Alpharetta Cumming Lake Lanier Real Estate Blog

State law provides that every new home owner is eligible to claim
Homestead Exemption as a tax benefit amounting to considerable annual savings.
To qualify for the property tax exemption, the home owner must occupy the residence and file for Homestead Exemption at the county court house or tax office depending on the county in which you reside. (One Time Filing Only)

County Deadline to File Phone Number
Fulton County April 1, 2011 404-612-6440
DeKalb County March 1, 2011 404-298-4000
Gwinnett County March 1, 2011 770-822-8800
Cobb County April 1, 2011 770-528-8600
Clayton County April 1, 2011 770-477-3311
Cherokee County April 1, 2011 678-493-6122
Henry County April 1, 2011 770-288-8180
Forsyth County April 1, 2011 770-781-2106
Douglas County April 1, 2011 770-920-7272
Fayette County April 1, 2011 770-461-3652
Paulding County April 1, 2011 770-443-7606

To file for exemption, most counties require you to provide the following documents:
Driver's license or ID card, Deed, Proof of Residency,
Social Security # for each owner, voter and vehicle registration.
Please call your specific county to verify required documents and office location.


Should you have any questions please contact us.

Labels: forsyth county homes for sale, homestead exemption, top realtor

Those of you who purchased a house in Forsyth County during 2009 and were living there on January 1, 2010, are eligible for lower property taxes by filing for Homestead Exemption before April 1. Residents age 65 or older in 2009 are also eligible for other property tax savings.

You must file before April 1 to receive these benefits. When applying, present the following documentation: a driver's license (if you drive), a copy of a recorded warranty deed, and a letter from the county where you lived prior to moving to Forsyth County stating the homestead has been removed.

Where to file:
Forsyth County Tax Assessor's Office
Forsyth County Administration Building
110 E. Main Street, Suite 260, Cumming
770.781.2106
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For further information, click here.

Labels: 2009, 2010, april 1, deadline, forsyth county, homestead exemption, property tax, tax assessor

Property owners beware. Some counties are sadly misleading taxpayers to believe the Legislature is responsible for any potential property tax increases this year. They suggest this is due to there being no Homeowners Tax Relief Grant (HTRG) in the Fiscal Year 2010 state budget.

When making such claims, it’s important to note that the legislature does not have the constitutional authority to raise property taxes. Only commissioners and local school boards can make that decision. Transparency and honesty are especially important in government, so let’s set the record straight.

Labels: homeowners tax relief grant, homestead exemption, HTRG, property tax

Since 1999, the Georgia General Assembly and Governor have provided a credit on homesteaded property tax bills called the Homeowners Tax Relief Grant (HTRG). This credit resulted in an annual reduction of $150 to $175 to your property tax bill.

Due to financial strains on the state budget, the Georgia General Assembly and the Governor did not fund this credit for the 2009 property tax bills. Therefore, the bills currently being received by property owners do not have this credit applied as in past years. The HTRG credit is not expected to be funded again unless state revenues increase significantly.

Labels: 2009, georgia, homeowners tax relief grant, homestead exemption, property tax

The Forsyth County Tax Assessors Office would like to remind residents about the approaching deadline to file for homestead exemptions for this tax year. While you may apply for exemptions year-round, you must apply by April 1st in order to receive the exemption for 2008. Any application received after this date will not be processed until the next tax year.

All of the following required documentation must be presented to apply:

• a drivers license (if you drive)
• a copy of a recorded warranty deed
• a letter from the county where you lived prior to moving to Forsyth County stating that the homestead has been removed

Filing for homestead exemption is one way to reduce the amount of property tax you pay on your residential property. In Forsyth County, if you own the property, reside on that property and are a legal resident of the county, all as of January 1 of the tax year, you may qualify for homestead exemption. (Legal resident means that you are registered to vote and/or register your vehicles in Forsyth County.) You cannot be claiming homestead in any other location.

You must make an application for each exemption you would like to receive. Only one owner needs to meet the requirements to qualify for the full exemption. These exemptions are automatically renewed each year unless there is a change in ownership or you no longer meet the eligibility requirements. You do not need to reapply for exemptions if you refinance your home, unless ownership changes. For all exemptions, the property must be in the name of the applicant. To legally change ownership into your name, a new deed must be recorded in Forsyth County records. The amount exempted is deducted from the 40% assessed value of the property in the applicable tax categories.

If a change of ownership occurs due to death or divorce, the new owner must file the change with the Tax Assessors Office and reapply for any exemption granted in the previous owner's name.

A number of exemptions exist including certain exemptions for residents age 65 or older. Exemptions can include the regular $8,000 homestead, floating homestead, total school tax homestead exemption, state tax exemption and disabled veterans exemption. Contact the Tax Assessors Office at the number below for details on exemptions, or click here.

