Harris County Tax Collector Branch Office

We arrived at 4:15 PM on a Friday afternoon (15 minutes before the weekend for these folks), and only had to wait in line for 5 minutes. We had a relatively complicated title transfer, vehicle registration task to accomplish, but it was handled smoothly and cheerfully. I was very pleasantly surprised at the whole process, and with the people we worked with.

Come here at your own risk. Try going during non busy hours — like the first two hours that they are open. Otherwise you will be in a line that wraps around to the back of the building and to the restrooms. I walked in thinking I made it to the end of the line, but I was not even close. Do anything you can online. I’m from Austin and expected at least a drive thru, but that, they did not have. I will most definitely be going on line first or coming at the butt crack of dawn to wait in line.

I am giving it 3 stars because you CAN get in here quicker than some of the larger offices. It is sort of off the radar & I am glad about that. I do wish they had more than 2 employees when there are 5 windows there. I have been here twice in the last 6 months & there were never more than 2 people working during peak hours. The lady that helped me was friendly but while waiting in line, she had a conversation with another lady about someone they knew in common (based on her address) that took entirely too long. I guess that is the small town mentality.

This is the first Tax Assessor’s Office I visited since relocating to Houston, and I must say the difference between this office and the one in Austin (where I moved from) is tremendous. Basically there can be no comparison whatsoever. This dated-​looking building in mouse-​gray color looks like it may fall apart with next stronger gust of wind, somehow feels like a temporary shed, rather than a serious governmental facility. It is a bit scary to think that some of our most confidential information is being stored and handled inside such a place…
Inside, there are 5 or 6 stations, but only 2 of them work — even during the rush hours. The rest are empty /​closed, which ensures that you will definitely wait in line for at least an hour, probably a lot longer. The personnel are kind and polite (at least that) — but they are also quite slow. The process of verifying each and every document requires them to disappear for about 10 minutes to another room in the back, where I assume sits their boss. This raises the blood pressure of the queue, people are getting pretty vocal about their feelings, especially the disabled… because there isn’t a special line for them– they wait with everyone else, and it’s a pain to watch…
Since this is a governmental office, don’t expect that speed and efficiency– and the visual appearance of this office– will be improving any soon. Just bring with you a book, some phone games, or just lot of patience… and make sure you have cash or your check book– cus they do not accept credit cards.