2009 temporary property tax bills have been mailed.
First installment payments are due October 15, 2009.
Second installment payments are due on November 15, 2009.
This billing is temporary pending the adoption of an approved tax digest. Read below for details.
These are temporary bills. The temporary tax bills were required because a final millage rate had not been set by the County Board of Commissioners. Property owners must pay their temporary tax bills in full by November 15 to avoid interest and penalty charges. Once the final millage rate has been set, a re-billing may occur. Any difference in the temporary and the final millage rate may result in additional charges or refunds to property owners.
Homeowners across Georgia may see an increase in their 2009 tax bills unrelated to the County millage rate. Since 1999, the Georgia General Assembly and the Governor have provided a credit on property tax bills called the Homeowners Tax Relief Grant (HTRG). In recent years, that credit resulted in an $84 - $275 reduction 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 2009 property tax bills. While the HTRG credit may some day be reinstated by the General Assembly, it is not expected to be considered again until state revenues increase significantly. As a result, your tax bill may increase accordingly.
You can determine the exact amount you saved in 2008 by locating the 'Tax Relief Credit' amount displayed on your 2008 tax bill. If your taxes are paid from an escrow account through your mortgage lender, you may want to notify them so the escrow payment amount can be adjusted.
In some cases, the fair market value of your property may have changed which impacted your assessment and the amount you owe.
“At a time when everyone is carefully watching their spending, an increase in property taxes is not good news,” said Katherine Meyer, Gwinnett Tax Commissioner. “Since much of that increase is coming from an action that was taken at the state level, not the county, we want people to have the facts.”
Updated 8/31/09
Did your property tax bill go up?
Since 1999, the Georgia General Assembly and the Governor have provided a credit on property tax bills called the Homeowners Tax Relief Grant (HTRG). In recent years, that credit resulted in an $84 - $275 reduction 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 2009 property tax bills. While the HTRG credit may some day be reinstated by the General Assembly, it is not expected to be considered again until state revenues increase significantly.
- You can determine the exact amount you saved in 2008 by locating the 'Tax Relief Credit' amount displayed on your 2008 tax bill.
- If your taxes are paid from an escrow account through your mortgage lender, you may want to notify them so the escrow payment amount can be adjusted accordingly.
- In some cases, the fair market value of your property may have changed which impacted your assessment and the amount you owe.
Visit www.factsaboutpropertytax.com to learn more.
Updated 9/04/09
Homestead Exemptions
Property owners may now file for homestead exemptions year 'round. The deadline for filing applications for 2009 exemptions was March 2, 2009. To apply for a homestead exemption for the 2010 tax year, property owners must submit their applications by March 1, 2010. To qualify, homeowners will need to own and occupy the property as of January 1, 2010. Additionally, all vehicles must be registered in Gwinnett County.
Property owners who already receive an exemption and have had no ownership changes to their deed will not need to reapply. They will continue to receive their current exemption on property taxes.
For more information regarding homestead exemptions, including additional eligibility requirements for certain exemptions, click here.
To apply for a homestead exemption online, click here.
For additional information, contact the Department of Property Tax at 770-822-8800, 8:30 – 5:00, Monday – Friday.
Posted 6/1/09
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