One of the best ways to enjoy substantial Hall County property tax reduction is through property tax exemptions for senior citizens. Senior citizens/homeowners should take advantage of the generous property tax exemptions provided by the state, county, and city.
General Notes
All residents/homeowners of the State of Georgia are generally eligible for homestead exemptions, which are subject to two basic eligibility requirements. These requirements are: first, you must be the legal owner of the real property as of January 1 of the current taxable year; and second, you must consider the real property including the house on it as your primary residence as of the current year.
When basic homestead exemptions are applied, you can enjoy a Hall County property tax reduction amounting to a few hundred dollars. But when additional exemptions by virtue of your status as a senior citizen are applied, you can enjoy higher tax savings amounting to thousands of dollars. Just imagine the difference in tax savings that you can enjoy just by declaring your true age.
Age Matters
The Hall County Tax Assessor’s Office imposes a strict deadline on the filing of property tax exemptions for senior citizens. If you fail to file your application, you will not be granted the applicable tax exemption except in cases when a subsequent application is unnecessary for the automatic qualification.
For example, under House Bill 1411, you can avail of the total school tax exemption when you reach the age of 70. You need not apply for the exemption when you have already been approved for the partial tax exemption, which you have applied for when you were 62 years old. You will automatically receive the full exemption when you turn 70.
Your Hall County property tax reduction amount will then increase even when you did not file an application for it. But when you were not yet on record for the partial school tax exemption, then you have to register with the Tax Assessor’s Office to avail of the full exemption.
Deadline Matters
Just as your age matters, your compliance with the deadline for filing tax exemptions and returns also matters in your Hall County property tax reduction plans. When you are late with these tax-related documents, you will either miss out on the opportunity to enjoy tax savings from the exemption or be penalized for your non-compliance (e.g., penalties and interests on late payment).
Be sure to file your tax returns between January 1 and April 1. You should file your tax returns either in person or by mail.
Deadline for filing for homestead exemptions including partial school tax exemption (62 years old, with income requirements); senior citizens exemption (65 years old, with income requirements); and extra homestead exemption for the elderly (65 years old, no income qualifiers) is on April 1. Deadline for total school tax exemption (70 years old for Hall County residents, 72 years old for City of Gainesville residents) is on April 1.
As a senior citizen, you have several choices in property tax exemptions resulting in Hall County property tax reduction. You must carefully consider the eligibility requirements of each type of property exemption before filing your application.
