Texas Tax Code 11.48 – Confidential Information
(a) A driver’s license number, personal identification certificate number, or social security account number provided in an application for an exemption filed with a chief appraiser is confidential and not open to public inspection. The information may not be disclosed to anyone other than an employee or agent of the appraisal district who appraises property or performs appraisal services for the appraisal district, except as authorized by Subsection (b).
(b) Information made confidential by this section may be disclosed:
(1) in a judicial or administrative proceeding pursuant to a lawful subpoena;
(2) to the person who filed the application or to the person’s representative authorized in writing to receive the information;
(3) to the comptroller and the comptroller’s employees authorized by the comptroller in writing to receive the information or to an assessor or a chief appraiser if requested in writing;
(4) in a judicial or administrative proceeding relating to property taxation to which the person who filed the application is a party; or
(5) if and to the extent the information is required to be included in a public document or record that the appraisal district is required by law to prepare or maintain.
Attorney's Note
Under the Texas Codes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class B misdemeanor | up to 180 days | up to $2,000 |
Terms Used In Texas Tax Code 11.48
- Appraisal: A determination of property value.
- Assessor: means the officer or employee responsible for assessing property taxes as provided by Chapter 26 of this code for a taxing unit by whatever title he is designated. See Texas Tax Code 1.04
- Comptroller: means the Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas. See Texas Tax Code 1.04
- in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by writing, printing, or other means. See Texas Government Code 312.011
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Property: means real and personal property. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
(c) A person who legally has access to an application for an exemption or who legally obtains the information from the application made confidential by this section commits an offense if the person knowingly:
(1) permits inspection of the confidential information by a person not authorized by Subsection (b) to inspect the information; or
(2) discloses the confidential information to a person not authorized by Subsection (b) to receive the information.
(d) An offense under Subsection (c) is a Class B misdemeanor.