HOUSTON — Mail delays in Houston could interfere with property tax payments, according to some local homeowners.
Lucretia Henderson-Manyweather told KHOU 11 News she put a money order in the mail on Dec. 19 to pay for the property taxes on a rental home she owns. As of Monday, Jan. 29, it still hadn't been delivered. Henderson-Manyweather said the company issuing the money order told her it didn't appear to have been stolen.
“I’ve gone back and forth with the company that produced the money order. I bought it from the bank and then they said it hadn’t been cashed so they assume it’s been lost,” she said.
She said she was worried that the payment could be held up in Houston’s mail system after postal workers told her they were focusing on “packages” when the money order was originally sent.
“I see how they have all the mail stacked and I said, my little envelope is just sitting somewhere in there,” she said.
For weeks, KHOU 11 News has reported on the mail delays that have plagued Houston’s mail processing facilities in Missouri City and North Houston.
With the state’s property tax deadline fast approaching -- several people have recently notified KHOU 11 News of payment concerns.
In an email, another viewer explained that his property tax payment had been delayed in the mail for two weeks so he canceled the original check and paid by credit card.
Henderson-Manyweather explained she’s now “stuck in limbo” -- if she cancels the original payment, she will receive a refund. However, it could take up to 30 days to get the money back that she would use to issue a new payment.
Texas property tax payments are due Jan. 31. If you send your payment through USPS, it does not have to arrive by the deadline but it must be postmarked by Jan. 31 to avoid penalties.
Non-payment will result in a 6% penalty on Feb. 1 according to the Texas Comptroller’s office. There is an additional 1% interest charge for each month the payment is not received.
Payments can be made with cash, card, check or money order according to the Harris County Tax Assessor Collector. In Harris County, credit and debit card payments can be made online at www.hctax.net or by phone at 713-274-(CARD) 2273.
Are you having issues with the post office? Send an email to mailproblems@khou.com and let us know. You can see our coverage of delays at Houston-area USPS processing centers on KHOU.com/PostalProblems.