The Collection Process

Sec. 31.01. Tax Bills.

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (f) of this section, the assessor for each taxing unit shall prepare and mail a tax bill to each person in whose name the property is listed on the tax roll or to his authorized agent. The assessor shall mail tax bills by October 1 or as soon thereafter as practicable. The assessor shall mail to the state agency or institution the tax bill for any taxable property owned by the agency or institution. The agency or institution shall pay the taxes from funds appropriated for payment of the taxes or, if there are none, from funds appropriated for the administration of the agency or institution. The outside of the envelope in which a tax bill is sent must show the return address of the taxing unit and must contain, in all capital letters, the words "ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED".

(b) The county assessor-collector shall mail the tax bill for Permanent University Fund land to the comptroller. The comptroller shall pay all county tax bills on Permanent University Fund land with warrants drawn on the General Revenue Fund and mailed to the county assessors-collectors before February 1.

(c) The tax bill or a separate statement accompanying the tax bill shall:

(1) identify the property subject to the tax;

(2) state the appraised value, assessed value, and taxable value of the property;

(3) if the property is land appraised as provided by Subchapter C, D, or E, Chapter 23 of this code, state the market value and the taxable value for purposes of deferred or additional taxation as provided by Section 23.46, 23.55, or 23.76, as applicable, of this code;

(4) state the assessment ratio for the unit;

(5) state the type and amount of any partial exemption applicable to the property, indicating whether it applies to appraised or assessed value;

(6) state the total tax rate for the unit;

(7) state the amount of tax due, the due date, and the delinquency date;

(8) explain the payment option and discounts provided by Sections 31.03 and 31.05 of this code, if available to the unit's taxpayers, and state the date on which each of the discount periods provided by Section 31.05 concludes, if the discounts are available;

(9) state the rates of penalty and interest imposed for delinquent payment of the tax; and

(10) include any other information required by the comptroller.

(d) Each tax bill shall also state the amount of penalty, if any, imposed pursuant to Sections 23.431, 23.54, 23.541, 23.75, 23.751, 23.87, and 23.97 of this code.

(e) An assessor may include taxes for more than one taxing unit in the same tax bill, but he shall include the information required by Subsection (c) of this section for the tax imposed by each unit included in the bill.

(f) A collector may provide that a tax bill not be sent until the total amount of unpaid taxes the collector collects on the property for all taxing units the collector serves is $15 or more. A collector may not send a tax bill for an amount of taxes less than $15 if before the tax bill is prepared the property owner files a written request with the collector that a tax bill not be sent until the total amount of unpaid taxes the collector collects on the property is $15 or more. The request applies to all subsequent taxes the collector collects on the property until the property owner in writing revokes the request or the person no longer owns the property.

(g) Except as provided by Subsection (f) of this section, failure to send or receive the tax bill required by this section does not affect the validity of the tax, penalty, or interest, the due date, the existence of a tax lien, or any procedure instituted to collect a tax.

(h) An assessor who assesses taxes for more than one taxing unit may prepare and deliver separate bills for the taxes of a taxing unit that does not adopt a tax rate for the year before the 60th day after the date the chief appraiser certifies the appraisal roll for the unit under Section 26.01 of this code or, if the taxing unit participates in more than one appraisal district, before the 60th day after the date it receives a certified appraisal roll from any of the appraisal districts in which it participates. If separate tax bills are prepared and delivered under this subsection, the taxing unit or taxing units that failed to adopt the tax rate before the prescribed deadline must pay the additional costs incurred in preparing and mailing the separate bills in addition to any other compensation required or agreed to be paid for the appraisal services rendered.

(i) For a city or town that imposes an additional sales and use tax under Section 321.101(b) of this code, or a county that imposes a sales and use tax under Chapter 323 of this code, the tax bill shall indicate the amount of additional ad valorem taxes, if any, that would have been imposed on the property if additional ad valorem taxes had been imposed in an amount equal to the amount of revenue estimated to be collected from the additional city sales and use tax or from the county sales and use tax, as applicable, for the year determined as provided by Section 26.041 of this code.

