Placing a taxable value on real property and personal property is a function of the Rusk County Appraisal District, not the Tax Office. Please call the Rusk County Appraisal District at 903-657-3578.

All protests must be directed to the Rusk County Appraisal District. This office can send a protest form to you, or you may obtain the form directly from Rusk County Appraisal District at 903-657-3578. The deadline for filing written protests for homestead properties is April 30th or 30 days after the date the appraisal district sends a notice of appraised value, whichever is later. 

 

Q. Rusk County Appraisal District reduced my value. When will I receive another statement? 

You will receive a new tax bill after this office receives the adjusted taxable value from the Rusk County Appraisal District. 

 

The Rusk County Appraisal District will have to make the correction. You will receive a corrected statement after the Rusk County Appraisal District certifies the correction to the Rusk County Tax Office. The correction process may take several weeks, so do not wait to pay your tax bill!

Perhaps you have not filed the proper affidavit with the appraisal district. You are entitled to a homestead exemption if you own your home on January 1 and it is your primary residence. You can claim only one homestead exemption as of January 1. In order to receive a homestead exemption, an affidavit must be filed with the Rusk County Appraisal District. All exemptions, such as homestead, over 65, disabled persons, and disabled veterans require execution of an affidavit with the Rusk County Appraisal District. You can obtain them directly from Rusk County Appraisal District at 903-657-3578. 

 

Q. We are over 65 and pay no taxes. We received a statement showing a emergency service district tax. Why? 

Emergency service districts were created by the state legislature and approved by the voters of the various districts. They have the legal authority to set a tax rate and may not allow exemptions. These exemptions are not mandatory, and they do not have to grant them. If no exemption is allowed, you are liable for the tax. There is a maximum allowable exemption, and if the value is higher than the ceiling, the value above the ceiling is taxable. 

 

The exemption goes by its status as of January 1st of each year. If you purchased a new home you need to file for a homestead exemption on your new homestead property with the Rusk County Appraisal District for the next January 1. You may obtain it directly from the Rusk County Appraisal District at 903-657-3578.

As long as a statement is not requested by a mortgage company, it is automatically mailed to the homeowner. The statements are mailed out by November of each year. If you have not received your statement by mid-December, it is your responsibility to notify us so that we can send out another statement. Taxes are due upon receipt, and should be paid no later than January 31st of the year following the year the tax statements are mailed. 

 

Q. This is not my property. What shall I do with this statement? 

If you know the name of the owner, please return the statement to this office with the name of the owner. If you do not know the name of the owner, return the statement with that notation. 

 

All address changes need to be requested in writing and mailed to the Rusk County Appraisal District or Rusk County Tax Office. Or, you can search for you record online and submit an address change request there.

The tax account number is assigned by the Rusk County Appraisal District and is used to help identify each piece of property. Normally, only one account number is assigned to each parcel. The legal description describes the property as a parcel in a larger tract (e.g., Lot 1, Block 2 in Meadow Subdivision), so it can be located on a map. If the legal description is wrong on your statement, this error should be directed to the Rusk County Appraisal District for proper handling. If you so request, we will send the necessary real property correction form or personal property correction form to you, or you may obtain them directly from the Rusk County Appraisal District by calling them at 903-657-3578.

Q. Can you send me a statement on my taxes for part of the year? 

The Rusk County Tax Office does not prorate taxes; the tax bill must be paid in full. 

 

The tax laws require this office to mail delinquent tax bills to the current owner of real estate, rather than to the previous owner. Because a tax lien exists against that parcel, it is in the current owner's best interest to have knowledge of that lien. If a lawsuit were filed to foreclose the lien, the current owner (not the previous owner) risks losing the property to foreclosure. 

Chapter 22, Texas Tax Code, requires owners of business personal property to file a rendition describing the property with the chief appraiser by April 15 of each year and also prescribes the penalty for failure to comply. 

The rendition penalty is a penalty created by the Texas Legislature on those businesses failing to file their business personal property rendition, or filing their rendition late, to the Rusk County Appraisal District (RCAD).

The rendition penalty is generally equal to 10% of the amount of property taxes ultimately imposed on the property.

 

The Rusk County Appraisal District has contracted with the Rusk County Tax Office to collect rendition penalties. Such payments are accepted at the Tax Office, online by credit card and by mail. 

 

The Tax Office does not have the legal authority to waive or reduce the penalty. If you can provide evidence that you substantially complied with the rendition requirement or that your failure to comply was due to circumstances beyond your control, you can apply to the chief appraiser for a waiver. Lack of knowledge or forgetting the deadline will not be considered as a basis for a waiver.

