FAQs
Continuing Education for Tax Assessor-Collectors
What is a Tax Assessor-Collector?
The tax assessor-collector calculates property tax rates for the county, collects taxes for the county (and sometimes for additional local taxing entities) and collects various other fees for the state and county.
What Does a Tax Assessor-Collector Do in Texas?
A tax assessor-collector in Texas has the following duties:
- Calculates property tax rates for the county.
- Collects property taxes for the county.
- May collect taxes for cities, schools and other local taxing entities.
- Processes motor vehicle title transfers.
- Issues motor vehicle registration and licenses.
- May process boat titles and registrations.
- Registers voters and may conduct elections.
- Collects various other fees for the state and county.
For more complete information about the responsibilities of the tax assessor-collector and other county officials, see the "Guide to Texas Laws for County Officials."
Please note: Some duties performed by officials may vary within individual counties.
Tax Assessor-Collector Requirements
A county assessor-collector must successfully complete 20 hours of continuing education before each anniversary of the date on which the county assessor-collector takes office.
See the full continuing education requirements and moreCounty Tax Assessor-Collector Qualifications9
The County Tax Assessor-Collector must meet the following qualifications at the time of appointment or election:
- U.S. Citizen.
- Resident of Texas for at least 12 consecutive months.
- Resident of the county for at least six consecutive months.
- Registered to vote in the county.
- At least 18 years of age.
- Not have been finally convicted of a felony from which they have not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities.
- Not have been determined by a court with probate jurisdiction to be totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.
Candidates for this office generally must meet the above qualifications at the time of filing.
For more information, see the Secretary of State Elections Division website.
Legal source: Tax Code, Sec. 6.231
A county assessor-collector must successfully complete 20 hours of continuing education before each anniversary of the date on which the county assessor-collector takes office.
The continuing education must include at least 10 hours of instruction on laws relating to the assessment and collection of property taxes for a county assessor-collector who assesses or collects property taxes. A county assessor-collector may carry forward from one 12-month period to the next not more than 10 continuing education hours that, if in addition, a county assessor-collector shall successfully complete continuing education courses on ethics and on the constitutional and statutory duties of the county assessor-collector not later than the 90th day after the date on which the county assessor-collector first takes office.
Newly elected or appointed tax assessor-collectors that assess or collect property taxes shall also successfully complete at least 40 hours of continuing education courses on the assessment and collection of property taxes, including a course dedicated to Chapter 26, not later than the first anniversary of the date on which the county assessor-collector first takes office.
Programs that Qualify
Continuing education must be approved by a state agency or an accredited institution of higher education, including an institution that is a part of or associatied with an accredited institution of higher education.
Filing for Credit
A certificate of attendance is furnished by the sponsor of the conference that you attend. Tax assessor-collectors should maintain a copy for their records. The program sponsor may assist by submitting forms to the TACA.
Legal Source
Tax Code, Sec. 6.231
Open Government Training Information
Elected and appointed public officials are required by a state law to receive training in Texas open government laws. For more information on this training including free video training courses, visit The Office of the Attorney General website.
County Official Organizations
The Texas Association of Counties serves as the umbrella organization for various independent county official organizations in Texas. These organizations serve as an important resource for county officials for information, networking and advocacy.
The association for this office is Tax Assessor-Collectors Association of Texas.
See our full calendar of upcoming events
Designed and guided by county officials, our professionally planned educational activities also offer great opportunities to network with your peers.