Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine MOMENTUM December 2019 | Page 36
TAXING MATTERS
CHERYL E. JOHNSON, PCC
Galveston Co. Tax Assessor Collector
[email protected]
Just a BIT TOO MUCH LOVE
in Those Letters?
O
ver 210,000 GCTO love letters began to
arrive in mailboxes in October. It seems
since the September 19th collapse of the
Aldine Bender USPS Distribution Center
roof, the only mail guaranteed to arrive
timely is advertising! Everything else is at a snail’s pace
which, frankly is not the worst thing in the world when it
comes to those annual tax bills!
Over 70% of Galveston County property owners
wait until January to pay their taxes so, unless
you are one of those taking advantage of
split/half payment (with December
2, 2019 and June 30, 2020
postmark deadlines) or are
seeking a 2019 tax write-
off, the arrival of the tax
statements was a great
opportunity to wait until
the last minute (January
31, 2020).
For those without a
mortgage company,
there are easy
payment options:
As stated, split/
half pay is an
option available
to everyone in
Galveston County
except those
with property in
Dickinson and Dickinson
ISD. These folks will be able to pay half of the
rest by December 2nd with the amounts for Dickinson
and DISD due by January 31, 2020 (see the amounts due
in 2.a. and 2.b. on the bill). Everyone else, see 2.a.
Quarter pay (one-fourth every other month) is available
to everyone again this year (typically homesteads of
those over 65, disabled persons and vets and surviving
spouses of disabled vets) as disaster installments are
again available. Divide the 2019 taxes by four and
postmark payments no later than January 31, March 31,
June 1 and July 31, 2020.
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MOMENTUM
Pay in full (Option 1) no later than January 31, 2020.
How to pay?
USPS (be sure to deposit before the 31st to insure
timely postmark) to PO Box 1169, Galveston, Texas
77553. We do NOT receive mail at branches!
Any time, place payments in an envelope, note date
and location and drop in any yellow GCTO box outside
all offices (Friendswood City Hall has a black drop box
along the driveway at the side of the building).
All payments are picked up by 8:30 am
and stamped as received the previous
business day.
Online at www.galcotax.com
(click on the large red button)
via electronic check ($1) or
credit card (2.5% bank
convenience fee).
Pay with
credit card via
telephone. For
English call 1-866-
865-1433 and
Spanish call 1-866-
865-1435.
In person at
any GCTO office.
There are typically
lines in all offices
the first and last
week of every month
with folks renewing
vehicle registrations.
December and
January are peak
months for
renewals but don’t
worry – GCTO leadership will be assisting the last week
of December and January. We are the folks with the
candy and will write receipts for later processing.
Please include the coupon or write account numbers
on checks. Make sure that you do not have any late taxes
due (Option 1 boxes will include any prior year taxes).
Have a problem? Call toll free 877-766-2284 or the
Property Tax Department directly at 409-766-2481.