Delinquent taxes · Houston, TX
Behind on property taxes in Houston? Here's how to sell before the tax debt takes the house.
Unpaid property taxes in Texas don't sit quietly. Penalties and interest pile on, attorney fees get added, and eventually the taxing units can sue and foreclose. Selling the house pays the taxes off at closing and leaves you with the equity.
How it works
Delinquent property taxes in Harris County
General information for Houston-area homeowners, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Confirm details for your situation with a Texas attorney, title company, or tax professional.
The bill
Taxes are based on the Harris Central Appraisal District's value and collected by the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector for the county, city, school district, and other units. They're due by January 31 and delinquent on February 1.
Penalties and interest
Texas adds penalty and interest starting in February, increasing monthly through June. In July, accounts typically go to a collection law firm and additional attorney fees are added. The debt can grow substantially within a year.
The tax lien
A tax lien attaches to the property automatically each January 1. It has priority over most other liens, including your mortgage — which is why lenders often pay the taxes and add them to your loan.
Tax foreclosure
The taxing units can file a lawsuit, obtain a judgment, and sell the property at a constable's sale. Unlike a mortgage foreclosure, Texas gives a right of redemption after a tax sale — generally two years for a homestead, six months otherwise — but redeeming requires paying a premium on top of the price.
Options
Ways to deal with delinquent taxes
Payment plan
Harris County offers installment agreements on delinquent taxes in many cases. Ask the Tax Office; it can stop the lawsuit while you pay.
Deferral for 65+ or disabled
Homeowners who are 65 or older or disabled may defer property taxes on their homestead. Interest still accrues, but foreclosure is halted while the deferral is in place.
Property tax loan
Private lenders will pay your taxes in exchange for a lien on the house. This stops the county but replaces the debt with a loan that has its own interest and foreclosure rights. Read the terms carefully.
Sell the property
A sale pays every tax year owed, plus penalties, interest, and fees, out of the proceeds at closing. The remaining equity is yours.
Selling with tax debt
How closing works when taxes are owed
The title company orders a tax certificate showing exactly what's owed to each taxing unit, including the collection firm's fees, and pays it from the sale proceeds at closing. If a lawsuit has been filed, the title company coordinates with the attorneys to get the case dismissed once paid. You don't have to come up with the money in advance.
If a judgment has already been entered or a sale date set, contact us right away with the paperwork — the timeline gets short, and the sooner we know, the more we can do. If the taxes and other liens exceed what the house is worth, we'll say so plainly.
How it works
How selling to us works in Houston
- 1
Tell us about the property
Enter the address and answer a few quick questions. It takes about two minutes, and you don't need to know anything about the market.
- 2
We review it and talk
We look at the property and comparable sales, and may reach out for a few details or a quick walk-through. No pressure, no obligation.
- 3
Get an offer and pick your closing date
If the property fits what we buy, we'll make a clear cash offer. Accept it or not — and if you do, close on the timeline that works for you.
FAQ
Questions Houston homeowners ask
Can I sell if there's already a tax lawsuit?
Yes, as long as the property hasn't been sold at a tax sale yet. The title company pays the judgment at closing and the case is dismissed.
How do I find out how much I owe?
The Harris County Tax Office website shows the current balance by account, including penalties and interest. If a law firm is involved, they'll have the total with fees.
What if I inherited the house and the taxes are years behind?
That's common. All the delinquent years get paid at closing. The estate will also need authority to sell — see our page on inherited houses.
Will you pay the taxes for me and let me stay?
No. Arrangements like that often end badly for the homeowner. We can buy the house and pay the taxes at closing, and we'll be clear about the numbers.
Related
Other Houston situations we help with
- Before foreclosure
The Texas foreclosure timeline, the options to stop or avoid it, and how a pre-foreclosure sale works.
- Inherited house
What has to happen before an inherited home can be sold in Texas, how heirs and probate fit in, and how to sell it as-is from anywhere.
- Vacant house
What an empty house costs and risks, what Houston expects of vacant-property owners, and how to sell it without going back to fix it.
- Sell my house fast
What actually makes a sale slow, and how a direct cash purchase removes those steps.
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