Tax Department

Please Note: You will be directed to an external website. ONLY tax payments can be viewed or paid. Water bill payments can not be viewed or paid online at this time. General Info Every property within Clear Lake City Water Authority's boundary is under the jurisdiction of the Harris County Appraisal District. The Appraisal District (not the tax office) is responsible for appraising property, granting any exemptions and maintaining property tax records. Tax records include name and ownership changes and mailing address changes. If you sold your property or are no longer operating your business, you should contact the Appraisal District so that they can remove you from the appraisal rolls, otherwise taxes will continue to be assessed. If you or your business has moved, please contact them so they can change your mailing address. Harris County Appraisal District: (713) 957-7800 Paying Taxes Tax statements are mailed in October and become delinquent February 1 of the following year. Please call if you have not received a tax statement by December (if you are paying the taxes and not your mortgage company). Texas Property Tax Code Sec 31.01 states that failure to receive a bill does not change the due date or waive the penalty and interest. It is the property owner's responsibility to know when taxes are due. Payments can be made during office hours Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Night drop boxes are located to the right of our front door and in the parking lot for payments (no cash). If a payment is mailed, we suggest that proof of mailing be obtained from the post office in case payment is not received. Tax Exemption for Residential Property Clear Lake City Water Authority offers 20% general homestead and $80,000 exemption on the home's value for an over 65 or disabled person in addition to the State mandated disabled veteran exemption. A homeowner must apply to Harris County Appraisal District for any of these exemptions. To qualify for a general homestead exemption, you must own your home and live in it on January 1. You will qualify for the over 65 exemption as soon as you turn 65, own the home, and live in it as your principal residence. You will qualify for the disabled exemption if you meet the requirements for disability benefits as administered by the Social Security Administration, own the home, and live in it as your principal residence. You will receive the exemption as of January 1 for the over 65 or disabled exemption. Forms can be obtained at our office, or contacting the Appraisal District at (713) 957-7800 or online www.hcad.org. Additional Information CLCWA Tax Rate for debt service per $100 of taxable value:       CLCWA         $0.23       WCID 75       $0.50       MUD 181       $0.25 which goes to $0.23 in 2008 WCID 75 and MUD 181, located in Taylor Lake Village, VOTED in the 1990’s to become part of the CLCWA to enjoy the water rates and service. The vote also included the provision that the WCID/MUD areas would continue to pay off their debt plus the CLCWA maintenance tax. Once their debts that existed at the time of the election are paid off, that area will assume the CLCWA tax rate and will receive the CLCWA tax exemptions (homestead, over 65 or disabled). Note that the MUD 181 debt was paid off with the 2007 tax payments and this area will now assume the CLCWA rate for 2008 and future years. Maintenance Tax       All three districts pay a $0.05 maintenance tax that was approved by the voters. Total tax bill examples in the CLCWA assuming a 20% homestead deduction:       Appraisal $       TOTAL TAX $           100K                   $244           200K                   $448           300K                   $672 Average taxable home assessed value in the CLCWA is $134,245. Average annual tax based on above value is $375.89 or $31.34 per month. Combined average monthly usage and tax is $56.86. Annual savings versus City of Houston is $165.60. If you use more water, then the savings is more compared to Houston water rates, and the saving is less if your home is valued higher since Houston does not tax for water. Note that the taxes are tax deductible if you itemize. Home       Administration       Customer Service       Tax       Automatic Draft       Water Information       Drainage Policy       Boundary Map       CLCWA Holidays       Job Listing       Election       For problems regarding this site please contact the webmaster. Last Update: 5/1/2008