If you bought a house last year that you’re using as a primary residence, NOW is the time to apply for your Homestead Exemption. If you bought it before last year but were never told about filing for homestead, you can still do so this year. The deadline is April 1st to file for Homestead.
What is homestead?
The homestead exemption is a legal regime to protect the value of the homes of residents from property taxes, creditors, and circumstances that arise from the death of the homeowner spouse. … The homestead exemption in some states of the South has its legal origins in the exemption laws of the Spanish Empire.
Here’s what this means for you. If you purchased a home, more specifically, your primary residence in 2018, you’re now eligible to apply for / qualify for homestead exemption. Georgia law provides that every homeowner is eligible to claim a Homestead Exemption for a primary residence owned on January 1, 2019. This property tax benefit can amount to considerable annual savings for you.
Here’s what you’ll want to have handy when you head online to complete your homestead exemption application:
- Homeowner Name
- Property Address
- Parcel ID #
City of Decatur / Dekalb County – you must file online with both the City and the County. The City deadline is April 1, 2019. It saves approximately $20,000 off your assessed value. File with the County by April 1, 2019, and it will take about 2/3rds off the County portion of the tax bill.
Dekalb County Unincorporated – File online by April 1, 2019. This should take about 1/3rd off the tax bill.
City of Altanta / Dekalb County – File online with the County by April 1, 2019 only. It will automatically file with the City. This saves you about $30,000 off your total assessed value and about 2/3rds off your County portion.
City of Atlanta / Fulton County – File with the County by April 1, 2019. It will automatically file with the City. This saves you about $30,000 off your assessed value with City and about $10,000 off your assessed value with the County; it’s worth the effort!
Fulton County makes you work for your Homestead – follow the previous link and create a new account by clicking on “File Homestead Exemption.” Once you’ve created your account, you can fill everything out online (be sure to hit submit).
Cobb County – File with the county by April 1, 2019 and be sure to MAIL your application in (instruction on 2nd page of application). Per their website – “A $10,000 exemption in the county general and school general tax categories. In addition, you are automatically eligible for a $2,000 exemption in the state tax category.” My understanding is that these deductions are made from the Assessed Value (Fair Market Value x 40%)
.City of Marietta / Cobb County – File with the City and you qualify for a $4000 homestead exemption. The application is due by April 1, 2019
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