Don’t Miss Your Property Tax Bill: Delays from Election & Tech Upgrades!
Attention Denton County residents! Your property tax statements are on their way, but there’s been a slight hiccup in the mailing process this year, thanks to a mix of factors—including the recent elections.
But don’t worry! The tax roll has been accessible online since early October, so you can stay ahead of the game.
Denton County Tax Assessor Collector Michelle French recently shared that statements should start hitting your mailboxes within the next week, potentially even sooner. Exciting, right?
In her email, French reassured taxpayers that while the physical statements are being prepared, you can already view and pay your taxes online. No need to wait for the mail! Just a friendly reminder: any 2024 tax bills need to be settled by January 31, 2025, to avoid any pesky penalties or interest charges.
So, what caused the delay? French explained in an email that it all boiled down to a couple of school districts holding voter approval tax ratification elections, which unfortunately didn’t go as planned. These results forced the school boards to take further action, pushing back the timeline for finalizing tax rates.
As soon as the resolutions were in, French’s team sprang into action to update their systems and recalculate the new rates. Once that was done, the statements were sent off to the printer just before Thanksgiving.
While the mailing may be later than usual, remember the tax roll has been online since October 2nd. “You can make payments anytime,” she emphasized. “The statements are on their way!”
For those eager to check their status or make payments, you can do so anytime at taxweb.dentoncounty.gov/search.
However, not everyone is pleased with the situation. Local resident Melinda Schultz expressed her frustration, stating that the delay was significant and that better communication was needed. “I understand unexpected situations arise, but transparency is key,” she said.
Schultz found it puzzling that information on the delays was hard to come by. “I didn’t see anything on the websites. Just a notice about online payments,” she lamented. She even shared a story about her mother’s recent visit to the tax office, where they encountered discrepancies in tax amounts.
Though County Commissioner Precinct 4 Dianne Edmondson reached out to Schultz to clarify the situation, she still felt that taxpayers deserved clearer communication.
French addressed these concerns by explaining that historically, tax payment volumes dip until after Thanksgiving, and thus, they didn’t see the need for a press release this time around. However, she acknowledged that the feedback received has been valuable.
According to the tax code, statements are supposed to be mailed by October 1 or as soon as practical. French emphasized that despite the setbacks, her team worked diligently to generate the statements as quickly as possible.
“We’ve had numerous inquiries, and we’re happy to provide copies of tax statements upon request,” she said. “Taxpayers can easily download their statements online as well.”
French concluded by noting that her office will review this year’s events to see how they can improve communication and processes in the future. So stay tuned, Denton County—better days are ahead!
