A reminder for Brazos County property owners planning to split property tax payments that the first half is due Monday, November 30th, at 5 p.m.
It’s an option that’s used by ten percent of property owners.
With the tax office being closed Friday for the holiday weekend, tax assessor-collector Kristy Roe reminds those interested in split payments to consider alternatives to coming to the tax office on Monday.
She expects more people and more vehicles. Because of the pandemic, they can handle only 350 to 400 customers in the lobby and 100 to 125 vehicles in the drive through. That’s about one-fourth the capacity compared to before the pandemic.
Instead of waiting in line with the possibility of not getting served and missing Monday’s deadline for split payments, Roe asks property owners to consider online payments at brazostax.org or paying by phone.
News release from Brazos County tax assessor-collector Kristy Roe:
Limited lobby access and cooler weather forecasts combine to make the upcoming split payment deadline a possible experience in frustration for Brazos County property taxpayers. Like most businesses, the County Tax Office has had to make modifications and incorporate limitations to keep their customers safe during these uncertain times.
The tax office, which has seen as many as 1,200 customers served through the lobby on deadline days in previous years, now must limit the number of customers allowed inside to adjust for social distancing. While daily numbers have declined some since the office re-opened in May, the average customer count continues to run between 350 and 400 customers inside and between 100 and 125 through the drive through lanes. The deadline is expected to be much busier.
Taxpayers who are planning to take advantage of the split payment of property taxes must have their first ½ payment delivered to the tax office by 5:00 PM on Monday November 30, to qualify for the extension for payment of the second half. That deadline is June 30 for split payments, but is January 31, 2021 for those who do not participate. To avoid running into either long lines and extended wait times in drive through lanes, and to avoid having to stand outside because of the limited access, taxpayers are urged to take advantage of payment options offered by the office.
Payment options include:
- Website payment: www.brazostax.org (functional with tablets and smartphones)
- Phone payment: 1-888-254-4339 (automated-need property info to use)
- Drop Box External (payment must be dropped by 5:00 PM)
- Drop Box Lobby (8:00 to 4:30 – access limited)
- Mail US Postal Service postmark determines delivery date
Any payments dropped in the external drop box over the holiday weekend and by 5:00 PM on Monday will be processed as November payments after the deadline. While there will be a drop box located inside the tax office, taxpayers may still have to wait to enter the office because of occupancy limitations. Payments dropped in the external drop box after 5:00 PM will be considered as December payments. Split payment information is printed on the tax office statements and on the website.
The Brazos County Tax Office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
County offices will be closed November 26 – 27 for the Thanksgiving Holiday.