Coastal Bend Households
Of the roughly 317,000 people who live in Corpus Christi, many work at refineries, terminals and plants along the ship channel, at the naval air station or the Army Depot, or in health care and education. Texas has no personal income tax, so the federal return is the main filing. BOMCAS prepares returns for Corpus Christi households remotely.
Statewide homestead and property rules are on the Texas personal tax page. Here we cover coastal households.
Plant and Rotation Workers
Operators and craft workers at refineries often have large overtime, shift differentials and turnaround bonuses, and some work rotations offshore or at plants in other states. Per diem paid by an employer under an accountable plan is not taxable, but per diem added to wages is. Employees cannot deduct unreimbursed travel on their federal returns, so how the employer pays travel matters. Workers who spend part of the year in Louisiana, New Mexico or other income tax states may owe tax there on wages earned there.
Navy, Army Depot and Coast Guard Families
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi trains naval aviators, and the Coast Guard and Army Depot add more federal households. Service members keep their state of legal residence, and spouses can choose to share it. Housing allowances are not taxable. Civilian employees at the depot receive W-2s like other federal workers and contribute to FERS and the Thrift Savings Plan.
Island Condos and Beach Houses
Many residents and out-of-town owners rent condos and houses on North Padre and Mustang islands. Rental income and expenses are reported on Schedule E. If the owner uses the property personally for more than 14 days or 10 percent of rental days, expenses must be split and losses may be limited. Most short stays carry state, city and county hotel taxes, which a platform or management company may collect. Properties used for both personal and rental purposes need careful records.
Storm Damage
Uninsured damage from a hurricane or flood in a federally declared disaster can be deducted as a personal casualty loss, reduced by $100 per event and, for most disasters, by 10 percent of adjusted gross income, though some qualified disasters have more generous rules. The IRS usually extends filing and payment deadlines for residents of declared counties. Texas also offers a temporary property tax exemption for property damaged in a declared disaster, which must be applied for after the governor's declaration.
Homeowners and Windstorm Insurance
Homeowners in coastal counties often buy windstorm coverage through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, and premiums can be high. Insurance on a main home is not deductible, but insurance on rental property is. The residence homestead exemption reduces the school tax value by $140,000, and the Nueces Appraisal District handles values and protests, generally due by May 15.
Winter Residents
Retirees from the Midwest and Canada spend winters on the Coastal Bend. Americans who keep their main home elsewhere usually file in their home state. Canadians who spend long winters here may need to file Form 8840 to show a closer connection to Canada and avoid U.S. residency.
Retirees
Retired plant workers, Navy veterans and teachers receive pensions and Social Security that are federally taxable but untaxed by Texas. Lump-sum pension payouts can be rolled into IRAs to avoid immediate tax. Veterans with VA disability ratings may qualify for property tax exemptions.
What to Send
- W-2s and per diem statements.
- Rental income and expense records.
- Insurance claims and repair invoices after storms.
- Property tax and mortgage statements.
- Last year's return.
Corpus Christi Personal Tax Preparation Questions
Is per diem from a refinery job taxable?
Not if paid under an accountable plan, but per diem included in wages is taxable.
Can I deduct hurricane damage to my home?
Yes, if the loss was in a federally declared disaster and was not covered by insurance, subject to limits.
Do I report rent from my island condo?
Yes, on Schedule E. Personal use affects how much you can deduct.
Who values property in Corpus Christi?
The Nueces Appraisal District. Protests are generally due by May 15.
Talk to BOMCAS About Personal Tax Preparation in Corpus Christi
Families with businesses need the business return and books finished first. Household help goes through payroll, condo owners may owe hotel tax, retirement and storms are planning topics, missed years go to late filing, and foreign ties to cross-border tax. The same Texas rules apply inland and on the coast; our state pages on business tax, sales tax, bookkeeping, payroll, planning, back taxes and cross-border tax explain them, and the Texas overview brings them together.
A few lines about your Corpus Christi company, rental or household are enough for BOMCAS to suggest where to begin and which records a quote would need. Write through the contact page or the form below, call 780-667-5250 or email info@bomcas.ca. The full list of Corpus Christi services is on the Corpus Christi overview. This page is general information only and not advice for your circumstances.