Williamson County property taxes are due by January 31. Any balance still unpaid on February 1 is legally delinquent and immediately starts collecting penalties and interest that can add roughly 40 percent to your bill by midsummer. Bills typically go out in October, giving you three to four months to pay before that deadline hits.
The January 31 Deadline
Texas law requires the tax assessor to prepare and mail bills by October 1, or as soon as practicable after that date.1Texas Comptroller. Property Tax Bills Your bill is technically due when you receive it, but no penalty applies as long as the full amount is paid by January 31.2Office of the Attorney General of Texas. Opinion No. KP-0483
There is one shift worth knowing. If the tax office mails your bill after January 10, the delinquency date moves to give you at least 21 days to pay, landing on the first day of the next month that provides that window.3State of Texas. Texas Tax Code Title 1 Subtitle E Chapter 31 Section 31-04 This mostly affects newly annexed properties or parcels left off the tax roll. For almost everyone else, January 31 is the date that matters.
What Happens if You Miss February 1
The penalty schedule is built to escalate. In February, you owe a 6 percent penalty plus 1 percent interest on the unpaid balance. Each month after that adds another 1 percent penalty and 1 percent interest. On July 1, the penalty jumps to a flat 12 percent regardless of how many months late you are, and interest by that point has reached at least 6 percent.4State of Texas. Texas Tax Code TAX 33.01 – Penalties and Interest
July 1 brings another hit. If the taxing unit has hired an attorney to pursue delinquent accounts, the law allows an additional penalty equal to whatever the attorney’s contract specifies.5State of Texas. Texas Tax Code TAX 33.07 That attorney fee typically runs 15 to 20 percent of the delinquent amount. Stacked on the 12 percent penalty and 6 percent interest, your total owed could reach roughly 38 to 40 percent above the original bill before year’s end.
There is also a lien to consider. A tax lien automatically attaches to every taxable property on January 1 in favor of every taxing unit with authority over it. If delinquency drags on, the county can file suit to foreclose.2Office of the Attorney General of Texas. Opinion No. KP-0483 Foreclosure is rare for homesteads, but the lien itself can block a refinance or sale in the meantime.
How to Pay Before the Deadline
Williamson County accepts payment by mail, online, by drop-off, and in person through the Tax Assessor-Collector’s office. A few practical details decide whether your payment counts as on time.
A U.S. Postal Service postmark dated on or before January 31 counts as timely, even if the envelope arrives later. If your payment arrives late with no postmark, the office treats it as late. Metered mail and private carrier date stamps can trigger disputes, so certified mail with a USPS postmark gives you the cleanest proof.
Credit and debit card payments carry a 2.15 percent convenience fee with a $2.50 minimum.6Williamson County, TX. Payment Methods On a $5,000 bill, that fee is about $108, so weigh whether card rewards actually offset the cost. Checks and money orders should be made payable to Larry Gaddes PCAC, CTA, the current Tax Assessor-Collector, and may be converted to an electronic funds transfer. Drop-off at branch locations is available without entering the building, and in-person payment during business hours gives you an immediate receipt, which helps if you need to confirm a partial payment or resolve an account issue.
Installment Plan for Seniors, Disabled Homeowners, and Veterans
If you are 65 or older, disabled, or a disabled veteran with a qualifying homestead exemption, you can split your tax bill into four equal payments rather than paying all at once.7Williamson County, TX. Payment Options The schedule:
- First installment: due January 31
- Second installment: due March 31
- Third installment: due May 31
- Fourth installment: due July 31
You must pay the first installment before the delinquency date and notify the tax office that you are opting in. Miss any installment, and a 6 percent penalty applies to the unpaid amount plus interest at 1 percent per month going forward.8State of Texas. Texas Tax Code TAX 31.031 The standard escalating schedule under Section 33.01 does not apply to missed installments, so a late installment is still less costly than ignoring the bill altogether.
Deferral if You Are 65 or Older or Disabled
If paying at all would be a hardship, Texas law offers a stronger option. Homeowners who are at least 65, disabled, or qualifying disabled veterans can file an affidavit with the tax office to defer collection on their homestead indefinitely.9State of Texas. Texas Tax Code TAX 33.06
While deferral is active, no taxing unit can sue to collect or foreclose. The deferred taxes are not forgiven, though. Interest accrues at 5 percent per year rather than the standard 1 percent per month, and the tax lien stays on the property. Once you stop using the home as your primary residence, the tax office can deliver a delinquency notice and begin collection 181 days later. Penalties and interest that accumulated before you filed the affidavit are preserved, so filing early matters.
If You Are on Active Military Duty
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act caps the interest rate on unpaid Williamson County property taxes at 6 percent per year for active-duty servicemembers. No additional penalties or interest beyond that rate can be charged during your service.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 50 USC 3991 – Taxes Respecting Personal Property, Money, Credits
The SCRA also blocks a forced tax sale without a court order, and the court can authorize a sale only after finding that your service does not materially affect your ability to pay. If a sale does occur, you have the right to redeem the property during service and for 180 days after discharge. These protections are not automatic. You need to notify the tax office and provide documentation of your active-duty status.
If Your Mortgage Company Pays Your Taxes
If your taxes are paid through a mortgage escrow account, your servicer handles the payment. Federal regulations require the servicer to pay by the deadline as long as your escrow balance is sufficient, so a missed January 31 should not happen under normal circumstances.11eCFR. Escrow Accounts
Escrow is not set-and-forget, though. Your servicer analyzes the account annually and must send a statement showing any shortage, surplus, or deficiency.12Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 1024.17 Escrow Accounts A shortage pushes your monthly payment up; a surplus over $50 must be refunded. If your appraisal jumped, which is common in fast-growing Williamson County, expect the escrow payment to rise with it. Review each annual statement so the change does not catch you off guard.
One exception matters: if you are more than 30 days past due on your mortgage, the servicer is not required to advance funds for the tax payment. In that case, you could face mortgage delinquency and property tax penalties at the same time.