WHERE TO FILE:
Forsyth County Tax Assessors Office
110 E. Main Street, Suite 260, Cumming
770.781.2106

Office Hours:
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Labels: disabled veterans, floating homestead, forsyth county, homestead exemption, property tax, school tax, tax assessor

The Forsyth County Tax Assessors Office would like to remind residents about the approaching deadline to file for homestead exemptions for this tax year. While you may apply for exemptions year-round, you must apply by April 1 in order to receive the exemption for 2008. Any application received after this date will not be processed until the next tax year.

All of the following required documentation must be presented to apply:

* a drivers license (if you drive)
* a copy of a recorded warranty deed
* a letter from the county where you lived prior to moving to Forsyth County stating that the homestead has been removed

Filing for homestead exemption is one way to reduce the amount of property tax you pay on your residential property. In Forsyth County, if you own the property, reside on that property and are a legal resident of the county, all as of January 1 of the tax year, you may qualify for homestead exemption. (Legal resident means that you are registered to vote and/or register your vehicles in Forsyth County.) You cannot be claiming homestead in any other location.

You must make an application for each exemption you would like to receive. Only one owner needs to meet the requirements to qualify for the full exemption. These exemptions are automatically renewed each year unless there is a change in ownership or you no longer meet the eligibility requirements. You do not need to reapply for exemptions if you refinance your home, unless ownership changes. For all exemptions, the property must be in the name of the applicant. To legally change ownership into your name, a new deed must be recorded in Forsyth County records. The amount exempted is deducted from the 40% assessed value of the property in the applicable tax categories.

If a change of ownership occurs due to death or divorce, the new owner must file the change with the Tax Assessors Office and reapply for any exemption granted in the previous owner's name.

A number of exemptions exist including certain exemptions for residents age 65 or older. Exemptions can include the regular $8,000 homestead, floating homestead, total school tax homestead exemption, state tax exemption and disabled veterans exemption. Contact the Tax Assessors Office for a complete list of and details on exemptions.

WHERE TO FILE:
Forsyth County Tax Assessors Office
110 E. Main Street, Suite 260, Cumming
770.781.2106

Office Hours:
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Labels: disability homestead, floating homestead, forsyth county, homestead exemption, property tax

There was an article on cumminghome.com today stating that Governor Sonny Perdue has proposed the elimination of the Georgia Homestead Tax Relief Grant Program. Due to the $2.2 billion budget shortfall Georgia is facing, Governor Perdue recommends not reimbursing the local governments for the homestead tax break they passed onto homeowners in 2008. Bottom line: If this passes, local governments will have to send every homeowner a bill for the amount that their homestead exemption save them. On average this would be a $200 - $300 bill received during a time when many are already suffering from job loss and lessened incomes. Click here to read the article posted at www.cumminghome.com by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). I encourage you to write to your legislators and discourage them from acting on this proposal immediately.

Labels: georgia homestead tax relief grant, homestead exemption, property tax

Additonal Forsyth County Property Tax Exemptions:

Total School Tax Homestead Exemption: Homeowners who are 65 years of age on or before January 1 are entitled to a full exemption in the school general and school bond tax categories. You must furnish proof of age when you apply.

Other School Tax Homestead Exemptions: Homeowners who are 62 years of age on or before January 1 may be eligible for school tax exemptions that are based on income. Local legislation grants school tax exemption on your home and 3 acres, or $20,000, whichever is greater. Gross income from the entire household cannot exceed $16,000. State law grants a $10,000 school tax exemption against the school portion of the millage rate, provided that your Net Income is $10,000 or less.

Double Homestead: Homeowners who are 65 years of age on or before January 1 may be eligible for a double ($16,000) homestead exemption. To qualify, the Gross Income from all sources in the houselhold cannot exceed $40,000.

Labels: forsyth county, homestead exemption, property tax, school tax

Regular - $8,000 Homestead: The regular homestead exemption reduces the gross assessment, which is applied to certain homestead portions of the millage rate by $8,000. The regular homestead grants an $8,000 reduction to your assessed value against the County M & O and local exemption. The school and state portion of the millage rate will be reduced by $2,000, per the state allowed homestead exemption.

Floating Homestead: Forsyth County homestead claimants are now eligible for the county floating homestead exemption, in addition to any other exemption for which they may be eligible. In the absence of a millage rate increase, the value offset exemption holds constant on the county M & O and the fire portion of your taxes when there is a property value increase. Taxpayers who file for this exemption in the current year establish their base year and value at the prior years level. Thus, your county taxes will be calculated according to your base year, which is established at the time of application. School and state taxes will continue to be calculated on the current year's value. Please note that you will receive the exemption savings only if your property experiences an increase in assessed value.

Labels: floating homestead, forsyth county, homestead exemption, property tax