Homestead exemptions in Cobb County are designed to reduce the amount of property taxes you owe on your primary residence. They work by exempting a portion of your home's assessed value from taxation, thereby lowering your taxable value and overall tax bill.
Do You Qualify for a Homestead Exemption in Cobb County?
To qualify for a homestead exemption in Cobb County, you must:
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Ownership: Own the property as of January 1 of the tax year.
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Primary Residence: Occupy the property as your primary legal residence on January 1.
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Application Deadline: Submit your application by April 1 of the tax year. Applications received after this date will be processed for the following year.
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Single Exemption: Not claim a homestead exemption on any other property in Georgia or elsewhere.
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Vehicle Registration: Typically, have your vehicles registered in Cobb County.
Common Types of Homestead Exemptions in Cobb County
Cobb County offers various homestead exemptions. Some common ones include:
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Basic Homestead Exemption: A $10,000 exemption in the county general and county school general tax categories.
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School Tax Exemption (Age 62): If you are 62 or older by January 1, you may be exempt from all school general and school bond taxes. Proof of age is required.
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Disability Exemption: A $22,000 exemption in all tax categories except the state. To qualify, you must be disabled on or before January 1 and your annual net income cannot exceed $12,000. Proof of disability and income limitations apply.
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State Senior Age 65 Exemption: A $4,000 exemption in the state, county bond, and fire district tax categories. To qualify, you must be 65 years of age on or before January 1 and your annual net income cannot exceed $10,000.
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Veteran's Disability Exemption: Full exemption for 100% disabled veterans. Specific documentation is needed.
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Surviving Spouse Exemptions: For un-remarried surviving spouses of peace officers/firefighters killed in the line of duty or U.S. Armed Forces members killed in war.
How Homestead Exemptions Affect Your Cobb County Property Tax Appeal
Homestead exemptions reduce your taxable value after the assessed value is determined. When you appeal, you are challenging the Fair Market Value (FMV) and the resulting assessed value (40% of FMV).
Here's the relationship:
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Appeal Targets Value: Your appeal focuses on whether the Cobb County Board of Tax Assessors' FMV and assessed value are accurate.
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Exemptions Applied Later: If you qualify, the homestead exemption is applied to the assessed value to calculate your taxable value.
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No Impact on FMV: A homestead exemption doesn't change the county's opinion of your property's FMV.
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Lower Taxes with Successful Appeal: If your appeal lowers the assessed value, your taxable value (after the exemption) will also be lower, leading to greater tax savings.
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Separate Eligibility: Homestead exemption eligibility is a separate process from the valuation appeal.
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Appeal Grounds Unchanged: Your homestead status doesn't influence the reasons why you might appeal (e.g., high comps, errors in property details, poor condition).
In essence, homestead exemptions provide tax relief, and a successful appeal can further reduce your tax burden by lowering the base value to which the exemption is applied in Cobb County. Ensure you understand the eligibility requirements and application deadlines for homestead exemptions in Cobb County.
📚 Resources
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Cobb County Tax Commissioner – Homestead Exemptions: https://www.cobbtax.org/property/exemptions.php
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Apply for Homestead Exemptions Online: https://efiletax.cobbcounty.org/Filing/FilingType/Info/COBB_HOMESTEAD
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Cobb County Board of Tax Assessors – FAQs: https://cobbassessor.org/faqs/
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Georgia Department of Revenue – Property Tax Homestead Exemptions: https://dor.georgia.gov/property-tax-homestead-exemptions
