Those who may owe 2016 property taxes will have until the end of the January before penalties could be levied against them.
In a press release, Hays County Tax Assessor-Collector Luanne Caraway reminded residents that 2016 property taxes must be paid in full on or before Jan. 31 to avoid penalties and interest.
Should taxes not be paid by Jan. 31, a seven percent penalty and interest will be added to property accounts with outstanding balances starting Feb. 1.
Taxpayers who are not able to pay the full amount by Jan. 31 are encouraged to pay as much as possible so that they accrue as little as possible, according to the release.
Accounts that have 65-or-older, disabled person or disabled veteran exemptions paid quarterly and have made their first payment on or before Ja. 31 are not assessed penalty and interest.
Payments can be made in person at any of the office locations below.
Payments made by mail must have a post office cancellation mark of Jan. 31, 2017 or earlier to be considered on time and should be addressed to the San Marcos Office location only.
Payments can also be made with an e-check, which has a 50-cent fee, or with a credit/debit card, which holds an approximately 2.25 percent plus 30-cent fee, at www.hayscountytax.com, which also accepts Discover and American Express.
The county also provides a drive-through lane on the east side of the Government Center in San Marcos and drop boxes at our San Marcos and Dripping Springs locations.
All locations are open through the lunch hour, but prepare for a wait on Jan. 31, one of the busiest days for the office.
There are also drop boxes for tax payments at the San Marcos and Dripping Springs locations and payments can be dropped off anytime on or before Jan. 31. To receive a paper receipt, enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your payment.
Where can you drop off your payment?
San Marcos Main Tax Office and mailing address:
712 S. Stagecoach Trail
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
512-393-5545
Dripping Springs
195 Roger Hanks Parkway
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
512-858-5105
Kyle
5458 FM 2770
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Monday-Friday
512-268-8024
What can you pay with?
Cash, check or bank credit/debit card with the exception of Discover and American Express are all acceptable forms of payment. A 1.95 percent fee will be charged for a debit card and a 2.65 percent fee will be charged for a credit card payment.