(j) If a tax bill is mailed under Subsection (a) of this section to a mortgagee of a property, the mortgagee shall mail a copy of the bill to the owner of the property not more than 30 days following the mortgagee's receipt of the bill.

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Sec. 31.02. Delinquency Date.

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section and by Sections 31.03 and 31.04 of this code, taxes are due on receipt of the tax bill and are delinquent if not paid before February 1 of the year following the year in which imposed.

(b) An eligible person serving on active duty in any branch of the United States armed forces during hostilities in the Persian Gulf may pay delinquent property taxes on property in which the person owns any interest without penalty or interest no later than the 60th day after:

(1) the person is discharged from active military service;

(2) the person returns to the state for more than 10 days;

(3) the person returns to non-active duty status in the reserves; or

(4) the governor issues a proclamation that hostilities in the Persian Gulf have ended.

(c) "Eligible person" means a person on active military duty in this state on or before September 1, 1990, who was transferred out of this state as a result of hostilities in the Persian Gulf or a person in the reserve forces who was placed on active military duty on or after September 1, 1990, and who was transferred out of this state as a result of hostilities in the Persian Gulf.

(d) A person eligible under Subsection (b) or any co-owner of property that is owned by an eligible person may notify the county tax assessor or collector or central appraisal district for the county in which the property is located of the person's eligibility for exemption under Subsection (b). The county tax assessor or collector or central appraisal district shall provide the forms necessary for those individuals giving notice under this subsection. If the notice is timely given, a taxing unit in the county may not bring suit for delinquent taxes for the tax year in which the notice is given. Failure to file a notice does not affect eligibility for the waiver of penalties and interest.

(e) On verification that notice was properly filed under Subsection (d), a suit for delinquent taxes must be abated without cost to the defendant. The exemptions provided for under this section shall immediately stop all actions against eligible persons until the person's eligibility expires as provided in Subsection (b).

(f) This section applies only to property in which the person eligible for the exemption owned an interest on or before January 1, 1991, or acquired the interest by gift, devise, or inheritance after that date.

(g) When the hostilities in the Persian Gulf have ceased, the governor shall issue a proclamation stating that finding.

(h) For the purposes of this section, "hostilities in the Persian Gulf" refers to the military action of the United States taken to enforce resolutions of the United Nations relating to the invasion and occupation of Kuwait by the military forces of the Republic of Iraq.

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Sec. 31.03. Split Payment of Taxes.

(a) The governing body of a taxing unit that collects its own taxes may provide, in the manner required by law for official action by the body, that a person who pays one-half of the unit's taxes before December 1 may pay the remaining one-half of the taxes without penalty or interest before July 1 of the following year.

(b) The split-payment option, if adopted, applies to taxes for all units for which the adopting taxing unit collects taxes.

(c) If one or more taxing units contract with the appraisal district for collection of taxes, the split-payment option provided by Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to taxes collected by the district unless approved by resolution adopted by a majority of the governing bodies of the taxing units whose taxes the district collects and filed with the secretary of the appraisal district board of directors. After an appraisal district provides for the split-payment option, the option applies to all taxes collected by the district until revoked. It may be revoked in the same manner as provided for adoption.

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Sec. 31.031. Installment Payments of Certain Homestead Taxes.

(a) If before the delinquency date an individual who is disabled or at least 65 years of age and is qualified for an exemption under Section 11.13(c) pays at least one-fourth of a taxing unit's taxes imposed on property that the person owns and occupies as a residence homestead, accompanied by notice to the taxing unit that the person will pay the remaining taxes in installments, the person may pay the remaining taxes without penalty or interest in three equal installments. The first installment must be paid before April 1, the second installment before June 1, and the third installment before August 1.

(b) If the individual fails to make a payment before the applicable date provided by Subsection (a), the unpaid amount is delinquent and incurs a penalty of 12 percent and interest as provided by Section 33.01(c).

(c) An individual may pay more than the amount due for each installment and the amount in excess of the amount due shall be credited to the next installment. An individual may not pay less than the total amount due for each installment unless the collector provides for the acceptance of partial payments under this section. If the collector accepts a partial payment, penalties and interest are incurred only by the amount of each installment that remains unpaid on the applicable date provided by Subsection (a).