Your application letter must be received by the appraisal district within 30 days of the date you received your bill. Send a cover letter, a detailed explanation of the reason(s) for your failure to timely file, and a completed rendition form (or supporting statement, if the penalty relates to a supporting statement).

If the chief appraiser fails to approve your request for waiver, you may protest the decision to the appraisal review board. 

 

Q. What happens if I pay after the due date? 

There is no additional penalty for late payment. However, collection action will be taken. 

 

You will be subject to civil action for collection in the courts. 

 

Yes, unpaid rendition penalty will be treated the same as unpaid property tax for purposes of determining compliance with the Rusk County vendors policy. 

 

Contact the Rusk County Appraisal District at 903-657-3578

 

Q. I filed all of my rendition paper work by the deadline. How do I get the penalty removed? 

Contact the Rusk County Appraisal District at 903-657-3578

 

Q. What do I do if one of my jurisdictions on my bill is wrong? 

 

Contact the Rusk County Appraisal District at 903-657-3578

You can use your credit card by renewing at www.texasonline.com

 

 

Follow the same procedures as with any motor vehicle.

 

 

You may contact us in a variety of ways. You may telephone us at 903-657-0338. If you wish to correspond with our office, please address your letters to Nesha Partin, Tax Assessor-Collector, 200 North Main Street, Henderson TX 75652.

 

Yes, the Texas Department of Transportation Vehicle Title and Registration Forms Page has many of the commonly used forms that can be downloaded. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view the documents. Link to Adobe on this page, and from there you can download Acrobat Reader.

Texas law allows disabled residents to obtain either a) one set of plates with the international symbol of access plus one placard, or b) two placards. A placard may be displayed in any vehicle being used to transport the disabled person. If the vehicle does not have disabled-person license plates, the law requires that the placard be displayed on the rear-view mirror whenever the vehicle is parked in a disabled-person parking space. A disability statement form is available from the Rusk County Tax office. The applicant's physician must complete the form VTR-214. The physician's signature must be notarized unless a separate written original prescription is submitted. The fee for a placard is five dollars ($5.00). Placards must be renewed every four years. There is an exchange fee of $1.30 ($1.00 processing fee if done through the mail) for a set of disabled-person license plates, if the registration is current. Additional sets of disabled person plates may be obtained for vehicles specially equipped for operation by a person who has lost the use of one or both legs. For more information on disabled person placards and license plates, please see the Frequently Asked Questions About Disabled Person Placards/License Plates provided by the Texas Department of Transportation.

 

 

You can obtain replacement plates at the Rusk County Tax Office. If your plates are damaged or you are only missing one plate, please turn in the remaining license plate(s) to the Tax Office for proper disposal and recycling. Please also bring with you your current registration receipt. You will be required to fill out a replacement affidavit, and there will be a $6.50 fee.

 

You can obtain a replacement windshield validation sticker at the Rusk County Tax Office. Please bring with you your current registration receipt. You will be required to fill out a replacement affidavit, and there will be a $6.50 fee.

 

Yes, insurance must be on the vehicle the permit is for. Also, payment must be in cash, cashier's check or money order.

 

"Registration Purposes Only" means that the vehicle is registered, but not titled, in Texas. This type of ownership document may be requested when a vehicle that was registered or titled in another state is subject to registration in Texas but the owner or operator cannot or does not wish to surrender the negotiable out-of-state evidence of ownership in order to obtain a Texas negotiable title.

 

You may obtain an Application for Personalized License Plates from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. There is a charge in addition to the regular registration fee. The amount charged for personalized and special plates varies according to the type ordered. In some cases, the applicant must meet eligibility requirements before applying for special plates. Follow the instructions on the forms. See the Special License Plates Listing for pictures of the specialty plates that are available in Texas. Some special plates are available at the Rusk County Tax Office or at https://www.myplates.com/

Applicants for a Certified Copy of title may be the owner of record, lienholder, or verifiable agent of either. Whether the application is submitted by mail or walk-in, all applicants must provide:

 

In addition to the requirements above, a verified agent of the owner or lienholder must also provide a letter of signature authority on original letterhead, or a business card, or copy of the agent’s employee ID.

 

If the Form VTR-34 is signed with a Power of Attorney (POA), the transaction must have, in addition to the requirements above: 
Photo ID of recorded owner/lienholder signing the POA. 
Photo ID of individual signing the Form VTR-34.

NOTE: Businesses given POA will also be required to provide a letter of signature authority on original letterhead, business card, or a copy of employee ID.

