Help paying property taxes: quarter payments, deferral and payment plans (DRAFT – not published)

In short

If your tax bill is hard to pay, Texas law offers a few options. Owners who are 65+, disabled or disabled veterans can pay in four parts or put off paying. Any homeowner who is already late can ask for a payment plan. Each option has costs. Ask before Feb 1 if you can.¹²

The 30-second version

• Quarter payments: 65+, disabled or disabled veterans can pay in four equal parts. The first is due before Feb 1.¹
• Deferral: the same groups can put off paying while they own and live in the home. Interest is 5% a year.¹³
• Late homestead plan: if you are already late, ask for a 12 to 36 month plan.²
• Partial payments: allowed here, but the unpaid part still goes late.¹⁴

Compare the options

Option	Who	How it works	Cost
Quarter payments	65+, disabled, disabled veterans (homestead)	Pay one-fourth before Feb 1 with a note saying you will use the plan. Then before Apr 1, Jun 1 and Aug 1.1	None if on time. A missed part gets 6% penalty plus 1% a month.1
Deferral	65+, disabled, disabled veterans (homestead)	File a form (50-126) with WCAD, not the tax office. Taxes wait until you sell, move out or die.35	5% a year interest. A lien stays on the home.3
Late homestead payment plan	Any homestead owner with late taxes	Ask the tax office for 12 to 36 months.2	Interest keeps adding; no new penalty while on the plan.2
Partial payment	Anyone	Pay what you can before Feb 1.1	The unpaid part gets penalty and interest.1
Mortgage escrow	Owners with a loan	Lender pays from your monthly payment.	Ask your lender how tax changes affect your payment.

More about deferral

• It is not forgiveness. Taxes and 5% interest add up.³
• When you no longer own and live in the home, the full amount is due. Collection can start on the 181st day after a delinquency notice.³
• A surviving spouse who is 55 or older may keep it.⁶
• Check your mortgage first. Some lenders treat a deferral as a default.⁵⁶

The other side (counterweight)

• For: these options let older and disabled owners stay in their homes on fixed incomes.
• Against: deferral can leave heirs a large bill, and interest adds up for years. Taxing units also wait longer for money they budgeted.

What you can do next

• If you qualify, decide before Jan 31. See property tax calendar.
• Ask the county tax office about a plan. See paying property taxes and deadlines.
• Check your exemptions first: exemptions you may be missing. New words: glossary.

Questions to ask

• How does the tax office decide who qualifies for quarter payments or a deferral?
• Where does the tax office post the terms of its payment plans?

Changes to this page

• Nov. 2, 2026: We re-checked every figure against the saved state and appraisal district pages. All matched. We reworded one hedge.
• Nov. 2, 2026: Rewrote the questions to ask so each is open, neutral and addressed to the public body.
• Nov. 2, 2026: Added questions to ask.
• Nov. 2, 2026: We re-checked the rules against state law. No changes were needed.

Your property tax, step by step

1. Start: how your bill works → 2. Key dates → 3. Exemptions → 4. Protest your value → 5. Paying and getting help → 6. Appeals after the ARB → 7. Who does what → 8. Rate limits

Short reference pages: Where your tax bill goes · A 2026 bill, worked out · Estimated-tax website · Exemption checklist · Glossary

Footnotes

1. Texas Comptroller, “Payment Options” (§31.031 four installments for 65+, disabled, disabled veterans; due before Feb 1, Apr 1, Jun 1, Aug 1; missed installment 6% penalty plus 1% a month; notice with first payment; §33.06 deferral at 5% a year; §31.07 partial payments; §31.072 escrow). https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/pay/options.php (saved copy, retrieved Nov 2026) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸

2. Texas Tax Code §33.02 (homestead installment agreement 12–36 months for delinquent taxes; no added penalty while in compliance). See paying property taxes and deadlines for full citation. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

3. Texas Tax Code §33.06 (deferral for 65+, disabled, §11.22 disabled veterans; affidavit filed with chief appraiser; lien stays; 5% interest; no suit or sale until 181st day after notice following end of ownership/occupancy). https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/GetStatute.aspx?Code=TX&Value=33.06 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

4. Williamson County Tax Office, “Payment Options.” https://www.wilcotx.gov/755/Payment-Options (checked 2026-11-01) ↩

5. Comptroller Form 50-126, Tax Deferral Affidavit (file with the appraisal district, not the Comptroller; other liens such as mortgages may still be enforced), as posted by Travis County: https://tax-office.traviscountytx.gov/files/properties/50-126.pdf ↩ ↩²

6. Harris Central Appraisal District, “Questions & Answers on Tax Deferral” (mortgage caution; surviving spouse 55+ continues deferral). https://hcad.org/assets/uploads/pdf/forms/2018/QA-Tax-Deferral_2018.pdf (general Texas law; not Williamson-specific) ↩ ↩²