Whitfield County Tax|General Information

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Please refer to our Important Taxpayer Information brochure for details on exemptions, mobile home taxes, assessments and appeals, tax returns and dates to remember.

Ad Valorem Tax Process

Ad valorem tax, more commonly known as property tax, is a large source of revenue for local governments in Georgia. The basis for ad valorem taxation is the fair market value of the property, which is established as of January 1 of each year. The tax is levied on the assessed value of the property which, by law, is established at 40% of the fair market value unless otherwise specified by law (O.C.G.A. 48-5-7). Fair market value means "the amount knowledgeable a buyer would pay for the property and a willing seller would accept for the property at an arm's length, bona fide sale. "(O.C.G.A. 48-5-311) The amount of tax is determined by the tax rate (mill rate) levied by various entities (one mill is equal to $1.00 for each $1,000 of assessed value, or .001).

Several distinct entities are involved in the ad valorem tax process:

The State Revenue Commissioner Is responsible for examining the tax digests of counties in Georgia in order to determine that property is assessed uniformly and equally between and within the counties (O.C.G.A. 48-5-340). In addition, the State levies ad valorem tax each year in an amount which cannot exceed one-fourth of one mill (.00025).

The Whitfield County Tax Assessor Is responsible for the appraisal, assessment, and the equalization of all assessments within the county. They notify taxpayers when changes are made to the value of property, receive and review all appeals filed, and insure that the appeal process proceeds properly. In addition, they approve all exemptions claimed by the taxpayer.

The Whitfield County Board of EqualizationAppointed by the Grand Jury, is the body charged by law with hearing and adjudicating administrative appeals to property values and assessments made by the Board of Tax Assessors.

The Whitfield County CommissionEstablishes the annual budget for county government operations and levies the mill rate necessary to fund the portion of the budget to be paid for by ad valorem tax.

The Whitfield County Board of EducationAn elected body, establishes the annual budget for school purposes and adopts the mill rate necessary to fund the portion of the budget to be paid for by ad valorem tax.

The Whitfield County Tax CommissionerAn elected office established by the Constitution, is the official responsible for performing all functions related to billing, collecting, accounting for and disbursing ad valorem taxes collected in this county. The Tax Commissioner also serves as an agent of the State Revenue Commissioner for the registration of motor vehicles. The Tax Commissioner does not set value or the millage rates.

Tax Bills

Property tax bills and normally mailed out by October 20 of each year. Taxes are to be paid by December 20 of the same year.

Tax Returns

In accordance with Georgia law, all property held and subject to taxation on January 1 of the tax year, shall be returned by the owner to the Tax Assessor’s Office between January 1 and April 1 of that tax year. Any taxpayer who fails to return his property for taxation shall be deemed to have returned for taxations the same property at the same final valuation as and same real property exemptions as for the preceding year.A property owner who is dissatisfied with the assessed value of their property may also file a return stating their opinion of the true Fair Market Value of the property as of January 1 of the tax year. This will establish appeal right if the value is changed again by the Tax Assessor’s Office.

Address Changes

Property owners must notify the Tax Assessor’s Office or Tax Commissioner’s Office immediately of any change in their mailing address. Georgia law requires that all tax notices are sent to the taxpayer at their last know address.

Mobile/Manufactured Home Permits

Owners of mobile homes which are located in Whitfield County as of January 1 must pay the ad valorem taxes by April 1 of each year. After the due date, a one-time 10% penalty and 1% interest per month will be added. If the taxes are not paid, a Fi.Fa. will be filed on the docket in the clerk of superior court. If the tax continues to be unpaid, the mobile home will be sold at auction.

Once the Mobile Home tax has been paid, the owner will receive a current year decal. All mobile homes must display a current decal. Per O.C.G.A. 48-5-493, failure to purchase a decal could result in a fine of $100 to $300.

Mobile home taxes are due by April 1 unless the mobile home is homesteaded in which case they are taxes the same as real property. To qualify for homestead, the mobile home and the land on which it sits must be in the same name. To apply for a homestead, you will need to follow the same process described under the Homestead section.

