FAQs About the Fulton County Tax On Property

Posted by Jill Noelle Olandria on May 20, 2015 11:30:00 AM

Taxpayers like you should not be passive payers of their tax bills, be it their Georgia state taxes or their Fulton County tax on property. Instead, you should be an active taxpayer in the sense that you know the when, where and why as well as the how of paying your taxes particularly on your real estate and personal property. You will find that by being an informed taxpayer, you can actually reduce your tax expenses without robbing your government of its due.

Here are the frequently asked questions and their answers that every active taxpayer must know. If you want more details, you can contact the tax authorities in Fulton County or ask the experts at Fair Assessments especially when it concerns your tax assessments and estimated tax.

#1 When Is the Tax Bill Mailed?

In Fulton County, the property tax bills are usually mailed in July. You should contact the Fulton County tax commissioner’s office when you have not yet received your tax bill by July 15. Your immediate action is essential so you pay your taxes on time. Not receiving a tax bill is not a valid reason for not paying your Fulton County tax bill on time.

Fulton County Tax On Property

Keep in mind that the taxes for property in Fulton County are due for payment on or before October 15 of the current year. But the definitive date can change so it is best to ask the tax commissioner’s office about it, or refer to the tax bill you receive.

Also, failure to pay the tax bill on time has its consequences for the taxpayer. These consequences will add to the burden of the tax itself, such as:

  • Interest accruing at a 1% rate on the day following the due date, which will continue to accrue at a 1% interest rate per month on the 16th of every month thereafter (i.e., the interest applies to the principal amount); and
  • One-time 10% penalty will be applied on the principal amount when the tax bill is not paid in full 90 days after the due date.

Unfortunately, taxpayers cannot appeal their Fulton County tax bill. The good news: You can appeal your tax assessment with the tax assessor’s office particularly for the unfairly high tax assessment on your property. Ask Fair Assessments for more information about the appeals process.

#2 When Is the Tax Applicable – For the Whole Year or For the Part of Year on Which Ownership Was Established?

Let’s assume that you did not own your home for the full year, such as when you moved to it on June 1. Your Fulton County tax bill will not be prorated for the applicable 7 months of your residence since the taxes are computed for the entire year.

Tip: Contact your closing attorney when you enter into a contractual agreement where you designate that the seller pay a prorated part of the tax bill.

So in case you sell your property after January 1 of the current taxable year, you will still be responsible for taxes. This is because the taxes are assessed on January 1 for the entire taxable year.

The bottom line: Neither be ignorant nor arrogant about the Fulton County tax assessment and bill coming your way on a yearly basis. Your prompt and appropriate action on these matters will be to your benefit.

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