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Recently an old scheme concerning homestead exemptions resurfaced in mailboxes throughout the Houston area. The Better Business Bureau and the Harris County Appraisal District have received many inquiries concerning a company called Property Tax Assessor Records Corp.

According to consumers, this company mails out documents that claim that they may be over paying their property taxes. They are then told that they may send $45 in order to process a homestead exemption form which will lower their property taxes. Although some individuals do, in fact, qualify for homestead exemptions, these forms can be filed for free through the County Appraisal District.

"A lot of people send us checks," said Patrick O’Dell, Supervising Investigator for the Harris County Appraisal District. When their checks are returned, many are shocked to learn that this is a free service, O’Dell said.

Although the company includes a disclaimer stating that they are not affiliated with any government agency, the documents look official and seem to fool many consumers. However, the company, which is based out of Chicago does not include a phone number and only has a P.O. Box in Houston.

No matter how official this company may seem, it is important to remember that government agencies send official mail in envelopes whose upper right hand corner has a "penalty indicia" (the U.S. Postal Service shield and the words, "Penalty for Private use $300") or a government mailing permit imprint (showing a permit number beginning with the letter "G").

Letters from private organizations are considered "advertising mail" and may carry bulk rate postage in the form of a permit imprint (which will always say "Bulk Rate Postage Paid" or "Nonprofit Postage Paid"), a postage meter strip, or a precanceled stamp.

Property Tax Assessor Records Corp. is not the only company who has attempted to obtain payment for filing homestead exemptions. Another similar company, State Recording Services, offered to file homestead exemption forms for $25 and was prevalent until 1995.

If you think that you may qualify for a homestead exemption, you can call the County Appraisal District and receive a processing form free of charge.

The Better Business Bureau does not endorse, recommend, or disapprove any product, service or organization.