Travis County will temporarily stop taking any new legal action against those with delinquent property taxes, the tax office announced Monday. It said, however, that state penalties and interest continue to accrue on what delinquent taxpayers owe.

"We realize COVID-19 has upended everyone's life," Bruce Elfant, Travis County's tax assessor-collector, said in a statement. "This is a time of extreme financial uncertainty, and we understand that filing delinquent tax lawsuits and conducting foreclosure sales would place an even bigger burden on these county residents so we are temporarily suspending our collection efforts."

Elfant said that because state law does not allow tax assessor-collectors to waive penalties and interest on delinquent property taxes, he encourages anyone who can to continue making their payments.

"Don't forget paying your property taxes is how we keep the county, cities, schools, hospitals and emergency personnel operating," Elfant said.

Anyone who needs to set up a payment plan for their property taxes or needs to renegotiate terms of a payment plan can call (512) 854-9473 or email TaxOffice@TravisCountyTX.gov.

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