IRS gave one extension to July 15 but don’t expect another
What to do about registration, driver’s licenses and more during pandemic
We’re entering month four of the coronavirus pandemic and stay-at-home orders, and judging from the spike in COVID-19 cases in Houston, things aren’t letting up any time soon.
Thousands of Houstonians are trying to figure out when they can go to DPS for license renewals, complete an expedited security clearance for international flights, see their accountants for taxes and renew car registrations. Every entity is different, and trying to figure out who’s doing what is confusing.
Here’s a round-up reminder of what’s been postponed, what’s reopening and how to get those errands done.
The driver’s license
You can still renew your driver’s license online and have the updated card mailed back. If you need to go in-person to renew your license, don’t fret. State officials have extended a waiver for people whose licenses expired on or after March 13. The licenses remain valid for 60 days after the Texas Department of Public Safety lifts the extension waiver.
In May, TxDPS began reopening driver license offices and admitting people by appointment. (Long DPS lines are a thing of the past, it seems.)
Some offices are expected to extend their hours in July, TxDPS spokesperson Ericka Miller said.
“We are finalizing details related to expanded services offerings, as well as plans for appointment availability on Saturdays at select DL offices,” she said.
State troopers should be aware of the waiver; so you can contest any citations related to an invalid license if it expired after March 13. But you’re still responsible for any tickets issued before that date.
Car registrations
If your car is already registered in Texas, you can renew your vehicle registration online or by mail. But vehicle title and registration requirements are still waived, said Adam Shaivitz, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Similar to TxDPS, the department will give notice when those waivers lift, and from that point, people will have 60 days to complete any overdue registrations or renewals.
Drivers renewing electronically can check the status of their blue-andwhite stickers online at https://www.txdmv.gov/ track.
“The online renewal processing time has not changed during the pandemic,” Shaivitz said.
To renew your car, you’ll first need to take your vehicle in for an inspection test, provide your renewal notice, proof of insurance and pay the fees.
Auto mechanics are an essential service, according to the county’s public health guidelines, and you should be able get a car inspection. You may have to wait in a socially distant waiting room, or if you’re not comfortable with that, drop off your vehicle and come back later. You’re welcome to take an antibacterial wipe with you to clean any high-touch surfaces, such as a steering wheel, if you’re worried technicians could transfer germs to your car.
But if you’ve recently moved to Texas (welcome!), you might not be able to register your car here until the pandemic’s stay-at-home orders lift. Each county determined whether it would keep its tax office open, Shaivitz said.
Like the other waivers, however, you don’t need to register your car in the state within 30 days of moving during the pandemic. The 60-day period after the waivers lift for driver’s licenses is also applicable to new registrations.
At the Harris County Tax
Assessor-Collector’s Office, staff are still making appointments for those with “extenuating circumstances,” such as paying an extra fee to their previous state or an upcoming Department of Public Safety appointment, said tax office spokesperson Laura Smith. Otherwise, the Harris County office remains closed.
TSA Pre-Check, Global Entry and other travel services
Reader Helen Schutz had a scheduled appointment in April at San Antonio International Airport for a Global Entry interview after she was unable to get one at Bush Intercontinental Airport.
As the pandemic dragged on, federal officials canceled her appointment. She, among thousands more, got emails from federal officials advising them to do the enrollment interview upon arriving into the U.S. on an international flight.
“But that’s not gonna happen,” Schutz said by email. “At least not anytime soon.”
Customs and Border Protection originally planned to reopen enrollment centers for travelers like Schutz to come in for their interviews beginning July 6, but postponed to Aug. 10 after cases rose across the U.S. Global Entry applicants have 485 days from the date of application, due to an extension, to schedule and attend an appointment.
“We do expect there to be a high demand for appointments with enrollment centers closed for three months,” said CBP spokesperson Nate Peeters.
NEXUS and U.S.-Canada FAST interviews are still suspended through August.
Most enrollment centers for the Transportation Security Administration’s Pre-Check, which speeds up domestic security checkpoints, remain open, said TSA spokesperson Patricia Mancha.
Travelers going in for those interviews should make an appointment online, although walk-ins are still accepted.
“This will ensure that they receive a notification if
their appointment is canceled,” Mancha said in an email, “and will allow the center to manage/limit the number of people arriving at one time to help ensure proper social distancing.”
Taxes
The Internal Revenue Service will not be extending Tax Day again. July 15 remains the last day
to file on-time for 2020, federal officials said Tuesday.
Several free tax preparing groups in Houston reopened their services at the end of May. BakerRipley, for instance, is still preparing tax years 2016 and 2019, and allowing people to drop-off their taxes to reduce the amount of time spent waiting.
If you haven’t yet done your taxes yet, you’re coming up on deadline. Either file it yourself (check if you qualify for one of the IRS Free File programs) or prepare to stand in a socially distant line at your tax preparer’s office.
Property taxes must be mailed, paid online or via phone, according to the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector’s
office. In late March, the office announced that property owners who have 12-month installment collection plans were not required to make payments in March, April and May but would face late fees. Those payments were due before June 30.