(d) If the delinquency date for taxes to which this section applies is postponed to May 1 or a later date, the collector shall extend each installment deadline provided by Subsection (a) by the number of months that the delinquency date was postponed.

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Sec. 31.032. Installment Payments of Taxes on Property in Disaster Area.

(a) This section applies only to:

(1) real property that:

(A) is the residence homestead of the owner or consists of property that is used for residential purposes and that has fewer than five living units;

(B) is located in a disaster area; and

(C) has been damaged as a direct result of the disaster; and

(2) taxes that are imposed on the property by a taxing unit before the first anniversary of the disaster.

(b) If, before the delinquency date, a person pays at least one-fourth of a taxing unit's taxes imposed on property that the person owns, accompanied by notice to the taxing unit that the person will pay the remaining taxes in installments, the person may pay the remaining taxes without penalty or interest in three equal installments. The first installment must be paid before April 1, the second installment before June 1, and the third installment before August 1.

(c) If the person fails to make a payment before the applicable date provided by Subsection (b), the unpaid amount is delinquent and incurs a penalty of 12 percent and interest as provided by Section 33.01(c).

(d) A person may pay more than the amount due for each installment and the amount in excess of the amount due shall be credited to the next installment. A person may not pay less than the total amount due for each installment unless the collector provides for the acceptance of partial payments under this section. If the collector accepts a partial payment, penalties and interest are incurred only by the amount of each installment that remains unpaid on the applicable date provided by Subsection (b).

(e) If the delinquency date for taxes to which this section applies is postponed to May 1 or a later date, the collector shall extend each installment deadline provided by Subsection (b) by the number of months that the delinquency date was postponed. The collector may not extend the third installment deadline beyond December 31.

(f) The comptroller shall adopt rules to implement this section.

(g) In this section:

(1) "Disaster" has the meaning assigned by Section 418.004, Government Code.

(2) "Disaster area" has the meaning assigned by Section 151.350. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 1041, Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 1995.

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Sec. 31.04. Postponement of Delinquency Date.

(a) If a tax bill is mailed after January 10, the delinquency date provided by Section 31.02 of this code is postponed to the first day of the next month that will provide a period of at least 21 days after the date of mailing for payment of taxes before delinquent unless the taxing unit has adopted the discounts provided by Section 31.05(c) of this code, in which case the delinquency date is determined by Subsection (d) of this section.

(b) If the delinquency date is postponed as provided by this section, the assessor who mails the bills shall notify the governing body of each taxing unit whose taxes are included in the bills of the postponement.

(c) A payment option provided by Section 31.03 of this code or a discount adopted under Section 31.05(b) of this code does not apply to taxes that are calculated too late for it to be available.

(d) If a taxing unit mails its tax bills after September 30 and adopts the discounts provided by Section 31.05(c) of this code, the delinquency date is postponed to the first day of the next month following the fourth full calendar month following the date the tax bills were mailed.

(e) If the delinquency date for a tax is postponed under Subsection (a) of this section, that postponed delinquency date is the date on which penalties and interest begin to be incurred on the tax as provided by Section 33.01 of this code.

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Sec. 31.05. Discounts.

(a) The governing body of a taxing unit that collects its own taxes may adopt the discounts provided by Subsection

(b) or Subsection(c) of this section, or both, in the manner required by law for official action by the body. The discounts, if adopted, apply to taxes for a taxing unit for which the adopting taxing unit collects taxes if the governing body of the other unit, in the manner required by law for official action by the body, adopts the discounts or approves of their application to its taxes by the collecting unit. If a taxing unit adopts both discounts under Subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the discounts adopted under Subsection (b) apply unless the unit mails its tax bills after September 30, in which case only the discounts under Subsection (c) apply. (b) A taxing unit may adopt the following discounts to apply regardless of the date on which it mails its tax bills:

(1) three percent if the tax is paid in October or earlier;

(2) two percent if the tax is paid in November; and

(3) one percent if the tax is paid in December.

