| FAQ | General FAQ back to top |
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| Q | Am I eligible for a homestead exemption? |
| A | In order to qualify for the general homestead exemption, you must own and occupy your property as your principal place of residence as of January 1st of the tax year in question. You must file an application with the Grimes County Appraisal District between January 1st and April 30th of the tax year in question. You may file for a late homestead exemption up to one year after the delinquency date.back to top |
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| Q | Am I eligible for an additional exemption when I turn 65 years of age? |
| A | If you are age 65 or older, your residence homestead will qualify for an additional exemption and you will receive a tax ceiling on your home for school and county taxes. Also, if a homeowner who has been receiving the tax ceiling dies, the ceiling transfers to the surviving spouse, if the survivor is 55 or older and has ownership in the home. The survivor must apply to the appraisal district for the tax ceiling to transfer.back to top |
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| Q | Is there a homestead exemption for homeowners with disabilities? |
| A | A person with a disability may get an exemption if (1) you can't engage in gainful work because of physical or mental disability or (2) you are blind and can't engage in your previous work because of your blindness. If you receive disability benefits under the Federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program through the Social Security Administration, you should qualify. Disability benefits from any other program do not automatically qualify. If you qualify for the disabled persons exemption you will receive a tax ceiling on your home for school and county taxes.back to top |
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| Q | Can I claim a homestead exemption on a mobile home if I do not own the land? |
| A | Yes. You will need to furnish a copy of a document called a statement of ownership and location. This document is issued to mobile home owners by the
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Manufactured Housing Division.back to top |
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| Q | What are the requirements for qualifying land for agricultural-use valuation? |
| A | Generally, land must meet the following requirements:
(a) Minimum size 10.00 acres.
(b) History of being devoted to agricultural use (such as grazing cattle or cutting hay) for at least five of the past seven years. You must be able to document this history of ag usage.
(c) Currently be devoted to agricultural use at a level of intensity that is common in the local area. (There are minimum standard production requirements that must be met.)
(d) An application for agricultural use valuation must be filed with the appraisal district between January 1st and April 30th.
(e) Must pass an on-site field review of the property conducted by a staff appraiser.back to top |
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| Q | What does the term market value mean? |
| A | The Texas Property Tax Code requires that all taxable property must be appraised at its market value. Market value is the price at which a property would sell if exposed for sale in the open market with a reasonable time for the seller to find a purchaser. Basically, it is the price that would be agreed upon between a willing buyer and a willing seller.back to top |
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| Q | How is the value for my home determined? |
| A | Sales prices of recently sold properties are the most accurate indicators of market value. Each year the appraisal district analyzes sales of property throughout the county and uses these sales prices as the basis for making its appraisals. Also, an appraiser from the appraisal district periodically visits each property and observes its exterior features. Factors such as location, type of construction,age, size, and condition of the property are considered.back to top |
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| Q | Why is the term IMPROVEMENT shown on my tax notices when I have not done anything to actually improve my property? |
| A | The word improvement on your notice means any building or structure that is attached to the land. State law requires that most tax notices show separate values for land and improvements.back to top |
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| Q | What kinds of property are taxable? |
| A | The Texas Property Tax Code states that all property is taxable unless the state legislature has passed laws to exempt it. Houses, mobile homes, lots, acreage, commercial buildings, apartments, oil and gas reserves, industrials, utilities, and business inventory and equipment are all taxable.back to top |
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| Q | Does the appraisal district collect property taxes? |
| A | Yes. The appraisal district collects taxes for the following taxing units: Grimes County, Anderson-Shiro CISD, Iola ISD, the Grimes County portion of Navasota ISD, the Grimes County portion of Richards ISD, the Grimes County portion of Madisonville ISD, City of Navasota, City of Anderson, City of Bedias, City of Iola, and the Grimes County Emergency Services District #1.back to top |
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| Q | When are property tax bills mailed and when are they due? |
| A | The tax bills are generally mailed around the middle of October each year and are due no later than January 31st of the following year. If you are paying by mail, be sure that your payment is postmarked no later than January 31st. Any bills that are not paid by January 31st begin to accrue penalty and interest regardless of the reason for non-payment.back to top |
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| Q | If I do not receive my tax bill by the delinquency date, do I still have to pay penalty and interest charges? |
| A | Yes. Even though the appraisal district mails everyone a bill, it is the property owner's responsibility to see that his taxes are paid on time regardless of whether or not he actually receives the bill. State law does not permit the tax assessor-collector to waive penalty and interest charges.back to top |
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| Q | What payment methods can I use to pay my taxes? |
| A | Taxes may be paid by check or money order made payable to Grimes CAD. Taxes may also be paid by cash. Taxes may be paid in person at the appraisal district office at 360 Hill Street in Anderson, Texas. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday. Taxes may be paid by mail by sending the payment to Grimes County Appraisal District, P.O. Box 489, Anderson, Texas 77830. Taxes may also be paid online by credit card with a 2.50% convenience fee or by electronic check with a $2.50 transaction fee. The appraisal district does not have the ability to conduct credit card or electronic check transactions in the office.back to top |
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| Q | What is the procedure for paying taxes with a credit card online? |
| A | Go to www.grimescad.org. Click on Property ID Search. Enter the Quick Ref number from your statement and click Search. Once searching is complete, click on the blue Property ID. Once you have accessed the property detail sheet, click pay taxes. You can accept the total amount due or enter the payment amount you wish to make then click make payment. You will be directed to the On-line Payments website. Enter information in all the required fields including your credit card information and click continue. If the transaction is successful you will be given a confirmation number. Print the confirmation number for your records and the transaction is complete.back to top |
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| Q | Does the appraisal district automatically furnish a tax receipt or do I have to request one? |
| A | If you require a tax receipt, please send a self addressed stamped envelope along with your payment.back to top |
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| Q | What happens if I am not able to pay my taxes on time? |
| A | Any payments made after January 31st incur a penalty and interest charge as required by state law. These charges increase each month and an additional 20% charge for attorney fees is imposed on taxes that are not paid by June 30th.back to top |
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| Q | What effects do unpaid property taxes have on my property? |
| A | Unpaid property taxes constitute a lien against each item of taxable property. The taxing units may file a lawsuit asking the court to allow foreclosure of that lien. The property may then be sold at auction and the proceeds used to pay the taxes.back to top |
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| Q | Do I have any personal liability in regard to unpaid property taxes? |
| A | Yes. Each person who owns taxable property on January 1st of the year in question is personally liable for all taxes due on the property for that year. A person who owned taxable property on January 1st can be sued personally for delinquent taxes, even if the property has been sold or transferred since then.back to top |
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| Q | How much delinquent tax do I have to owe before the appraisal district will sue me? |
| A | Any tax that is unpaid as of February 1st is considered delinquent and is subject to legal action. The appraisal district files delinquent tax lawsuits against a broad cross-section of accounts including: small amounts, large amounts, some that are delinquent for less than a year, some that are delinquent for several years, real estate, mobile homes, and business personal property.back to top |
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| Q | How does the appraisal district conduct delinquent tax sales? |
| A | The appraisal district conducts two or three delinquent tax sales each year. The sales are basically public auctions which are held at the Grimes County Courthouse. About three weeks prior to a sale, information concerning the properties to be sold is available at the appraisal district and on the website of the district's delinquent tax attorney at http://www.mvbalaw.com.back to top |
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