Did you know a little bit of paperwork could save you a lot of money? The deadline for property owners to apply for the Standard Homestead Exemption this year is March 31st, since April 1st is on a Saturday.
The tax books are now open for the return of
2023 State & County taxes
Return must be made on or before
April 1, 2023
Georgia law requires you to make a return on all real estate and on all personal property (boats, motors, inventories, equipment, mobile homes, airplanes, etc.). All returns are made to the Chattooga County Assessor’s Office in the court house annex at 120 Cox Street Summerville.
If you have made any changes to your property (new construction, additions, etc.) whether it is 100% completed or partially completed and have not previously reported to the assessor’s office you must notify the assessor’s office by April 1, 2023.
Property owners that have land dedicated to agriculture use may apply for conservation use exemption or preferential assessment exemption from January 1 through April 1.
Applications for homestead exemptions may be in the year of the property becoming the primary residence up to and including April 1 of the following year.
1) Regular Homestead Exemption
A) Requirements: (1) own your home and reside in it on January 1 of the year in which you apply for the exemption. There are no age or income requirements.
B) Amount of the exemption: up to $2,000 of assessed value of the property for state, school and county purposes.
C) Time for applying: January 1 until April 1 of year application.
D) Where to apply: Chattooga County Assessor’s Office.
2) Double Homestead Exemption
A) Requirements: (1) own your home and reside in it on January 1 of the year in which you apply for exemption. (2) Owner must be at least 65 years old on January 1 of the year of application. (3) Net income of both spouses cannot exceed $10,000 excluding social security B) amount of exemption: up to $4,000 of assessed value of the property for state, school and county purposes.
C) Time applying: January 1 until April 1 of year of application.
D) Where to apply: Chattooga County Assessor’s Office.
3) Floating Homestead Exemption-Age 62
A) Requirements: (1) own your home and resided in it on January 1 of the year in which you apply for exemption. (2) Owner must be at least 62 years old on January 1 of the year of the residence (such as son, daughter, other other relative) cannot exceed $30,000, including social security and pensions. (4) Give up any existing homestead exemption for state and county taxes but not school taxes. In many instances the granting of this exemption will initially at least increase the amount of taxes levied on the property.
B) Amount of exemption: the difference in assessed value of the base year (previous year assessment from the year of application is made) and current year assessment on the primary residence and no more than 5 contiguous acres.
C) Time for applying: January 1 until April 1 of year of application.
D) Where to apply: Chattooga County Assessor’s Office.
4) School tax exemption- age 62
A) Requirements (1) own your home and reside in it on January 1 of the year in which you apply for exemption. (2) Owner must be at least 62 years old on January 1 of the year of application. (3) Total income of both spouses cannot exceed $10,000 excluding social security and pensions up to an amount set each year by the state.
B) Amount of exemption $10,000 of the assessed value of your homestead residence.
C) Time applying: January 1 until April 1 of year application.
D) Where to apply: Chattooga County Assessor’s Office.
5) School tax exemption- age 70
A) Requirements: (1) own your home and reside in it on January 1 of the year in which you apply for exemption. (2) At least one of the property owners, actually living in the house must be at least 70 years old on January 1 of the year of application. (3) Net income of all persons living in the house cannot exceed $20,000.
B) Amount of exemption $40,000 of the assessed value of your homestead residence.
C) Time for applying: January 1 until April 1 of application.
D) Where to apply: Chattooga County Assessor’s Office.
6) Qualified disabled veteran exemption
A) Requirements: (1) own your home and reside in it on January 1 of the year in which you apply for the exemption. (2) Be a disabled wartime veteran who was discharged under honorable conditions and who has been adjudicated by the veteran’s administration of the United States as being totally and permanently disabled and entitled to receive service connected benefits so long as you are 100 percent disabled or receiving or entitled to receive benefits for a 100 percent service connected disability. There are no age or income requirements.
B) Amount of exemption: up to $109,986 of assessed value of the property for the state, school and county purposes.
C) Time for applying: January 1 until April 1 of year of application.
D) Where to apply: Chattooga County Assessor’s Office.
7) Homeowners 70 and older receive an increased homestead exemption
A) Requirements: (1) own your home and reside in it on January 1 of the year in which you apply for exemption. (2) At least one of the property owners, actually living in the house must be at least 70 years old on January 1 of the year of application. (3) Net income of applicant and spouse combined cannot exceed $20,000.
B) Amount of exemption: From 20% to 100% (dependent on income level) of the assessed value for the primary residence and up to 5 acres on which the homestead residence is located.
C) Time for applying: January 1 until April 1 of application.
D) Where to apply: Chattooga County Assessor’s Office.
This exemption applies only to county tax and it does not include taxes levied to retire bonded indebtedness.
8) State ad valorem exemption – age 65
Age 65 and older exemption from state ad valorem tax
If you qualify for one of the other homestead exemptions listed and are age 65 or older as of January 1, you also qualify for an exemption from the state portion of ad valorem taxes in an amount equal to 100% of the value of your home and up to 10 acres of land. The value of any additional land or improvements on the same parcel will be granted the standard maximum exemption of the homestead exemption for which you otherwise qualify.
9) Surviving spouse of a firefighter or peace officer
The un-remarried surviving spouse of a firefighter or peace officer shall be granted total exemption from all ad valorem taxes levied, if such person’s spouse, who as a member of a qualified fire department or peace officer agency, was killed or died as a result of injury in the performance of their duty. Documents from the agency must be provided.
In the year of application for exemptions with income requirements, income to be reported is from the previous year. Income reported will have to be verified through federal income tax returns, Georgia income tax returns, social security statements, pension statements, interest statements or any other statements you may have. All such applications require the signing of an affidavit, under oath UNDER PENALTY OF LAW. In the year of application for the veteran’s exemption, applications must present a letter from the veteran’s administration defining their condition.
