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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to deferred collection of ad valorem taxes on certain |
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residence homesteads. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 33.06, Tax Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.06. DEFERRED COLLECTION OF TAXES ON CERTAIN |
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RESIDENCE HOMESTEADS [HOMESTEAD OF ELDERLY OR DISABLED PERSON OR
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DISABLED VETERAN]. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 33.06(a) and (d), Tax Code, are amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) An individual is entitled to defer collection of a tax, |
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abate a suit to collect a delinquent tax, or abate a sale to |
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foreclose a tax lien if: |
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(1) the individual: |
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(A) is 65 years of age or older; |
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(B) is disabled as defined by Section 11.13(m); |
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or |
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(C) is qualified to receive an exemption under |
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Section 11.134 or 11.22; and |
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(2) the tax was imposed against property that the |
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individual owns and occupies as a residence homestead. |
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(d) A tax lien remains on the property and interest |
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continues to accrue during the period collection of taxes is |
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deferred or abated under this section. The annual interest rate |
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during the deferral or abatement period is 2.5 [five] percent |
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instead of the rate provided by Section 33.01. Interest and |
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penalties that accrued or that were incurred or imposed under |
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Section 33.01 or 33.07 before the date the individual files the |
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deferral affidavit under Subsection (b) or the date the judgment |
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abating the suit is entered, as applicable, are preserved. A |
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penalty under Section 33.01 is not incurred during a deferral or |
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abatement period. The additional penalty under Section 33.07 may |
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be imposed and collected only if the taxes for which collection is |
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deferred or abated remain delinquent on or after the 181st day after |
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the date the deferral or abatement period expires. A plea of |
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limitation, laches, or want of prosecution does not apply against |
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the taxing unit because of deferral or abatement of collection as |
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provided by this section. |
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SECTION 3. Section 33.06(d), Tax Code, as amended by this |
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Act, applies only to interest that accrues during a deferral or |
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abatement period on or after January 1, 2020, regardless of whether |
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the deferral or abatement period began before that date or begins on |
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or after that date. Interest that accrued during a deferral or |
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abatement period before January 1, 2020, is governed by the law in |
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effect when the interest accrued, and that law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect January 1, 2020. |