible disabled veterans will pay a $3.00 fee for the first set and regular registration fees apply to subsequent vehicles.
Refunds: Overpayment information has been added to the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector´s website at www.bexar.org/tax and on the 2009 tax statements. Property owners who may have overpaid their taxes are strongly encouraged to visit our website to check on the status of their account. The Tax Code requires a taxpayer who has overpaid their taxes to submit a request for the refund in writing within three years after the date of payment. Upon request, our office will mail a refund application to you. You may also download the application from the Tax Assessor-Collector´s website or from the Texas Comptrollers site at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxforms/50-181.pdf
GIFT TAX: Effective September 1, 2009, the transfer of a vehicle as a gift may only be initiated by an immediate family member, guardian, descendent´s estate or a donation to, or given by, a nonprofit service organization. All qualifying gift transactions must be accompanied by a joint notarized Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Gift Transfer (Form 14-317). You may download the affidavit at: www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxforms/14-317.pdf. All other transfers are now defined as sales and are subject to taxes in accordance with its standard presumptive value (SPV).