The longest-serving Comptrollers in Texas history were Robert S. Calvert, who held the post for 26 consecutive years for an unprecedented twelve terms; George H. Sheppard, who served for 18 years over nine two-year terms; and Bob Bullock, who served for 16 years for four four-year terms and later was notable as one of the most powerful Lieutenant Governors in Texas history (and the namesake for the state's official history museum).

As Texas uses a unified collection system for sales taxes assessed by both state and local governments, the comptroller's office is responsible for collecting and remitting the local portion of this tax revenue to the various cities, counties, and special districts throughout the state.

[1] The comptroller's office also operates the various prepaid college tuition funds operated by the state through its Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board, provides reports on fiscal management and economic forecasts, and manages the unclaimed property fund.

[2] As part of its fiscal management responsibilities under Article III, Section 49a of the Texas Constitution, the comptroller must certify to the Texas Legislature, prior to the beginning of the legislative session, the amount of available cash on hand and anticipated revenues (from all sources) for the next biennium (the two-year period beginning on September 1 of odd-numbered years and ending on August 31 two years thereafter; the certification is officially known as the Biennial Revenue Estimate or BRE).

The Legislature is not permitted to appropriate any funds in excess of the comptroller's certified amounts (except in cases of emergency and then only with a four-fifths vote of both chambers), and absent the latter the comptroller is required to reject and return to the legislature any appropriation in violation of this requirement.