The fair market and assessed values of mobile homes are set by the Tax Assessors’ Office. The fair market value may be appealed by filing an appeal with the Tax Assessors’ Office. The deadline for filing an appeal for Mobile Homes is 45 days after the mailing date of the tax bill. For more information regarding appeals, contact the Tax Assessors’ Office at (706) 275-7410.

Homestead Exemptions

Homestead exemptions have been enacted to reduce the burden of ad valorem taxation for Georgia homeowners. The exemptions apply to homestead property owned by the taxpayer and occupied as his or her legal residence. Homestead exemptions are deducted from the assessed value of the qualifying property (40% of the fair market value).

The homestead of each residence of the State of Georgia actually occupied as a residence and homestead on January 1 of the tax year may be exempted from certain ad valorem taxation providing the exemption is returned and claimed in the manner prescribed by law and approved by the County Board of Assessors. All exemptions must be filed with the Tax Commissioner’s Office, at 205 N Selvidge Street in Dalton, Georgia between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. Applications are accepted from January 1 through April 1 each year for the current tax year. Failure to make application within the prescribed time frame constitutes a waiver of the exemption for that tax year. Georgia law does not provide for an extension time for filing. All exemptions, once approved, are automatically renewed each year until eligibility changes unless exceptions are noted.

Once granted, the homestead exemption is automatically renewed each year and the taxpayer does not have to apply again unless there is a change of residence, ownership, or the taxpayer seeks to qualify for a different kind of exemption.

Types of Homestead Exemptions

Under authority of the State Constitution several different types of homestead exemptions are provided. These are called State Exemptions. In addition, local governments are authorized to provide for increased exemption amounts. These are called Local County Exemptions. Whitfield County has such local county exemptions. The Local County Exemptions supersede the State Exemptions when the Local Exemption amount is greater than the State Exemption amount. The Tax Commissioner's office and Tax Assessor's Office can answer questions regarding the standard exemptions as well as any local exemptions that are in place.

(No exemption will exceed the tax liability)

Income limits may apply

S1 - Regular Homestead Exemption
S3 - Elderly Age 62
S5 - Disabled Veteran
SD - Age 65 Disabled Veteran
SS - Un-remarried Armed Forces Surviving Spouse
S4 - Elderly Age 65
S4-7 - Elderly Age 70

Specialized and Preferential Assessment Programs

Whitfield County has several types of preferential assessments.

They are the Conservation Use and Residential Transitional Property (Statewide Ref. GA Code Ann. 48-5-7.4), the Preferential Assessment for Agricultural Property (Statewide Ref. GA Code Ann. 48-5-7.4.1), and the Rehabilitated Historic Property (Statewide Ref. GA Code Ann. 48-5-7.2).

Each of these specialized or preferential programs requires the property owner to covenant with the Tax Assessor to maintain the property in its qualified use for at least 10 years in order to qualify for the preference. The Tax Assessor can explain the ownership and use restrictions regarding property qualifying for either of these programs. Please contact this office at (706) 275-7410.

Assessment Appeals

The Whitfield County Board of Assessors’ appraisal staff determines your property values based on recent sales and market conditions. These values are based on the condition of the property as of January 1st of the tax year. The Board of Tax Assessors is required to issue a notice of assessment for taxable real and personal property which states the value of said property. These notices are generally mailed in the Spring of each year.

If the taxpayer is dissatisfied with the value placed on the property, the taxpayer has the right to appeal this value within 45 days of the date of the notice. The appeal may be based on taxability, value, uniformity, and/or the denial of an exemption. The written appeal must initially be filed with the Board of Tax Assessors and must state their chosen method of appeal. There are 3 methods of appeal, which are outlined in the Important Taxpayer Information brochure.

Additional information on assessment appeals may be obtained from the Tax Assessors’ Office at (706) 275-7410.

For further information regarding property taxation in Georgia, please visit the State of Georgia Local Government Services Division website.

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