(c) A taxing unit may adopt the following discounts to apply when it mails its tax bills after September 30:

(1) three percent if the tax is paid before or during the next full calendar month following the date on which the tax bills were mailed;

(2) two percent if the tax is paid during the second full calendar month following the date on which the tax bills were mailed; and

(3) one percent if the tax is paid during the third full calendar month following the date on which the tax bills were mailed.

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Sec. 31.06. Medium of Payment.

(a) Except as provided by Section 31.061, taxes are payable only in currency of the United States. However, a collector may accept a check or money order in payment of taxes, and may accept payment by credit card.

(b) Acceptance by a collector of a check or money order or of payment by credit card constitutes payment of a tax as of the date of acceptance if the check, money order, or credit card invoice is duly paid or honored. If the check, money order, or credit card invoice is not duly paid or honored, the collector shall deliver written notice of nonpayment to the person who attempted payment by check, money order, or credit card. Until payment is made in full by cash or by a check, money order, or credit card that is duly paid or honored, the lien securing payment of the tax remains in effect, whether or not the person receives notice of nonpayment.

(c) If a tax is paid by credit card, the collector shall collect a fee for processing the payment. The collector shall set the fee in an amount that is reasonably related to the expense incurred by the collector or taxing unit in processing the payment by credit card, not to exceed five percent of the amount of taxes and any penalties or interest being paid. The fee is in addition to the amount of taxes, penalties, or interest.

(d) If a check or money order accepted in payment of taxes or the invoice for a payment of taxes by credit card is not duly paid or honored, the amount of any charge against the taxing unit for processing the check, order, or credit card invoice is added to the amount of tax due in the same manner as penalties and interest are added for taxes that are delinquent. The tax lien on the property also secures payment of the amount of the charge.

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Sec. 31.061. Payment of Taxes Assessed Against Real Property by Conveyance to Taxing Unit of Property.

(a) An owner of real property may, subject to the approval of the governing body of all of the taxing units, by deed convey the property to the taxing unit that is owed the largest amount of the taxes, penalties, and interest assessed against the property in payment of the taxes, including delinquent taxes, penalties, and interest assessed against the property by each taxing unit. The taxing unit acquiring the property holds title to the property on behalf of each taxing unit. The lien of each taxing unit on the property conveyed is extinguished at the time of the conveyance. The taxing unit acquiring the property may, subject to the approval of the governing body of another taxing unit, by deed convey the property to that taxing unit. The taxing unit acquiring the property holds title to the property on behalf of each taxing unit.

(b) If a taxing unit acquiring property under this section sells the property within six months after the date the owner conveys the property, the taxing unit shall pay to each taxing unit its proportionate share of the sale proceeds according to each taxing unit's share of the total amount of the taxes, penalties, and interest owed at the time of the acquisition.

(c) A taxing unit that does not sell property acquired under this section within six months after the date the owner conveys the property shall pay to each taxing unit its proportionate share, as determined under Subsection (b), of the appraised market value of the property as shown on the most recent tax roll, less the value of all encumbrances burdening the property. On making the payment provided by this subsection, the taxing unit owns the property outright and not on behalf of each taxing unit. The period during which a taxing unit may hold title to the property on behalf of each taxing unit may be extended subject to the approval of the governing body of each taxing unit.

(d) The collector shall credit against the taxes, penalties, and interest owed each taxing unit:

(1) the taxing unit's share, as determined under Subsection (b), of the sale price if the property is sold within six months after the date the owner conveys the property; or

(2) the taxing unit's share, as determined under Subsection (b), of the appraised market value of the property as shown on the most recent tax roll, less the value of all encumbrances burdening the property, if the property is not sold within six months after the date the owner conveys the property.

(e) The owner remains personally liable to each taxing unit to the extent the amount of the taxes, penalties, and interest owed each taxing unit exceeds the amount credited under Subsection (d). The owner is entitled to a refund from each taxing unit to the extent the amount credited under Subsection (d) exceeds the amount of the taxes, penalties, and interest owed the taxing unit.

