Serving County Tax Offices & Appraisal Districts in Texas

Property tax disputes, appraisal challenges, and related civil cases often require serving documents on a county tax office or appraisal district. This type of service is not the same as serving an individual at home.

This guide explains how service works when the recipient is a county-level office or appraisal district, so your case doesn’t get delayed over technical details.

Section 1 — Who Are You Actually Serving?

In these cases, you’re usually serving:

• A county tax assessor–collector’s office
• A central appraisal district (CAD)

You are not serving an individual; you are serving the office or entity that manages records and property valuations.

Section 2 — Common Reasons These Offices Are Served

• Property tax disputes or appeals (handled through the appropriate legal channels)
• Requests involving property records in civil cases
• Notices that must formally be delivered to the tax or appraisal authority

Courts often require proof of service on these entities before hearings can proceed.

Section 3 — How Service Works at Tax Offices & Appraisal Districts

1. Identify the correct office (county tax office vs. appraisal district).
2. Verify the official mailing and physical address for legal documents.
3. Arrive during posted business hours (these offices rarely handle walk-in service outside those times).
4. Check in at the front desk or records counter, depending on building layout.
5. Deliver documents to the authorized staff member (often records, tax, or admin staff).
6. Document who accepted service and in what capacity.

The Return of Service then reflects exactly how the office received the documents.

Section 4 — Who Is Authorized to Accept Service?

Each office may have different internal rules, but generally, valid recipients include:

• Records or legal liaison staff
• Supervisors or department managers
• Designated representatives for legal documents

Front-counter staff may direct the server to the correct person. The key is that the server doesn’t just hand documents to anyone in the building.

Section 5 — Documentation & Return of Service

A clean Return of Service for a tax office or CAD usually includes:

• Full name of the office (e.g., “Harris County Appraisal District”)
• Physical address
• Date and time of delivery
• Name and title of the person who accepted the documents
• Method of delivery (in person, front counter, legal desk, etc.)

Judges use this information to confirm that the correct governmental entity was served properly.

Section 6 — Timing & Practical Issues

County tax offices and appraisal districts typically:

• Close earlier than private businesses
• Have lunch closures or limited hours
• See heavy foot traffic at certain times of the month

This can affect how quickly service can be completed. A server may need to:

• Plan around office hours
• Allow extra wait time at counters
• Work around parking and security

Section 7 — Mistakes to Avoid

• Serving the wrong office (tax office vs. appraisal district).
• Serving the wrong county if the property is located somewhere else.
• Mailing without confirming requirements when physical delivery is needed.
• Not identifying who accepted service by name and title.

These issues can cause delays or make the court question whether service was valid.

Section 8 — Clear Next Steps

If your case needs service on a county tax office or appraisal district:

• Confirm the exact name of the office and the county.
• Provide the correct address and case details.
• Let a process server handle the in-person delivery and documentation.