A Guide to Homestead Exemptions
The home purchasing process is a whirlwind - from house hunting to under contract activities - it’s a lot of information to take in! Homestead Exemption is one very important piece that can help you save money on your property taxes every year. If you purchased a home in 2019, I’m talking to you!
The purpose of this article is to help homeowners in the Atlanta area learn more about Homestead Exemption and the process of applying for this tax break. If you own a home and live in the home as your primary residence, then you should definitely apply for Homestead Exemption. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2020.
What is Homestead Exemption?
A Homestead Exemption is a legal provision that helps reduce the amount of property taxes owed on owner-occupied homes.
Exemptions are established by state law and voted upon by citizens in a given city, county, or school district.
To qualify for a basic Homestead Exemption, you must:
Own, occupy, and claim the property as your legal residence on January 1 of the year in which you first qualify for the exemption. For example, if you purchased your home in 2019, then you’d first qualify in January 2020.
The person applying for the Homestead Exemption must be listed on the deed
You must continue to own and live in the home as your primary residence as long as you claim the exemption
You cannot claim a Homestead Exemption if you claim one anywhere else
Homestead Exemptions do not apply to commercial or rental properties, or second homes
Homestead Exemptions apply to individuals and not to corporations
While all homeowners may qualify for a basic Homestead Exemption, there are also many different exemptions available for seniors and people with full medical or veteran disabilities (and their surviving spouses). Exemptions are also available for surviving spouses of peace officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty. Many special exemptions have requirements for age and/or income.
What Documentation Do I Need to Provide?
When applying for a Homestead Exemption, someone listed on the deed must complete an application.
Here’s what will be needed to apply:
Georgia Driver’s License
Parcel Number (which can be found on a previous tax bill, previous assessment notice, or can be looked up in your county’s tax assessor website)
Owner Names (as listed on the deed)
Property Address
Contact Phone Numbers
Social Security Numbers
State of Residence
Current registration for all vehicles of owner and spouse (registration must show your home address as the property address)
Date of Birth for Owners
Trust affidavit, if the property is in the name of a Trust
State and Federal Tax Returns, if applying for a senior exemption
Do I Need to Re-Apply Every Year?
Homestead Exemptions renew each year automatically as long as you own and occupy the home as your primary residence.
NOTE: If the names on the deed change, even if the same people live in the home, the person listed on the deed who occupies the property will need to re-apply for Homestead Exemption. So, if you’ve gotten married and recently changed your name, you may need to re-apply for Homestead Exemption!
Where Do I Apply for Homestead Exemption?
Here are the websites to apply for the nine Atlanta-area counties:
More information for Dekalb County
What Else Do I Need to Know?
You must apply for Homestead Exemptions before April 1st, 2020 to receive the tax benefits. You’ll be required to submit documents and several pieces of personal information on the application. If you have any questions about your county’s Homestead Exemption process, you can check it out on the tax assessor’s website. If you have any thoughts about Homestead Exemption, I’d love to hear it in the comments below!