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Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
The Comptroller of Public Accounts, led by a statewide-elected official, is the steward of state government finances. The Comptroller serves as Texas’ chief tax collector, accountant, revenue estimator, treasurer and purchaser. The agency is based in Austin and maintains field offices across Texas and in Tulsa, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City. In addition, the agency administers a variety of programs, including the Property Value Survey, which certifies property values in local school districts; the Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) Program, which helps minority- and women-owned businesses compete for state contracts; the State Energy Conservation Office, which supports energy-efficiency projects in state and local government; the state’s unclaimed property program, which returns abandoned cash and property to its rightful owners; and the Texas Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board, which administers college savings programs.
Purpose
The Comptroller’s office serves virtually every citizen in the state. As Texas’ chief tax collector, accountant, revenue estimator, treasurer and purchasing manager, the agency is responsible for writing the checks and keeping the books for the multi-billion-dollar business of state government.
As chief financial officer, the Comptroller’s office collects taxes and fees owed the state. Most of the office’s duties and powers are enumerated in the Texas Tax Code and in Chapter 403 of the Texas Government Code. As guardian of the state’s fiscal affairs, agencies depend on the Comptroller’s office to pay their bills and issue paychecks to state employees. Legislators rely on the Comptroller’s office to chart the course of the Texas economy, produce annual financial reports and estimate future state revenues. Local officials and businesses look to the agency for economic development guidance and data analysis. Taxpayers rely upon it for assistance and guidance regarding compliance with tax laws. And all Texas residents depend on the Comptroller’s office to safeguard their tax dollars and ensure they are handled wisely.
As the state’s cashier, the Comptroller’s office receives, disburses, counts, safeguards, records, allocates, manages and reports on the state’s cash. In addition, the Texas Comptroller chairs the state’s Treasury Safekeeping Trust, which invests, manages and oversees more than $50 billion in assets.
The Comptroller’s office is also the state’s purchasing manager, awarding and managing hundreds of statewide contracts on behalf of more than 200 state agencies and 1,600 cooperative purchasing members. The agency is committed to cultivating a healthy economic environment in Texas by providing a variety of services to business owners, taxpayers, local officials, HUBs and everyday Texans.
The Comptroller’s office also administers a variety of programs, including the State Energy Conservation Office, Texas college savings plans, statewide procurement initiatives, and more.
As chief financial officer, the Comptroller’s office collects taxes and fees owed the state. Most of the office’s duties and powers are enumerated in the Texas Tax Code and in Chapter 403 of the Texas Government Code. As guardian of the state’s fiscal affairs, agencies depend on the Comptroller’s office to pay their bills and issue paychecks to state employees. Legislators rely on the Comptroller’s office to chart the course of the Texas economy, produce annual financial reports and estimate future state revenues. Local officials and businesses look to the agency for economic development guidance and data analysis. Taxpayers rely upon it for assistance and guidance regarding compliance with tax laws. And all Texas residents depend on the Comptroller’s office to safeguard their tax dollars and ensure they are handled wisely.
As the state’s cashier, the Comptroller’s office receives, disburses, counts, safeguards, records, allocates, manages and reports on the state’s cash. In addition, the Texas Comptroller chairs the state’s Treasury Safekeeping Trust, which invests, manages and oversees more than $50 billion in assets.
The Comptroller’s office is also the state’s purchasing manager, awarding and managing hundreds of statewide contracts on behalf of more than 200 state agencies and 1,600 cooperative purchasing members. The agency is committed to cultivating a healthy economic environment in Texas by providing a variety of services to business owners, taxpayers, local officials, HUBs and everyday Texans.
The Comptroller’s office also administers a variety of programs, including the State Energy Conservation Office, Texas college savings plans, statewide procurement initiatives, and more.
Vision
We will carry out our duties openly, ethically and fairly.
We will emphasize transparency and ensure greater accountability by making records freely accessible. We will listen to those we serve and ask them to judge our performance. We will deliver more services at lower costs by continually examining and improving the efficiency of our work. Employees will be rewarded for initiative, good ideas and productivity. While mindful that the human element is the source of creativity, we will seek out and use innovative technology to do our jobs simpler, smarter and faster. We will keep our word and deliver what we promise.
We will emphasize transparency and ensure greater accountability by making records freely accessible. We will listen to those we serve and ask them to judge our performance. We will deliver more services at lower costs by continually examining and improving the efficiency of our work. Employees will be rewarded for initiative, good ideas and productivity. While mindful that the human element is the source of creativity, we will seek out and use innovative technology to do our jobs simpler, smarter and faster. We will keep our word and deliver what we promise.
Mission
The Office of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
will serve the people of Texas by applying the tax and fiscal
laws fairly and consistently. We will continue to improve our
services through innovative management and technology,
carrying out all our duties with integrity, openness and at
the least cost to the taxpayer.
will serve the people of Texas by applying the tax and fiscal
laws fairly and consistently. We will continue to improve our
services through innovative management and technology,
carrying out all our duties with integrity, openness and at
the least cost to the taxpayer.
Additional Culture Details
We conduct business with every state agency, the Texas Legislature and a host of vendors, and attend to our responsibilities with the care required for an office headed by a statewide elected official. That said, the culture is professional and customer-service oriented, but generally casual as to how we perform our duties. For example, we allow employees to telework and many of us, including the Comptroller himself, dress in jeans when appropriate. The vast majority of us enjoy public service and feel it is important to give back. Our workplace functions as a close-knit team that is highly supportive of each other; many of our employees have forged lasting friendships across divisions and program areas. Given our team environment, excellent benefits, generous leave policies, positive work-life balance and engaging and diverse missions, it’s not uncommon to find employees who have worked here for more than 30 years. Together we celebrate successes and lend helping hands during difficult times.