Sec. 33.02. INSTALLMENT PAYMENT OF DELINQUENT TAXES.

(a) The collector for a taxing unit may enter into an agreement with a person delinquent in the payment of the tax for payment of the tax, penalties, and interest in installments. The collector for a taxing unit shall, on request by a person delinquent in the payment of the tax on a residence homestead for which the property owner has been granted an exemption under Section 11.13, enter into an agreement with the person for payment of the tax, penalties, and interest in installments if the person has not entered into an installment agreement with the collector for the taxing unit under this section in the preceding 24 months.

(a-1) An installment agreement under this section:

(1) must be in writing;

(2) must provide for payments to be made in monthly installments;

(3) must extend for a period of at least 12 months if the property that is the subject of the agreement is a residence homestead for which the person entering into the agreement has been granted an exemption under Section 11.13; and

(4) may not extend for a period of more than 36 months.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), interest and a penalty accrue as provided by Sections 33.01(a) and (c) on the unpaid balance during the period of the agreement.

(b-1) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a penalty does not accrue as provided by Section 33.01(a) on the unpaid balance during the period of the agreement if the property that is the subject of the agreement is a residence homestead for which the property owner has been granted an exemption under Section 11.13. If the property owner fails to make a payment as required by the agreement, a penalty accrues as provided by Section 33.01(a) on the unpaid balance as if the owner had not entered into the agreement.

(c) A property owner's execution of an installment agreement under this section is an irrevocable admission of liability for all taxes, penalties, and interest that are subject to the agreement.

(d) Property may not be seized and sold and a suit may not be filed to collect a delinquent tax subject to an installment agreement unless the property owner:

(1) fails to make a payment as required by the agreement;

(2) fails to pay other property taxes collected by the unit when due as required by the collector; or

(3) breaches any other condition of the agreement.

(e) Execution of an installment agreement tolls the limitation periods provided by Section 33.05 of this code for the period during which enforced collection is barred by Subsection (d) of this section.

(f) The collector for a taxing unit must deliver a notice of default to a person who is in breach of an installment agreement under this section and to any other owner of an interest in the property subject to the agreement whose name appears on the delinquent tax roll before the collector may seize and sell the property or file a suit to collect a delinquent tax subject to the agreement.

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2290, ch. 841, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 906, Sec. 5, eff. Jan. 1, 1998.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1126 (H.B. 2491), Sec. 16, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 935 (H.B. 1597), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 226 (H.B. 1933), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2015.