Warning: Don't pay the seller until you contact the Tax Department. We'll check to see if the seller owes any taxes.Escrow is a legal agreement between two parties for a third party to hold onto money or assets until certain conditions are met. The Constitution sets forth five basic principles for property taxes in Texas. Escrow disbursements ensure that your property taxes and insurance premiums are paid on time, protecting both you and your lender. Typically the seller would put a portion of the taxes prorated for the portion of the 2023 year that they owned the home into escrow at closing. Your lender might set up an escrow account to pay your property taxes and homeowner's insurance on your behalf when they're due. The costs may include but are not limited to real estate taxes, insurance premiums and private mortgage insurance. After the sale is final, many homeowners use escrow accounts to manage their ongoing property taxes. Escrow accounts are used for closings in about half of the states in the U.S., with each state having varying requirements for he closing process.