Three deadlines are approaching at the same time at the Brazos County Tax and Voter Registration Office.
Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar Kristy Roe says with the end of June falling during the weekend, Monday is the last day to pay second half property taxes and register vehicles. Plus it’s the last day of voter registration for the July 31st runoff election.
Kristy Roe visits with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.
Suggestions to avoid Monday’s triple deadline courtesy of Kristy Roe:
The Brazos County Tax Office staff is gearing up for a very busy time thanks to deadlines hitting in all three major departments as of the end of June. The telephone is ringing and lines are beginning to form in the property tax, motor vehicle, and voter registration departments thanks to second half property tax payments due by the end of this week, the normal rush of customers whose vehicle registration expires this month, and the deadline to register to vote in the upcoming primary runoff election.
The good news is that the calendar is being nice to everyone, since the prescribed dates to take care of all of these things, falls on this weekend. When these deadlines fall on a weekend or holiday, the date to take care of the business is moved to the next business day. That gives those last minute folks the option of either walking into the tax office on Monday July 2 to take care of their business, or mailing the payment, voter application, or vehicle registration at the post office in time to have it postmarked on that date.
For those who made that first half payment on their 2011 property taxes, the second full half is now due. If payment is not received or postmarked by July 2, the taxes will start accruing penalty and interest at 13% for July, and will continue to increase on a monthly basis until paid in full. There is a drop box for after hour payments located between the property tax and voter registration doors of the tax office at 300 E Wm. J Bryan Pkwy in Bryan, TX. Taxpayers can also go online and pay their tax with a debit card, credit card or by echeck at www.brazostax.org. A convenience fee does apply to online payments.
People wanting to register their vehicle online may do so at www.txdmv.gov , but should remember that those transactions come to the local tax office and are processed and mailed from there, so the sooner they register the vehicle, the sooner they will have that sticker in hand and avoid a citation. For those prefer not to register online, and who cannot get to the tax office during the day to renew their registration before it expires, all HEB and Kroger locations within Brazos County can renew your unexpired registration if you present the registration renewal form and your current liability insurance at the customer service desk. New license plates cannot be obtained at the grocery subcontractors.
For those new Brazos County residents, or individuals that just haven’t had the opportunity to register to vote, they are eligible to submit voter registration applications and vote in one of the upcoming runoff primary elections. Both the Democratic and Republican Parties have elections on July 31, and people wishing to cast their vote need to simply submit their application to the voter registration department by Monday, then choose the election they are interested in. Any registered voter that has changed their name or address within Brazos County must also submit those changes in writing by that deadline for the change to be in effect in time for the election.
For additional information, please contact the Brazos County Tax Office at 979-361-4470.