Dallas County Rate Election Pushes 2026 Property Tax Bills Past Nov. 3, Shortening the Time Before Payment Is Due

DALLAS, TX, October 07, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Leinart Law Firm is urging Dallas County homeowners who are behind on their mortgage or facing foreclosure to review their options before 2026 property tax bills arrive. Those bills will not be mailed until after the Nov. 3 election, when voters decide whether to approve a higher county tax rate, WFAA reports. Meeting with a bankruptcy lawyer in Dallas, TX now gives homeowners time to see how a repayment plan would treat past-due property taxes.

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 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.

How the Delay Affects Deadlines

Mailing bills after the election shortens the time between receiving a bill and the usual payment deadline.

1. Oct. 1: The county calculated bills at tentative rates, so online balances before Election Day may reflect the higher proposed rate.
2. Nov. 3: Voters approve or reject the higher rate; a rejection sets the county rate at the voter-approval level.
3. After the election: The county mails final bills.
4. Jan. 31: Payment is due in most cases, and the Texas Comptroller notes that delinquent taxes incur a 6 percent penalty and 1 percent interest on Feb. 1.

Chapter 13 and Past-Due Property Taxes

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."

About Leinart Law Firm:

Leinart Law Firm is a consumer bankruptcy practice serving clients throughout Texas from offices in Dallas and Fort Worth. Founder Marcus Leinart, a Texas Tech University School of Law graduate licensed in Texas since 1995, opened the firm in 2005 and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas. He is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and has filed thousands of bankruptcy cases. 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.

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