Dubbed as the Christmas tree bill, the Georgia Legislature finally passed House Bill 202 (HB 202) on April 2, 2015, the last day of its session. The 49-page bill contains several crucial amendments to the state’s real property tax system particularly its assessment and appeals processes, many of which work to the taxpayers’ benefit. The majority of the amendments contained in it applies to 2016 assessment appeals, including the DeKalb County property tax process, with the changes in the avenues of appeals contained here.  

According to the laws of the State of Georgia, the Gwinnett County property tax authorities also have the responsibility of conducting preferential assessments on certain types of real property. You can check with the tax assessors whether your real property qualifies for the special assessments but here are the things that you must know. 

As a property owner and taxpayer, you will find that the passage of House Bill 202 (HB 202) by the Georgia State Assembly works in your favor in many ways. Your job is to take advantage of the changes brought by the law in terms of your tax-related responsibilities.

Like all tax-related authorities, the DeKalb County Tax Assessor has a set of deadlines (i.e., dates) and glossary (i.e., terms) that must be applied in the performance of their roles and responsibilities. As a taxpayer, you should be aware of these dates and terms since these have an impact, whether positive or negative, on your duties in relation to your real estate tax. Your basic knowledge in these matters can result in hundreds of dollars in savings on your tax bills every year. 

Even with the changes in the property assessment and appeals process due to the passage of House Bill 202, many things about it remain the same. This includes the 40% assessment of fair market value of all taxable real property unless otherwise specified by law. This also includes the responsibilities of the Gwinnett County property tax authorities, such as the assessment of real property by the Board of Tax Assessors with the county’s tax digest examined by the State Revenue Commissioner to determine the uniform and equal assessments with other counties. 

Property valuation and the condemnation law share a common basis where their impact on your rights and responsibilities as a property owner are concerned. Keep in mind that the imposition of an easement (i.e., a non-possessory interest in the land of another person) reduces its fair market value in practical terms. As a taxpayer and property owner, you have to assert your rights in case of easement made by the Fulton County property tax authorities.   

According to the laws of the State of Georgia, the DeKalb County Tax Assessor has the responsibility of ensuring that all real estate and tangible personal property are appraised annually at their fair market values.  You, the taxpayer, have the right and responsibility of ensuring that your taxable real estate and tangible personal property have been assessed in a fair manner based on four grounds, namely, taxability, uniformity, value, and applicable exemptions. 

With the passage of House Bill 202 (HB 202) after a wild finish in the Georgia State Assembly, the roles and responsibilities of the Gwinnett County Tax Assessor particularly in the appeals process have changed. As a taxpayer, you have to be aware of these changes as many of them actually have an impact on the outcome of your appeal. You should ideally consult with a tax advisor before making any move on your appeal since many of the changes can adversely impact your chance for a successful appeal.

The Fulton County Tax Assessors Office – or more appropriately, the Board of Tax Assessors (BOA) – is the local government agency where the property tax process essentially starts.  Keep in mind that the BOA issues the Annual Notice of Assessment for each property owner in its jurisdiction and is the first venue for filing the formal tax assessment appeal.  Failure to file the required paperwork for the tax appeal within 45 days of the date on the Annual Notice of Assessment means the assessed value is considered final and executory for the taxable period. 

As a property owner and taxpayer, you should be abreast of the changes in the rules and regulations, especially the new laws, which have an impact on your real assets and their applicable taxes. Your awareness of these changes will be to your benefit considering that ignorance of the law is not an excuse as is the case in tax assessment appeals filed at the office of the DeKalb County Tax Assessor.