 

The seller must write the purchaser's name and address, the odometer reading and date of sale in the title assignment. Purchaser and seller must each sign both the title and the title application form (Form 130-U). Both signed documents must be given to the purchaser, along with the registration receipt. The purchaser must then go to any Rusk County Tax Office location and file the title application. Proof of current insurance will be required.If the vehicle was last registered in a non-affected (attainment) county, proof of emissions-testing will be required. Please see Emissions-testing regulations. The fee is $33, plus motor-vehicle sales tax (6.25 percent). There is also a $2.50 transfer of a current registration fee. If the license is not current, there may be a registration fee. When you purchase a vehicle from a licensed Texas dealer located in Rusk County, the dealer is required to complete all the paperwork necessary to title and register the vehicle in your name. The dealer is also required to file the documents with the Rusk County Tax Office within 20 business days of the date you purchased the vehicle.

 

Q. I've bought a vehicle and I have liability insurance on another car. What document can I use to show proof of financial responsibility when I transfer title and registration? 

The personal automobile policy for any other vehicle an individual owns provides 30-day coverage after an additional vehicle has been acquired. Therefore, a copy of the personal automobile insurance policy or the card issued for the policy is acceptable as proof of financial responsibility.

 

Q. I applied for a title and neither my lien holder nor I have received it yet. 

Customers should receive their titles within three weeks from the date the application was filed. Contact the Rusk County Tax Office and ask to have the record checked.

 

This occurs if you have not advised the State of Texas that your lien has been satisfied. To remove the lien information, fill out a Title Application Form (130-U). Submit the application, title and a release of lien to the Rusk County Tax Office. The fee for this service is $33.00. The State of Texas will mail a title to you that does not show a lien.

 

A statement of fact will be required. This statement must address the discrepancy and must be acknowledged by both the seller and the buyer involved in the transaction in which the error was made.

 

The Odometer Disclosure Statement should contain an explanation from the seller as to why a mileage reading is not available. If there is a reading of any sort displayed on the odometer, this reading must be disclosed, and an indication as to whether the mileage is actual, not actual, or exceeds mechanical limits must be made.

 

It is likely the new owner has not transferred title into his or her name. Contact the Rusk County Tax Office or VTR Regional Office and fill out the Motor Vehicle Transfer Notification (Form VTR-346). Or write a letter to: Texas Department of Transportation, Vehicle Titles and Registration Division, Attention: Customer Information Services Branch, Austin, TX 78779-0001. Your letter must provide the vehicle description (year, make, vehicle identification number), date of sale, and purchaser's name and address. Upon receipt of the form or letter, the State will place a notation on the motor vehicle record stating that the vehicle has been transferred.

 

If the divorce decree awards the vehicle to you, provide the Rusk County Tax Office with a certified copy of the decree and apply for title. If the decree does not award the vehicle to you, a properly assigned title will be required. In the case of a deceased spouse, the ownership will be determined based on whether there is a will, trust, etc. Contact the Rusk County Tax Office or a VTR Regional Office for help.

 

Contact the Rusk County Tax Office and we'll help you resolve the problem.

 

No. Vehicles issued the $6.30 distinguishing Machinery License Plate cannot be titled under the Certificate of Title Act.

 

For information about rebuilt and salvage vehicles, contact our office at 903-657-0338.

 

If a salvaged vehicle for which a salvage document has been issued is repaired and placed in operable condition by a purchaser of such salvaged vehicle, the person or firm who purchased and repaired the vehicle (Texas licensed salvage dealers excepted) must apply for title and registration in their name. The following must support the application for title:

 

If the vehicle for which the salvage certificate has been issued has a non-conforming USA VIN, proof of compliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation safety regulations is required. 

 

In any case when a negotiable title is issued and a Salvage Document is in evidence, the negotiable title will contain a notation to indicate that the vehicle was previously damaged. "Flood Damaged" will be shown, when applicable, or “Rebuilt Salvage” will be shown. These notations are carried permanently in the master title records and will appear on all subsequent titles. Valid proof of financial responsibility, covering the described vehicle, in the applicant’s name.

 

The statement must certify to the correct information and must include a description of the vehicle identification number and the date the statement was executed. Only the seller is authorized to execute the Statement of Fact. However, if the Statement of Fact is required for the odometer disclosure portion of the assignment, in addition to the seller's signature, the buyer must also acknowledge the statement.

The title law protects ownership rights for more than 15 million vehicles in Texas. Therefore, the statutes require transfer of ownership by proper execution of certain ownership documents. When these specific documents are incomplete or unavailable, Texas statutes require that the applicant apply for a Tax Collector's hearing or bonded title.

 

A bonded title is a notation on a title document, as well as on the motor vehicle records, which indicates that a Certificate of Title Surety Bond has been surrendered in support of the application for title. The bond is issued in the title applicant's name, for a three-year period. The notation (bonded title) is renewed for another three-year period. The bond is required by statute in cases where proper ownership documents are unavailable. Purpose of a bonded title is to protect previous and future owners of the vehicle, as well as lien holders, from potential claims.

