Home » Property » General Information

The ad valorem tax, more commonly called property tax, is the primary source of revenue for local governments in Georgia. Ad valorem means "according to value." 

The millage rate is a determining factor in the calculation of your taxes. (A mill is 1/10 of 1 cent or $1 per $1,000 of assessed value.) The millage rate multiplied by the 40% assessed value determines the amount of taxes you owe. All property taxes are calculated in the same way for home, auto and personal property.

The millage rate for state taxes is set at .20 mills by state law. The county Board of Commissioners sets the millage rate for county taxes, the county Board of Education sets the millage rate for county school taxes and the city authorities determine the rate for city taxes.

The county Board of Tax Assessors, which is appointed by the county Board of Commissioners, assesses all property for tax purposes. Assessments are by law based upon 40% of the fair market value as of January 1 each year. This assessment is multiplied by the millage rate. If there is an increase in the assessment or the millage rate then there may be an increase in property taxes.

City Taxes

Acworth, Austell, Kennesaw, Marietta, Smyrna and Powder Springs collect their own city taxes. For tax information, contact the city tax department directly at the following phone numbers or click the appropriate link below to access their web site:

Acworth
(770) 974-3112

Austell
(770) 944-4300

Powder Springs
(770) 943-1666

Marietta
(770) 794-5680

Smyrna
(770) 434-6600

Kennesaw
(770) 424-8274

  

Timber Tax

Standing timber is assessed for ad valorem taxation only once, at the time of harvest or sale, separate and apart from the underlying land. Such timber is assessed at 100% of its fair market value.

All timber harvests or sales must be reported in the county where the timber was grown to either the Tax Commissioner's or the Tax Assessors' Office, depending on the type of transaction. The tax is paid to the Tax Commissioner of that county. Timber tax is collected in the accounting department where the timber deeds are stamped so they can be recorded in the Superior Court Clerk's Office.