Atlanta Real Estate, McDonough Real Estate, Stockbridge Real Estate

The information contained herein was provided by the Henry County Tax Commissioners office.

Effective June 1, 2004 the Tag department in the Tax Commissioner's office will no longer accept credit or debit cards. You have to pay with cash or check.

Tax Bills

Property tax bills are mailed out sixty days or more before the due date.The normal due date is November 15, unless billing is delayed.By law, taxes are mailed to the owner of record on January 1.If you fail to receive your tax bill, please call our office and we will mail a duplicate bill to you.We do not send bills to mortgage companies.

Taxes paid after the due date are subject to 1% interest per month.An additional 10% penalty will be assessed ninety (90 days) after the due date.Fifa charges will be added when the bills are put on the General Execution Docket.

City Taxes

If any city taxes are charged, they are included in your bill.

Tax Returns

Property Tax returns are filed between January 1 and April 1.The purpose of the tax return is to declare what you own and the value you feel the property is worth.This gives you the opportunity to receive an assessment notice, starting the appeal process with the Board of Assessors.Assessment notices will be mailed in the spring from the Tax Assessors and you will have 45 days to file your appeal with the Board of Assessors. You do not have to file a tax return each year.

Tax Exemptions

You may file for homestead exemption between January 1 and June 1 in the year following your purchase of the home.To qualify for regular homestead, you must own and occupy the property on January 1, claim Georgia as your legal residence and the property must be in the name of the applicant.Military Personnel must claim Georgia as their state of legal residence to qualify.You may qualify for extra school exemptions at the age of 62. To qualify you must be age 62 on January 1 of the year you file.We also have exemptions for disability and veterans disability.To claim disability exemptions, you must provide our office with two documents from two separate sources stating you are totally disabled.

Exemptions

There are other exemptions available through the Tax Assessors office, which include agricultural preferential, conservation use, historical property, and tax exempt property.You may contact the Tax Assessor’s office at 770-954-2420 for information regarding these programs.

Personal Property Returns

Personal Property Returns are to be returned to the Tax Assessors office by April 1 each year.Personal property includes but is not limited to, machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures, boats, aircraft, etc.If you have any questions regarding personal property returns, you may contact the Tax Assessor’s office at 770-954-2420.

Mobile Homes

The deadline for purchasing Mobile Home Decals is May 1.A 10% penalty is added to the bill after the due date.You must obtain a moving permit before moving a mobile home.You are required to register your mobile home within 30 days of the purchase.If you need any further information concerning mobile Homes, you may contact our office at 770-954-2472.

Occupational Tax

Requirements for Henry County occupational tax are:

• You have a business located in Henry County either at a commercial location or a home location

• It is not within the city limits of Stockbridge, McDonough, Hampton, or Locust Grove

The license fee is based on gross receipts. You can apply for this license Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., at the Tax Commissioner's office in McDonough. You can call 770-954-2443 if you have any questions.

Hotel/Motel Tax

There is a 5% hotel/motel tax in Henry County that is paid to the Tax Commissioner's office if they are located in the unincorporated area. For more information, please call 770-954-2465.

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION INFORMATION

We are pleased to announce that for your convenience, you may fill out a Homestead Exemption form online, then print it.  You can either mail it to us, or you may bring it into our McDonough or Stockbridge office.  If you mail it in, we will send you a receipt within 10 business days confirming that your application was received.  If you do not receive a confirmation, please contact our office.

Homestead Exemption Form

You may file for homestead exemption year round but it must be done by March 1 to receive the exemption in that year.  To qualify for regular homestead, you must own and occupy the property on January 1, claim Georgia as your legal residence and the property must be in the name of the applicant.  Military Personnel must claim Georgia as their state of legal residence to qualify. 

Regular Homestead offers a reduction in the county, hospital, state, and school M & O portion of your bill.  The amount for the county and hospital is increasing and will reach 15,000 by 2005.  The State and School M & O are $4,000.  The water and school bonds are bonded items and have no exemptions.

Age 62 - $20,000 off School M & O and School Bond portion of your bill.  Like Regular Homestead, the county and hospital will increase to $15,000 by 2005.  The state remains at $4,000 and the water has no exemption.

Age 65 - $80,000 off School M & O and School Bond portion of your bill.  The county, hospital, and water have an exemption of 15,000 and the state remains at $4,000.

Age 68 – $120,000 off School M & O and School Bond portion of your bill.  The County, hospital, and water have an exemption of $15,000 and the state remains at $4,000.

Age 70 - Full exemption on school M & O and School Bond portion of your bill.  The county, hospital, and water are $15,000 and the state remains at $4,000.

We have benefits for the totally disabled.  You must provide two documents stating you are 100% disabled.  These documents must come from two separate sources.  We will accept your award letter from the Social Security Administration along with a doctor’s note.

We also have benefits for Disabled Veterans.  The applicant must have a letter from the Veterans Administration.

Extra exemptions will appear on your bill due to the Homestead Tax Relief Credit approved by the Governor and the Legislature.  This amount is given by the state and the amounts are determined by the state.

Example of 2002 Exemptions (These amounts include Homestead Tax Relief Credit.):

 THE $8,000 EXEMPTION THAT THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE APPROVED HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE ABOVE FIGURES.  THE GOVERNORS EXEMPTION IS CONSIDERED REGULAR HOMESTEAD AND BONDED ISSUES ARE NOT INCLUDED.  IN HENRY COUNTY WATER AND SCHOOL BONDS ARE BONDED ITEMS.

HOMESTEAD MUST BE FILED BY MARCH 1.  IF YOU HAVE ALREADY FILED FOR REGULAR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ON THE HOME IN WHICH YOU LIVE, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FILE AGAIN UNTIL AGE 62.  IF YOU HAVE FILED FOR THE AGE EXEMPTION, IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY TO FILE AGAIN AS THE ADDITIONAL INCREASES WILL BE GIVEN AUTOMATICALLY.