Smith County seal

The Smith County Tax Assessor’s Office is trying to make getting property taxes paid as easy as possible.

Tax Assessor-Collector Gary Barber said his office will stay open later Thursday and Friday, extending hours until 5 p.m., and he will add a drive-thru option Friday for people paying their property tax bills.

Barber said he’ll be in the parking lot from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday to collect payments, which need to be checks placed in an envelope with the taxpayer’s phone number written on them in case there are any issues with the payment, he said.

During Tuesday’s meeting of the Smith County Commissioners Court, Barber said that so far his office has deposited $247 million in property tax payments, which is up $14 million from last year at the same point.

Tax bills, which went out to 186,000 residents in October, are due by Friday to avoid delinquency. They can be paid online, at the Smith County Tax Office or by mail postmarked by Friday.

The Tax Office is located in the Cotton Belt Building, 1517 W. Front St. in Tyler.

In Other Business

Two Chapel Hill residents spoke out against a proposed Toll 49 extension that would run within 800 feet of Kissam Elementary School on State Highway 64 East.

Robert Wilson said he was opposed to the county offering financial support for Toll 49 and asked the court to focus on fixing county roads with taxpayer money.

“Please don’t fund a deadly toll road with our county tax dollars,” Wilson said. “Please step up to the table and say no to the adjusted Teal Route.”

Wilson’s son Jeremy also spoke to the court. The Tyler Morning Telegraph interviewed the Wilsons and Toll 49 officials about the concerns in a story that ran Sunday, Jan. 26.

Jeremy Wilson asked the court to look into Toll 49’s claims that the Teal Route would actually be within 5 miles of hospitals. The elementary school is just over 5 miles outside of Loop 323. He asked the court to consider a future agenda item to address the matter.

“I do anesthesia here in Tyler, and I can tell you seconds save lives,” Jeremy Wilson said. “We’re (considering) routes with incorrect data. I’m asking the members of the court to stand up for our citizens and have it (corrected).”

After the public comment portion, commissioners asked if they could respond to the financial and safety concerns, but Judge Nathaniel Moran said the Texas Open Meeting Act would require they request a future agenda item.

More information from the Tax Office

When you pay online with an e-check (bank account and routing numbers are needed), it is free. You can skip the line at the Tax Office and do not have to pay postage, Barber said. It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to make sure all accounts are included and banking information is correct to avoid additional fees.

The Tax Office also takes payments in person by cash, check, money order and debit or credit cards. A 2.5% fee is added to debit or credit card payments.

Barber said his office does take partial payments, and he encourages people to pay what they can, when they can, since late fees are only added to the balance due.

Once delinquent, 7% penalties and interest are added to what is due. Those fees increase by 2% for each month payments are late. If the property taxes are not paid by July 1, 33% in penalty, interest and collection fees will be added to the account, Barber said.

For those who have paid off their mortgage company within the last year and who have not received a property tax bill directly, Barber asks them to call his office as soon as possible.

Everyone who owns property in the state owes property taxes unless exempted by law, he said.

The Tax Office is located in the Cotton Belt Building, at 1517 W. Front St. in Tyler. Business hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and until 5 p.m. this Thursday and Friday only. Property tax payments can also be made in person at the Tax Office branches: 2616 S. Main St. in Lindale and in Noonday at 15405 State Highway 155 South.

For more information, call 903-590-2920.