Follow up one month after tax fraud arrests in Travis County

It's been one month since the tax fraud arrests in Travis County. FOX 7 checked in on how the main office is doing. 

Wednesday afternoon many people like Haley and David Bauser said they're frustrated after waiting hours to be seen at the Travis County Tax Office.

"We've been here about two and a half, almost three hours and it's a little irritating that we have to wait this long."

The Travis County Tax Office spokesperson, Tiffany Seward, says in May, the first week after DPS named seven people accused of license plate fraud at the tax office, there were closures which upset many people.

They had to close all satellite offices making many in the Austin area travel to the main office to handle tax issues.

But since then, Seward says they've found ways to make customers feel protected. She says many plans have been put into place. Like adding overtime for employees, adjusting staffing hours and adding temporary employees. They've also hired additional officers to help with crowd control.

Seward says on the website underneath the locations page there are resources to show you the estimated wait time. And you can also schedule an appointment, which Seward says most people don't do in advance. If you do, the typical wait time is 10 to 15 minutes.

However, there are services that have to be completed in person. Like filling out new resident forms, title transfer, handicap placard and temporary permits. Which is why David Bauser says he waited for nearly three hours to be seen.

"I tried to do the appointment before we even got here but it was a lot of confusing and the next appointment was like a week away so we couldn't do it."

The main office on Airport Boulevard has also added an overflow room, which was packed Wednesday afternoon. Seward says the best time to come and beat the crowd is 7:30 in the morning when the office opens. She says crowds build at lunch and they continue to see even more people afterwards.

Also if the state sends you a three part renewal form, those can be completed at HEB or Fiesta Mart.