Galveston County, TX
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Cheryl E. Johnson, PCC, CTOP
Galveston County Tax Office
Where the race for quality has no finish line!
Welcome to the Galveston County Tax Office! Our mission is to provide exemplary service in a cost efficient manner to all customers. Since 2005, our team has been dedicated to serving the public and governmental entities with enthusiasm and excellence. We are focused on improving accountability and the quality of services and aggressively seek ways to lower cost. We are working smarter and delivering more to you!
Contact Information
Questions? Call toll free or email us. See Contact Info link at left.
Office Hours
All Galveston County Tax Office full time locations (Galveston, League City, Santa Fe and Texas City) are open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm and Friday from 8:00 am to Noon. Crystal Beach Satellite opens the third Tuesday of the month from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm (closed 1/2 hour for lunch from 11:30 to Noon). Friendswood Satellite open Thursdays from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm (closed from Noon to 1 for lunch) and Friday from 8:00 am to Noon.
Phone
- All Departments – 877-766-2284 (toll free)
- Motor Vehicle -- Galveston Branch @ 409-766-2485
- Property Tax – 409-766-2481
- Voter Registration – 888-976-2280 (toll free), 409-766-2280
- galcotax@co.galveston.tx.us
Fax
- (409) 766-2479
Mailing Address
Please note - we no longer have a post office box. Please send all mail to: GCTO, 722 21st Street/Moody Avenue, Galveston , Texas 77550. Please do NOT mail payments to Branch locations as USPS does NOT deliver to those locations.
Customer Service Commitment
- The customer is never an interruption to our work... the customer IS our work!
- Brighten every customer’s day. Greet everyone with a smile.
- Whenever possible, call customers by name.
- Project professional courtesy and dignity.
- State things in a positive way.
- Never argue with a customer.
- Always go the extra mile to provide assistance.
- Never say, “I don’t know” without saying, “but I would be more than happy to find out!”
- Never blame others.
- Never forget our customers pay our salary.
- Be remarkable!
Hot Topics
Three To Be Elected to CAD Board of Directors
When voters approved Proposition 4 in November, not only did they secure school property tax reductions – they also approved electing three county appraisal district directors in counties of 75,000 or more. Galveston County is one of those counties!
These are at-large, nonpartisan, majority vote positions. Three signed up and were unopposed and will take office July 1. Subsequent elections will be held beginning with the November 2026 general election. In order to be eligible, contestants had to be a registered voter in Galveston County and have resided there at least two years in advance of the July 1st date to take office. Employees of taxing units (unless a member of a governing body of a taxing unit) and the CAD are not eligible nor are certain others (please see the SOS Election Advisory posted below for additional information).
CAD directors hire the chief appraiser, appoint the taxpayer liaison officer and agricultural board members and will also – thanks to Senate Bill 2 – appoint appraisal review board (ARB) members. They also are responsible for approving the CAD Reappraisal Plan (which will be presented late this summer).
Elections for Appraisal Districts in Co..
PROPERTY TAX FRAUD ALERT
Criminals Impersonating State, Threatening to Seize Assets
Some taxpayers have received fraudulent letters claiming the state of Texas will seize their assets and property for unpaid taxes unless payment is made within seven days. These illegitimate letters did not originate from the Comptroller’s office.
For years, criminals have used aggressive and threatening scam faxes, letters and phone calls impersonating state agencies. The criminals demand immediate payment, often via a specific payment method, and threaten to seize assets and property or significantly increase the liability if you fail to pay or provide sensitive personal information.
Be incredibly wary whenever you receive unexpected messages like these, as they can be a trap. The criminals’ threats are designed to get you to react by calling the criminals’ phone number or clicking on a fake link to solve the problem. The consequences can be catastrophic. Not only can you lose your money, but if you click on links in scam emails or texts, you also could become a victim of identity theft or have malware installed on your phone or computer.
If you receive an unexpected message of this type, do not call the phone number or use the website or link provided in the letter, email or text. Most importantly, do not give the sender personal information or money. Instead, please email us or call the Comptroller’s Collection Team at 800-252-8880.
Learn more about protecting yourself from tax fraud.
2024 Comptroller Alert Re Tax Lien Scams
Five Year Summary of Tax Rates, All Galveston County Governments
The below file includes a five year history of all of the calculated and adopted rates for all Galveston County governments that have properly reported them. This information is provided as required by Section 26.16 of the Texas Property Tax Code.
Please note that the 2024 tax rate adoption period is starting NOW with local governments beginning to hold budget workshops. Participate in your local governments! Attend these meetings to find out how they intend to spend your money!
5 Year History 2023-2019 December 2023 Update
Effectively Protest Your Property Value Booklet, Spreadsheet & Power Point Show to Prepare for ARB Process
The 2024 Protest booklet, spreadsheet and Power Point Show (as a video and is coming VERY soon) is posted below. A major change from 2024 is that voters approved in November 2023 that ALL real property will benefit from a 20% taxable appraisal cap (homeowners remain at 10%). Also a one page ("Cliff Notes" version of protest info is included below and at the second slide of the power point show).
2024 Protest Handbook V1.24 Online Print Version
Effectively Protest Power Point Video
Taxes Five Step (Cliff Notes Version of Protesting Value) 2024