(f) A conveyance of property to a taxing unit under this section is voidable by the taxing unit at any time that the taxing unit owns the property and determines that the condition of the property on the date the owner conveyed it was or may have been in violation of a federal or state law, regulation, rule, or order. If the taxing unit voids the conveyance:

(1) the taxing unit shall execute a quitclaim deed of the property to the owner, file the deed in the county records, and give notice of the deed and its filing to the owner;

(2) the collector shall remove the credit against the taxes, penalties, and interest owed each taxing unit made under this section;

(3) a taxing unit that does not acquire the property shall refund the payment made to it by the taxing unit that acquires the property and reinstate the taxes, penalties, and interest owed the taxing unit; and

(4) the lien of each taxing unit is reinstated as of the date it originally attached.

(g) This section applies only to property in a county having a population of 50,000 or less, according to the most recent federal decennial census.

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Sec. 31.07. Certain Payments Accepted.

(a) A person may pay the tax imposed on any one property without simultaneously paying taxes imposed on other property he owns.

(b) A collector shall accept payment of the tax imposed on a property by a taxing unit that has adopted the discounts under Section 31.05 of this code separately from taxes imposed on that property by other taxing units using the same collector, even if the taxes are included in the same bill. The collector may adopt a policy of accepting separate payments in other circumstances. If the tax paid is included in the same bill as other taxes that are not paid, the collector shall send a revised bill or receipt to reflect the tax payment, if a discount applies to the payment, and may send a revised bill or receipt to reflect the tax payment in other circumstances. The sending of a revised bill does not affect the date on which the unpaid taxes become delinquent.

(c) A collector may adopt a policy of accepting partial payments of property taxes. A payment option provided by Section 31.03 of this code or a discount adopted under Section 31.05 of this code does not apply to any portion of a partial payment. If a collector accepts a partial payment on a tax bill that includes taxes for more than one taxing unit, the collector shall allocate the partial payment among all the taxing units included in the bill in proportion to the amount of tax included in the bill for each taxing unit, unless the collector under Subsection (b) has adopted a policy of accepting payments of a taxing unit's taxes separate from the taxes of other taxing units included in the same bill and the taxpayer directs that the partial payment be allocated in specific amounts to one or more specific taxing units. Acceptance of a partial payment does not affect the date that the tax becomes delinquent, but the penalties and interest provided by Section 33.01 of this code are incurred only by the portion of a tax that remains unpaid on the date the tax becomes delinquent.

(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (c), a collector shall accept a partial payment of property taxes on a tax bill that includes taxes for more than one taxing unit if one or more of the taxing units has adopted the discounts under Section 31.05 of this code, the taxpayer directs that the partial payment be allocated first to the payment of the taxes owed one or more of the taxing units that have adopted the discounts, and the amount of the payment is equal to or greater than the amount of the taxes owed the taxing units designated by the taxpayer.

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Sec. 31.071. Conditional Payments.

(a) The collector of a taxing unit shall accept conditional payments of taxes before the delinquency date for property taxes that are subject to a pending challenge or protest.

(b) A property owner whose property is subject to a pending protest or challenge may pay the tax due on the amount of value of the property involved in the pending action that is not in dispute or the amount of tax paid on the property in the preceding year, whichever is greater, but not to exceed the amount of tax that would be due on the appraised value that is subject to protest or challenge. The collector of the taxing unit shall provide the property owner with a temporary receipt of taxes paid under this section.

(c) If the property is no longer subject to a challenge, protest, or appeal at any time before the delinquency date, the collector shall apply the amount paid by the property owner under this section to the tax imposed on the property and shall refund the remainder, if any, to the property owner. If the property is still subject to an appeal on the last working day before the delinquency date, or at an earlier date if so requested by the property owner, the collector shall apply the amount paid under this section to the payment required by Section 42.08(b) of this code and shall retain the remainder, if any, until the appeal is completed. When the appeal is completed, the collector shall apply any amount retained under this section to the tax ultimately imposed on the property that is not covered by the payment under Section 42.08(b) and shall refund the remainder, if any, to the property owner.

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Sec. 31.072. Escrow Accounts.

