TxTag is a prepaid toll account system that lets you drive through toll plazas without stopping

TxTag is Texas's electronic toll collection system. When you have an active TxTag account, you drive through toll plazas at highway speed—the system reads your transponder and deducts the toll from your prepaid balance. If you don't have TxTag and drive through a toll lane, the system photographs your license plate and sends you an invoice by mail.

Payment works differently depending on whether you're paying an active account or settling a toll invoice. An active TxTag account requires you to add money upfront (called "replenishment"), and the tolls are charged as you use the roads. A toll invoice arrives after the fact if you drove through without TxTag or if your account ran empty.

The distinction matters because one is preventive and the other is reactive. An active account costs less per toll and keeps you from accumulating unpaid invoices. An unpaid invoice can result in late fees, vehicle registration holds, and eventually a collections referral.

Key Takeaways

  • TxTag accounts are prepaid—you add money before you drive, and tolls are deducted automatically as you use toll roads.
  • You can set up automatic replenishment so your account refills when the balance drops below a threshold you choose.
  • Toll invoices arrive by mail if you drive through a toll lane without an active TxTag account or if your account balance runs out.
  • Unpaid toll invoices trigger late fees, and Texas can place a hold on your vehicle registration renewal if the debt goes unpaid.
  • You can pay TxTag invoices online through the TxTag website, by phone, or by mail, but paying an active account requires logging into your account portal.

How to add money to an active TxTag account

Log into your TxTag account at www.txtag.org using your username and password. Click "Manage Account" or "Add Funds" (the exact wording varies slightly depending on your account type). You'll be asked to enter a payment amount—the minimum is typically $10, though some account types have different minimums.

Choose your payment method: credit card, debit card, or bank account transfer. Enter the card or account details and confirm. The payment posts when ready for credit and debit cards; bank transfers may take one to two business days. You'll receive a confirmation email with your transaction number.

Most people set up automatic replenishment to avoid running out of balance mid-trip. In your account settings, you can choose a threshold balance (for example, $25) and an automatic replenishment amount (for example, $50). When your balance drops to $25, the system automatically charges your payment method and adds $50. This prevents toll invoices from arriving because your account never empties.

Paying a toll invoice that arrived by mail

If you received a toll invoice in the mail, the toll was charged to your license plate because you either drove through a toll lane without TxTag or your TxTag account was empty at the time. The invoice shows the toll amount, a processing fee (usually $2.50 to $5 per transaction), and the total due.

You have three ways to pay: online at www.txtag.org under "Pay a Toll Invoice" (you'll need the invoice number), by phone at 1-888-468-9824, or by mail using the payment stub included with the invoice. Online and phone payments post the same day; mail payments take five to seven business days.

If you don't pay within 30 days, TxTag adds a late fee. If the invoice remains unpaid for several months, the debt may be referred to a collections agency, and Texas can place a hold on your vehicle registration renewal. This means you cannot renew your registration until the toll debt is settled.

What happens if your TxTag account balance runs out while driving

If your prepaid balance reaches zero while you're using toll roads, your transponder stops working. The toll plaza camera photographs your license plate, and an invoice is mailed to the address registered with your vehicle. You then owe the toll amount plus a processing fee, just as if you had never had TxTag.

This is why automatic replenishment is valuable—it keeps your balance from ever hitting zero. If you travel toll roads regularly, setting replenishment to trigger at $25 or $30 means you'll almost never see an invoice. If you only use tolls occasionally, you can manually check your balance before long trips by logging into your account or calling customer service.

Understanding TxTag account types and their payment rules

TxTag offers different account types: personal, commercial, and fleet. Personal accounts are for individual drivers and allow you to add funds and set automatic replenishment as described above. Commercial and fleet accounts have higher transaction volumes and may have different minimum replenishment amounts or billing cycles.

If you have a commercial or fleet account, contact TxTag directly at 1-888-468-9824 to confirm your account's specific payment requirements. Some commercial accounts are billed monthly rather than prepaid, which changes how and when you pay.

Disputing a toll charge or invoice

If you believe a toll charge is incorrect—for example, you were charged twice for the same crossing, or the toll amount doesn't match the posted rate—you can dispute it through your TxTag account or by calling customer service. Log into your account, find the transaction in question, and select "Dispute This Charge." Provide details about why you believe the charge is wrong.

TxTag investigates disputes and typically responds within 10 to 15 business days. If the dispute is upheld, the charge is reversed and any associated fees are removed. Keep your toll receipts and photos of toll signs if you plan to dispute a charge, as these help support your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay my TxTag invoice by phone?

Yes. Call 1-888-468-9824 and have your invoice number ready. A representative will take your payment information and process the payment over the phone. The charge posts the same day.

What if I lose my transponder or it stops working?

Contact TxTag customer service to report the lost or damaged transponder. They can deactivate the old one and mail you a replacement at no charge. Your account balance transfers to the new transponder automatically.

Do I have to use TxTag, or can I pay tolls another way?

TxTag is the primary toll payment system on Texas toll roads. If you don't have TxTag, you'll receive an invoice by mail after driving through a toll lane. You can pay that invoice, but you'll pay a processing fee on top of the toll. Using TxTag is cheaper and faster.

Can I get a refund if I overpaid my TxTag account?

Yes. If your account has a balance remaining and you no longer need it, you can request a refund through your account settings or by calling customer service. Refunds are issued to the original payment method within five to seven business days.

What happens if I move and my address changes?

Update your address in your TxTag account as soon as possible. If you receive a toll invoice at your old address, contact TxTag with your new address and they can reissue the invoice or update your account records to prevent future mail delays.