Dallas County homeowners will not receive their 2026 property tax bills until after the Nov. 3 election, when voters decide whether to approve a higher county tax rate, according to WFAA reports. The delay compresses the time between receiving a bill and the traditional Jan. 31 payment deadline, leaving homeowners who are already behind on their mortgage or facing foreclosure with fewer weeks to prepare.
For a median homestead, the county portion of the bill would be $666.52 at the higher rate, up from $558.97 last year, per Dallas County figures. The county rate rises to about 22.5 cents per $100 of value even if voters reject the measure and would reach about 24.9 cents with approval. That means taxes will increase regardless of the election outcome, though the size of the increase depends on the vote.
The timeline creates several pressure points. On Oct. 1, the county calculated bills at tentative rates, so online balances before Election Day may reflect the higher proposed rate. On Nov. 3, voters approve or reject the higher rate; a rejection sets the county rate at the voter-approval level. After the election, the county mails final bills. Payment is due Jan. 31 in most cases, and the Texas Comptroller notes that delinquent taxes incur a 6 percent penalty and 1 percent interest on Feb. 1.
Texas property taxes are secured by a lien on the home, and a bankruptcy filing does not remove that lien. Homeowners who pay taxes through escrow may see the increase as a higher monthly mortgage payment after the servicer’s next escrow review. A Chapter 13 repayment plan can spread delinquent taxes and missed mortgage payments over three to five years while the homeowner stays current on new payments.
“A tax increase is seldom the only reason a homeowner falls behind, but it adds to arrears that may already be difficult to cure,” said Marcus Leinart, founder of Leinart Law Firm. “We review the mortgage, tax account, and household budget together so a repayment plan accounts for all three.”
Leinart Law Firm, a consumer bankruptcy practice serving clients throughout Texas from offices in Dallas and Fort Worth, is urging homeowners to review their options before the bills arrive. Meeting with a bankruptcy lawyer in Dallas, TX now gives homeowners time to see how a repayment plan would treat past-due property taxes. The firm handles Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings along with foreclosure, repossession, wage garnishment, and credit card debt matters, and consultations can be requested online.
