Tax Office
- Payment Options
- Tax Rates
- Tax Information
- SFISD Resale Property Info
- School Board Election Packet
- Bond Information
- FAQs
Payment Options
1. Payment Website: https://www.texaspayments.com/084909
Please be advised there will be a convenience fee of 2.5% for credit card payments.
A fee of $5.00 for e-checks.
A $3.95 charge for VISA Debit Cards (NOT MASTERCARDS).
Credit Cards Accepted - Visa, Mastercard, and Discover
2. Mail check payable to Santa Fe ISD to P.O. BOX 699 Santa Fe, Texas 77510
THERE IS A $35.00 RETURN CHECK FEE
3. Night Drop Box location (on our porch left of the tax office entrance recessed into the wall). Please do not put cash in the drop box.
4. Pay in person located at 4133 Warpath Ave. Santa Fe, Texas 77510 (across from the Santa Fe Junior High).
*Taxpayers with a Disabled Person or Over 65 exemption on their Homestead may pay the taxes in four equal installments. If you are not currently on this plan and would like to be, please contact or come by the office to set up your account before January 31st.
1ST PAYMENT DUE BY JANUARY 31
2ND PAYMENT DUE BY MARCH 31
3RD PAYMENT DUE BY MAY 31
4TH PAYMENT DUE BY JULY 31
Tax Office Contact Information
Sarah Pfluger
Tax Assessor Collector
Nicole Styron
Tax Clerk
Phone : 409-925-9040
email : sfisdtaxoffice@sfisd.org
Physical Address : 4133 Warpath Ave.
Santa Fe, Tx. 77510
Mailing Address : PO Box 699
Santa Fe, Tx. 77510
Tax Rates
SANTA FE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ADOPTED A TAX RATE THAT WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE.
Santa Fe ISD Effective and Rollback Rates - 5 Year History
2023 Effective and Rollback Rates
2022 Effective and Rollback Rates
2021 Effective and Rollback Rates
2020 Effective and Rollback Rates
2019 Effective and Rollback Rates
2018 Effective and Rollback Rates
WCID #8 Effective and Rollback Rates - 5 Year History
Notice of Public Hearing for 2023 Tax Rate
2022 Effective and Rollback Rates
2021 Effective and Rollback Rates
2020 Effective and Rollback Rates
2019 Effective and Rollback Rates
2018 Effective and Rollback Rates
Tax Information
PERTINENT INFORMATION REGARDING OWNERSHIP AND ADDRESS RECORDS
Please be advised, it is the taxpayer’s responsibility to keep ownership and address information current with The Galveston Central Appraisal District (GCAD). Santa Fe ISD is required to mail Tax Statements to the address provided by GCAD. Please note that if you make an address change during tax season, it can take 4-12 weeks to get the change in our office. Taxes are still due on Jan. 31, regardless where or to whom the Taxes were mailed.
Current tax statements are mailed each October.
Tax payments must be postmarked by January 31st.
If February 1 is drawing near and you haven't received a tax bill, contact our office and make sure your correct name and address are on record. Sec. 31.01(g) states "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."
Ownership records, address corrections, question regarding values and exemptions should be addressed to the
Galveston Central Appraisal District.
The Santa Fe ISD tax office also collects taxes for the Galveston Water Control and Improvement District # 8.
Tax payments must be postmarked by January 31st.
If February 1 is drawing near and you haven't received a tax bill, contact our office and make sure your correct name and address are on record. Sec. 31.01(g) states "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."
Ownership records, address corrections, question regarding values and exemptions should be addressed to the
Galveston Central Appraisal District.
The Santa Fe ISD tax office also collects taxes for the Galveston Water Control and Improvement District # 8.
The Property Tax Code establishes target dates for many truth-in-taxation activities. Although circumstances may force appraisal districts or taxing units to alter their timetables, this calendar should provide a framework for activities.
|
Jan. 1
|
Taxable values and qualifications for certain exemptions are determined as of this date. A tax lien attaches to property to secure payments of taxes, penalties, and interest that will be imposed for the year.
|
|
Jan. 31
|
Last day for disabled and 65 or-older homeowners to pay on quarter of their homestead property taxes installments.
|
|
Feb. 1
|
Date that current taxes become delinquent.
|
|
Apr. 15
|
Last day for property owners to file renditions and property information reports.
|
|
Apr. 30
|
Last day for property owners to file certain exemption applications and reports with the CAD
|
|
May 15
|
The chief appraiser sends notices of appraised value.
|
|
May 15
|
Last day for property owners to file a protest with the ARB.
|
|
July 1
|
Taxes, which remain delinquent as of July 1, will incur an additional penalty of 20% to defray the costs of collection.
|
|
July 25
|
The chief appraiser certifies the approved appraisal roll to each taxing unit.
|
|
Aug. 7
|
A taxing unit publishes its notice of effective and rollback tax rates. A school district does not publish an effective tax rate and publishes its rollback tax rate with its budget hearing notice.
|
|
Aug-Sept
|
A taxing unit adopts its budget. After adopting the budget, the unit adopts a tax rate.
|
|
October
|
The assessor prepares and mails tax bills
|
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION Sec. 1.04. Definitions.
(7)”Market Value” means the price at which a property would transfer for cash or its equivalent under prevailing market conditions if: (A) exposed for sale in the open market with a reasonable time for the seller to find a purchaser; (B) both the seller and the purchaser know of all the uses and purposes to which the property is adapted and for which it is capable of being used and of the enforceable restrictions on its use; and (C) both the seller and purchaser seek to maximize their gains and neither is in a position to take advantage of the exigencies of the other.
