Georgia Property Taxes Explained By Perigon Legal Services

Property Tax Exemptions

Certain classes of property are exempt from property taxes under the Georgia Code, including the following;

• Public property (subject to certain qualifications under the law)
• Property owned by institutions of public charity
• Property owned by non-profit hospitals ( subject to the qualifications of the law)
• Schools, colleges, or incorporated academies
• Property of a non-profit home for the aged or mentally disabled.

Homestead Exemptions

The Georgia Code also allows for certain property tax exemptions and concessions where the taxed property is the owner’s home/primary place of residence. Some of these homestead exemptions are as follows;

• All homesteads in Georgia are exempt from ad valorem property taxation by the state or county, except for municipality taxes for school purposes. The value of this exemption is capped at $2000. So if the assessed tax for the property in question is ordinarily above the said amount, the homestead owner may be required to pay the difference.
• Homeowners 65 years and over qualify for a homestead exemption of up to $4000 on their primary residence if they’re legal residents of Georgia. To qualify for this exemption, the owner’s total net income for the previous year should not exceed $10 000, excluding income from Social Security, pensions, and benefits.
• Senior citizens 62 years and older are also eligible for property tax exemption if their annual income does not exceed $30 000.
• Honorably discharged and disabled veterans in Georgia are also exempt from paying property taxes on their homes for up to $50,000.

If you qualify for any of these exemptions, you’ll need to notify the appropriate authority by applying to your county of residence.

Property taxes in most Georgia counties are due by December 20 each year. To be sure about the specific due date in your county, you can visit your county website for more information.

How Long Can Property Taxes Go Unpaid in Georgia?

Georgia property owners usually have 60 days after the due date on their tax bills to pay taxes. If they fail to pay within the required time frame, they could receive a property tax lien, which would prevent them from refinancing or reselling the taxed property.

Foreclosure proceedings may also be instituted by the county tax commissioner’s office 12 months after the tax becomes due. If the foreclosure suit is successful, you could lose your home to the state.

However, Georgia law is lenient with property owners facing economic hardships. If you cannot pay your taxes, especially those collected by the Department of Revenue, you can reach an agreement for installment payment with the department. This would allow you to pay your outstanding taxes conveniently within the approved period -usually not more than 60 months. If your county collects the property tax in question, you would need to find out if the option for installment payment is available. You can contact tax officers in your county for more information on this.