A trailer must weigh at least 4001 pounds to be titled. You will need:

 

You will need:

 

You will need:

 

 

You will need:

 

The sales tax on a gifted vehicle is $10.00. Beginning September 1, 2009 a vehicle can only be gifted from one family member to another. (A family member is defined as a grandparent, grandchild, child, stepchild, sibling, guardian, or decedent estate.)

 

Yes, a notarized statement between both interested parties must be completed explaining the nature of the transaction and the relationship between both parties. Form 14-317 is now available on the Texas Comptroller's website https://www.window.state.tx.us/.

Follow the instructions on the renewal notice. Send the renewal notice, registration fee and all requested information to the Rusk County Tax Office. Add an additional $1 for the processing and mailing fee. Include a photocopy of your current insurance card to show proof of financial responsibility. You will also need a copy of a driver's license and current inspection. Please make your check payable to Rusk County Tax Assessor-Collector. You may also renew online, at the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles website.

A vehicle registration period is for 12 consecutive months or any portion thereof. Registration for vehicles registered during August will expire on July 31.

 

State law makes the fee structure for passenger vehicles different from that of trucks. Passenger vehicle registration is determined by the manufacturer's model year. The annual license fee for trucks is $25 plus an amount based on the empty weight of the vehicle and its net carrying capacity.

 

 

Yes. You can renew you registration up to two months prior to your expiration month.

 

Q. I just moved to Texas. How do I register my vehicle? 

Before it can be registered, your vehicle must pass a State of Texas vehicle safety inspection and a visual verification of the vehicle identification number. These services are available at state-approved Safety Inspection Stations. 

 

The inspection facility will provide you with a Vehicle Identification Certificate (Form VI-30-A). You must submit this form to the Rusk County Tax Office along with an Application for Texas Certificate of Title (Form 130-U) and an out-of-state title or out-of-state registration. A new resident fee of $90, or a sales tax fee of 6.25% of the vehicle’s purchase price will be charged. Title and registration fees are due at the time the application for title is made. You may do this in person at any Rusk County Tax Office or by mail. Proof of liability insurance is required in Texas in order for these services to be provided (please read more info in next question).

 

Proof of liability insurance coverage from out-of state insurance companies is acceptable. If you have out-of-state insurance, you will need to bring the policy when registering the vehicle. The policy must be for at least the minimum limits prescribed by Texas law. Insurance from a "no fault" State is not acceptable as proof of liability.

 

He or she can operate the vehicle for a period of thirty days after establishing residence or entering gainful employment, after which time the vehicle must be registered in Texas.

 

Your vehicle registration can be renewed at any of the Rusk County Tax Office locations, by using your license receipt from the previous year, the title, or the license plate number along with proof of insurance and identification. The Rusk County Tax Office is able to verify your registration, electronically, either by using your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or your license plate number. The Department of Transportation can also mail you another renewal notice, depending on the amount of time remaining before your registration expires. Just call the Rusk County Tax Office 903-657-0315 and we'll help you correct the problem. You can also renew your registration online at the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles website.

 

Your mail will be forwarded if you filed a Change of Address Form with the U.S. Postal Service. However, the registration record will not be updated in the State's system. Contact this office or one of the VTR Regional Offices and fill out the Notice of Address Change for Texas Motor Vehicle Registration (Form VTR-146). Or, write a letter to: Texas Department of Transportation, Vehicle Titles and Registration Division, Attention: Customer Information Services Branch, Austin, TX 78779-0001. They will take the information you have provided and update your vehicle registration record accordingly. You must provide the description of each vehicle you own. You may also call their Customer Help Desk at 512-465-7611, TDD 512-302-2110.

 

The 20% penalty is required by law if a vehicle is driven on public highways with expired registration after the five-day grace period and you were issued a ticket by law enforcement.

 

Yes. A vehicle may be operated for five County working days after its registration expires without penalty.

 

You do not have to pay a penalty as long as you have not been ticketed for driving your vehicle with expired registration. You will pay for 12 months registration from the time you purchase your registration.

 

 

 

Yes, please be sure that the person you assign bring the following documents:

 

 

If your renewal notice indicates "New Plates Required" you may renew online, by mail or at any one of our Rusk County Tax Office locations.

 

If renewing online or by mail, we will return your new plates along with the registration sticker by return mail. No extra fees or forms required when obtaining new plates when mandatory.

Please note that you cannot renew your registration at any of our participating grocery stores if new plates are required.

 

Yes. You can purchase a 23-month registration sticker at any of our Tax Office locations.