The deadline for Harris County residents impacted by the May derecho and tornado to apply for property tax relief is fast approaching.
The derecho battered a long swath of the county with 100 mph winds that shattered high rise windows downtown and damaged homes and businesses along the path of the storm.
Because Gov. Greg Abbott declared the county a disaster area, property owners whose homes and businesses suffered damage from the storm may be eligible for temporary relief to lessen their property tax burden.
“The key is, they have to apply for this,” said Jack Barnett, a spokesman for the Harris Central Appraisal District.
That makes next week’s Sept. 3 application deadline crucial, Barnett said.
Not far behind is an Oct. 21 deadline to apply for the same relief if a property owner suffered damage from Hurricane Beryl in July, Barnett added.
Owners of property that sustained damage to at least 15 percent of the value of the property’s structures in a governor-declared disaster are eligible for the tax relief through a 2019 state law. Damaged structures on the property are eligible, as is damaged personal property, such as equipment or furniture, if it is used in the production of income.
Harris County has seen three declared disasters this year: Hurricane Beryl, the derecho and the San Jacinto River flooding in early May. State law allows residents 105 days from the date the disaster was declared to apply for tax relief.
The application is two pages long and must be filled out completely before being mailed to the Harris Central Appraisal District, Barnett said. Owners should include copies of any insurance claim information and photos of the damage to the property with their application, Barnett said.
Only physical damage to the property’s structures make it eligible for the relief. If a tree or branch falls onto a structure and causes damage, that is eligible. If the tree falls but does not damage any surrounding property, that is not eligible storm damage, Barnett said.
The appraisal district will review the application and use a formula to calculate a lower tax bill based on the amount of damage.
Property owners will receive a lower tax bill at the end of the year. Barnett said some tax bills may be mailed out before a disaster relief application is processed. Residents should pay their total bill and will be issued a refund if they later are deemed eligible.
The form to apply for disaster relief can be found here.
Harris County residents also can locate the form on the Harris Central Appraisal District website, hcad.org. Click the “Forms” banner at the top of the website, then click on “All Forms.” On the “All Forms” webpage, locate form 50-312, the disaster relief application.
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