Smith County Property Tax Statements Mailed

TYLER — Smith County mailed 186,000 total property tax statements this week. The bills are due upon receipt, and must be walked in or postmarked by January 31, 2020, to avoid delinquency. Tax-Assessor Collector Gary Barber said if you have not received your property tax bill by the first week of November, you should contact the Smith County Tax Office at 903-590-2920.

The department says the best way to pay your property taxes is online, at publictax.smith-county.com. When you pay online with an e-check (bank account and routing numbers are needed), it is free. You can skip the line at the Tax Office and do not have to pay postage, Barber said. It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to make sure all accounts are included and banking information is correct to avoid additional fees. The Tax Office also takes payments in person with cash, check, money order and debit or credit cards. A 2.5 percent fee is added to debit or credit card payments. Barber said his office does take partial payments, and he encourages people to pay what they can, when they can since late fees are only added to the balance due. Once delinquent, 7 percent penalties and interest are added to what is due. Those fees increase by 2 percent for each month payments are late. If the property taxes are not paid by July 1, 2020, there are 33 percent in penalty, interest and collection fees added to the account, Barber said. For those who have paid off their mortgage company within the last year, and who have not received a property tax bill directly by the first week of November, Barber asks them to call his office. “Failure to receive a bill does not allow us to waive penalties and interest for late payments,” Barber said. Everyone who owns property in the state of Texas owes property taxes unless exempted by law, he said. The Tax Office is located in the Cotton Belt Building, at 1517 W. Front St. in Tyler. Business hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Property tax payments can also be made in person at the Tax Office Branches, at 2616 S. Main St. in Lindale; and in Noonday, at 15405 Highway 155 South. For more information, call 903-590-2920.