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Tax office highlights wait‑time drops, readies prepayment plan and flags SB 850 refund workload
Summary
Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector reported reduced branch wait times after staffing and technology changes, plans a new prepayment product for property taxes, and warned that Texas Senate Bill 850 will create a large increase in refund deadlines that may require more staff or risk interest payments to taxing entities.
Tax Assessor‑Collector Ramirez told Commissioners Court during the county’s FY2026 budget hearings that her office has reduced customer wait times, is launching a new online account and prepayment option for property taxpayers, and is preparing for a surge in refund deadlines under recently passed state law.
Ramirez said the tax office has reduced its reliance on temporary staff, converted some temporary positions to permanent, updated branch technology and queuing systems, and added a mobile check‑in option. She said average wait times in property tax branches decreased from about 105 minutes in March to roughly 40 minutes in August after staffing and operational changes.
The nut graph: The office is asking the court to continue support for staffing and technology investments so it can maintain improvements and implement new services. It also warned that Senate Bill 850 changes how refund deadlines are calculated,…
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