(a) The collector for a taxing unit may enter a contract with a property owner under which the property owner deposits money in an escrow account maintained by the collector to provide for the payment of property taxes collected by the collector on any property the person owns.

(b) A contract may not be made before October 1 of the year preceding the tax year for which the account is established. The collector may agree to establish a combined account for more than one item of property having the same owner on the property owner's request. If a collector collects taxes for more than one taxing unit, an account must apply to taxes on the affected property for each of the taxing units.

(c) A contract under this section must require the property owner to make monthly deposits to the escrow account until the amount set in the contract under Subsection (d) of this section accrues in the account or until the tax bill for the property is prepared, whichever occurs earlier.

(d) On request by a property owner to establish an escrow account under this section, the collector shall estimate the amount of taxes to be imposed on the property by the affected taxing units in that year. A contract to establish an escrow account must provide for deposits that would provide, as of the date the collector estimates the tax bill for the property will be prepared, a total deposit that is not less than the amount of taxes estimated by the collector or the amount of taxes imposed on the property by the affected taxing units in the preceding year, whichever is less. The collector may agree to a deposit of a greater amount on the property owner's request.

(e) The county tax assessor-collector shall maintain the escrow account in the county depository. Any other collector shall maintain the escrow account in the depository of the taxing unit or other entity that employs the collector. The collector is not required to maintain a separate account in the depository for each escrow account but shall maintain separate records for each escrow account.

(f) The property owner may withdraw from the collector the money the owner deposited in an escrow account only if the withdrawal is made before the date the tax bill is prepared or October 1 of the tax year, whichever occurs earlier. On and after that date and until the taxes are paid, the collector must agree to a withdrawal by the taxpayer. The property owner may not withdraw less than the total amount deposited in the escrow account.

(g) When the tax bill is prepared for property for which an escrow account is established, the collector shall apply the money in the account to the taxes imposed and deliver a tax receipt to the taxpayer together with a refund of any amount in the account in excess of the amount of taxes paid. If the amount in the escrow account is not sufficient to pay the taxes in full, the collector shall apply the money to the taxes and deliver to the taxpayer a tax receipt for the partial payment and a tax bill for the unpaid amount. If the escrow account applies to more than one taxing unit or to more than one item of property, the collector shall apply the amount to each taxing unit or item of property in proportion to the amount of taxes imposed unless the contract provides otherwise.

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Sec. 31.073. Restricted or Conditional Payments Prohibited.

A restriction or condition placed on a check in payment of taxes by the maker that limits the amount of taxes owed to an amount less than that stated in the tax bill is void unless the restriction or condition is authorized by this code.

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Sec. 31.075. Tax Receipt.

(a) At the request of a property owner or a property owner's agent, the collector for a taxing unit shall issue a receipt showing the taxable value and the amount of tax imposed by the unit on the property in one or more tax years for which the information is requested, the tax rate for each of those tax years, and the amount of tax paid in each of those years. The receipt must describe the property in the manner prescribed by the comptroller.

(b) In any judicial proceeding, including a suit to collect delinquent taxes under Chapter 33 of this code, a tax receipt issued under this section that states that a tax has been paid constitutes prima facie evidence that the tax has been paid as stated by the receipt.

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Sec. 31.08. Tax Certificate.

(a) At the request of any person, a collector for a taxing unit shall issue a certificate showing the amount of delinquent taxes, penalties, and interest due the unit on a property according to the unit's current tax records. If the collector collects taxes for more than one taxing unit, the certificate must show the amount of delinquent taxes, penalties, and interest due on the property to each taxing unit for which the collector collects the taxes. The collector shall charge a fee not to exceed $10 for each certificate issued. The collector shall pay all fees collected under this section into the treasury of the taxing unit that employs him.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c) of this section, if a person transfers property accompanied by a tax certificate erroneously showing that no delinquent taxes, penalties, or interest are due a taxing unit on the property, the unit's tax lien on the property is extinguished and the purchaser of the property is absolved of liability to the unit for delinquent taxes, penalties, or interest on the property. The person who was liable for the tax for the year it was imposed remains personally liable for the delinquent tax, penalties, and interest.

