Just bought a home in Georgia? Learn how Georgia property taxes work, the homestead exemption, the 45-day appeal deadline, and why the two-way review matters for new owners. TaxAppeal $89 flat.
Georgia's homestead exemption provides significant property tax relief for primary residence owners. The standard statewide homestead exemption reduces your assessed value by $2,000 for school taxes. However, most Georgia counties offer additional local homestead exemptions that can be significantly larger — Fulton County's basic homestead exemption reduces assessed value by $30,000, while DeKalb and Gwinnett also offer substantial county-level exemptions. Apply by April 1 of the tax year you want the exemption to apply.
Georgia law requires assessed value to be set at 40% of fair market value. This means if your home's fair market value is $400,000, your assessed value is $160,000, and your tax bill is calculated by multiplying the $160,000 by the local millage rate. This fractional assessment ratio means that when you see your 'assessed value' on your tax bill, it is already 40% of what the county believes your home is worth.
Georgia counties mail assessment notices annually, typically between April and June. As a new homeowner, your first assessment notice may arrive before your first full year in the home. The 45-day deadline from the mailing date is strictly enforced. Set a calendar reminder for April 1 each year to watch for your assessment notice and evaluate whether an appeal is warranted.
New homeowners in Georgia face a particular risk with the two-way review: if you purchased above market value — in a competitive bidding situation, for instance — your county assessor may use your purchase price to raise your assessed value above what neighbors with older assessments are paying. This is the 'welcome stranger' effect. If your assessment looks high relative to your purchase price, do not assume it is because the county over-assessed you — your purchase price may be the highest data point in the area.
TaxAppeal USA evaluates your Georgia property against comparable sales before filing. We only file when the evidence supports a reduction — protecting you from the two-way review risk. For $89 flat, you get a professional comparable sales analysis and a formal appeal letter citing O.C.G.A. §48-5-311, filed via USPS certified mail before your 45-day deadline.
$89 flat fee. You sign it, we file it. You keep 100% of your savings.
TaxAppeal USA is a self-service document-preparation and mail filing service. In every state we serve, including Florida, we are not property tax consultants, agents, or representatives, we do not provide tax or legal advice, and we do not represent customers before any appraisal district, board of equalization, value adjustment board, or review board. Every protest and petition is prepared for the property owner, signed by the owner, and filed in the owner’s name. In Florida we also pay your county’s Value Adjustment Board filing fee on your behalf and mail your petition to the Clerk of the Value Adjustment Board. Your petition is signed by you as the property owner under section 194.011(3), Florida Statutes. TaxAppeal USA does not sign as your representative, does not appear before the Board, and does not present evidence or argument at a hearing.