Sec. 1.06. Effect of Weekend or Holiday. If the last day for the performance of an act is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, the act is timely if performed on the next regular business day.
Sec. 1.08. Timeliness of Action by Mail. When a property owner is required by this title to make a payment or to file or deliver a report, application, statement, or other document or paper before a specified date, his action is timely if: 1. It is sent by regular first-class mail, property addressed with postage prepaid; and 2. It bears a post office cancellation mark of a date earlier than the specified date and within the specified period or the propertyowner furnishes satisfactory proof that it was deposited in the mail before the specified date and within the specified period.
Sec. 23.01. Appraisals Generally.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, all taxable property is appraised at its market value as of January 1. (b) The market value of property shall be determined by the application of generally accepted appraisal methods and techniques. If the appraisal
district determines the appraised value of a property using mass appraisal standards, the mass appraisal standards must comply with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. The same or similar appraisal methods and techniques shall be used in appraising the same
or similar kinds of property. However, each property shall be appraised based upon the individual characteristics that affect the property’s market value.
Sec. 31.01. Tax Bills.
(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.
(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.
Sec. 31.031.
(b) Installment Payments of Certain Homestead Taxes. If before the delinquency date February 1st 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 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 March 31st, the second installment before May 31st, and the third installment before July 31st.
SFISD Resale Property Info
To get a list of properties for tax resale, visit the website www.pbfcm.com .
If you are interested in submitting a bid for Tax Resale Property, please contact us at: 409-925-9040.
Information for the Sheriff Sale is posted in the legal section three consecutive Mondays prior to a sale which will be held the first Tuesday of the Month as advertised. To be eligible to participate in the sale, please contact the Galveston County Tax Office.
School Board Election Packet
Bond Information
FAQs
Q. When are the best times to come pay school taxes?
A. Our tax office is located across the street from the Jr. High Campus and next door to the Kubacak Elementary Campus. During the school year there is a lot of traffic between the hours of 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Please note you can make payments over the phone, online, or by mail. We also have a drop box located by the front door of the tax office if you would like to drop off your payments after hours or on the weekend.
Q. What do I do if I don’t receive a tax statement?
Taxes are always due on or before January 31:
A. Taxes become delinquent on February 1, therefore never wait for a tax bill to pay taxes. Section 31.01, Texas Tax Code states that failure to receive a tax bill is not grounds for waiver of penalty and interest and will not affect validity of the due date. Many taxpayers pay by December 31 for income tax purposes. Should the last day of month fall on a weekend or holiday, payments will be accepted the next business day.
Tax bills are usually mailed the same time each year. If you have not received a tax bill by December seek out the information. How do you do that? You can print a bill from our website www.texaspayments.com. or call the tax office 409-925-9040. We will be more than happy to assist you.
Q. Why am I receiving a school Tax bill and a Galveston County Tax bill?
A. Santa Fe ISD is a separate taxing entity from the Galveston County Tax Office. The two taxing entities have the same account number because this is your property account number. It is how the property is identified. The Galveston County Tax Office collects taxes for the County, City of Santa Fe, Road & Flood, Drainage District #1, EMS District #1, and College of the Mainland. The Santa Fe ISD Tax Office collects for the school and the water district, WCID #8.
Q. I was told when I turn 65 I do not have to pay school taxes, is this true?
A. No. When you turn 65 you receive an additional exemption that helps lower and freeze the amount of tax that you pay, but it does not eliminate the tax.
In some cases, if the exemption amount is greater than the property value there may not be a tax for that property.
Q. Can I make partial payments on my school taxes?
A. Once you receive your tax statement in October you can make partial payments on the current taxes up until January 31st. The balance will be due by January 31st unless you are set up to pay quarterly.
Installment payments for taxpayers with a disabled person or over 65 exemptions on their homestead, may pay the taxes in four equal installments. Payments are due as follows:
- 1st payment due by January 31
- 2nd payment due by March 31
- 3rd payment due by May 31
- 4th payment due by July 31
As long as the installment payments are paid on time, no fees or penalties will be added to the payment.
Ownership Records and Mailing Address
Please note that tax offices are required to mail tax bills to the "address of record" maintained by the property's county appraisal office. If you are the new owner of a property, or there is an ownership error
including misspellings, or you need to change a mailing address you must contact the county appraisal district office of the property.
The appraisal district is the only authority to change property tax records, not the individual tax offices. The tax office cannot add, remove or correct owners or mailing addresses without a certified tax roll from the appraisal district. The tax office may get a tax roll once a month or sometimes
longer depending on the time of year.
Please note that a post office change of address is not acceptable. They often have time limits and may expire before appraisal notices or tax bills are mailed.
If taxes are due, never wait for an ownership change to pay. Avoid any penalty and interest being added to the account by paying the tax bill on time. Taxes are due on or before January 31, no matter whose name is on the bill.
Taxes Paid by Mortgage or Tax Service
In the State of Texas all mortgage companies or tax service providers are required to request the tax bill(s) annually, even if they have requested them in the past.
If the mortgage company requests the tax bill, the tax bill will be sent to the mortgage company not to the property owner. If the mortgage company did not request the bill by September 30, the tax bill will be mailed to the property owner. If you have received a tax bill that is to be paid by the mortgage company, write your loan number on the bill and forward it to your mortgage company’s loan escrow department. If yours is a new account or a refinance, the mortgage company may not have had your account information in time to request a bill before the deadline. All mortgage companies have 24/7 access to our website.
We do not contact mortgage companies about delinquent taxes.
Tax Office Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday 9:00AM-11:30AM
1:00PM-4:00PM
Useful Links
School Tax Information Online