(c) A tax certificate issued through fraud or collusion is void.

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Sec. 31.10. Reports and Remittances of Other Taxes.

(a) Each month the collector of taxes for a taxing unit shall prepare and submit to the governing body of the unit a written report made under oath accounting for all taxes collected for the unit during the preceding month. Reports of collections made in the months of October through January are due on the 25th day of the month following the month that is the subject of the report. Reports of collections made in all other months are due on the 15th day of the month following the month that is the subject of the report. A collector for more than one taxing unit may prepare one report accounting for taxes collected for all units, and he may submit a certified copy of the report as his monthly report to the governing body of each unit.

(b) The collector for a taxing unit shall prepare and submit to the governing body of the unit an annual report made under oath accounting for all taxes of the unit collected or delinquent on property taxed by the unit during the preceding 12-month period. Annual reports are due on the 60th day following the last day of the fiscal year.

(c) Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (d) of this section, at least monthly the collector for a taxing unit shall deposit in the unit's depository all taxes collected for the unit. The governing body of a unit may require deposits to be made more frequently.

(d) If the taxes of a taxing unit are collected by the collector or other officer or employee of another taxing unit or by an appraisal district as provided by the law creating or authorizing creation of the unit or as the result of an election held under Section 6.26 of this code, the entity that collects the taxes shall deposit the taxes in the unit's depository daily, unless the governing body of that unit by official action provides that those deposits may be made less often than daily.

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Sec. 31.11. Refunds of Overpayments or Erroneous Payments.

(a) If a taxpayer applies to the tax collector of a taxing unit for a refund of an overpayment or erroneous payment of taxes and the auditor for the unit determines that the payment was erroneous or excessive, the tax collector shall refund the amount of the excessive or erroneous payment from available current tax collections or from funds appropriated by the unit for making refunds. However, if the amount of the refund exceeds $500, the collector may not make the refund unless the governing body of the taxing unit also determines that the payment was erroneous or excessive and approves the refund.

(b) A taxing unit that determines a taxpayer is delinquent in ad valorem tax payments on property other than the property for which liability for a refund arises may apply the amount of an overpayment or erroneous payment to the payment of the delinquent taxes if the taxpayer was the sole owner of the property:

(1) for which the refund is sought on January 1 of the tax year in which those taxes were assessed; and

(2) on which the taxes are delinquent on January 1 of the tax year for which those taxes were assessed.

(c) An application for a refund must be made within three years after the date of the payment or the taxpayer waives the right to the refund.

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Sec. 31.115. Payment of Tax Under Protest.

Payment of an ad valorem tax is involuntary if the taxpayer indicates that the tax is paid under protest:

(1) on the instrument by which the tax is paid; or

(2) in a document accompanying the payment. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 993, Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 1995. Sec. 31.12. Payment of Tax Refunds; Interest.

(a) If a refund of a tax provided by Section 11.431(b), 26.07(g), 26.15(f), or 31.11 is paid on or before the 60th day after the date the liability for the refund arises, no interest is due on the amount refunded. If not paid on or before that 60th day, the amount of the tax to be refunded accrues interest at a rate of one percent for each month or part of a month that the refund is unpaid, beginning with the date on which the liability for the refund arises.

(b) For purposes of this section, liability for a refund arises:

(1) if the refund is required by Section 11.431(b), on the date the chief appraiser notifies the collector for the unit of the approval of the late homestead exemption;

(2) if the refund is required by Section 26.07(g), on the date the results of the election to reduce the tax rate are certified;

(3) if the refund is required by Section 26.15(f):

(A) for a correction to the tax roll made under Section 26.15(b), on the date the change in the tax roll is certified to the assessor for the taxing unit under Section 25.25; or

(B) for a correction to the tax roll made under Section 26.15(c), on the date the change in the tax roll is ordered by the governing body of the taxing unit; or

(4) if the refund is required by Section 31.11, on the date the auditor for the taxing unit or, if the amount of the refund exceeds $500, the governing body of the unit determines that the payment was erroneous or excessive.

(c) This section does not apply to a refund in an amount less than $5.

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