Atlanta homeowners are filing property tax returns in record numbers in hopes of lowering the appraised value on their home. Here in southwest Georgia, many homeowners are doing the same
As the deadline nears to file taxes, more and more homeowners are filling out a simple form that could have you paying less in property taxes.
Atlanta homeowners are filing property tax returns in record numbers in hopes of lowering the appraised value on their home. Here in southwest Georgia, many homeowners are doing the same.
Dougherty County Tax Director Denver Hooten says property tax returns allow you to declare what you think your property is worth, and challenges the county’s assessment. It’s not a required tax form, but could lower your property taxes if the board accepts your assessment.
If you’re interested in filing a property tax return go to your local tax assessor’s office and print out a form postdated by April 1st in order for it to be applied to this year’s taxes.
“If they (the board of assessors) do keep the value that they’ve got on record they will send you a notice of assessment and from that form you have 45 days to appeal that property,” Hooten said.
The drive to fill out the form comes from a drop in real estate prices from the recession even though home values in Dougherty and Lee County’s have only dropped about four percent from a year ago.
To fill out a property tax return online go to https://etax.dor.ga.gov/PTD/adm/forms/pt50r/LGS_TAXPAYERS_RETURN_OF_REAL_PROPERTY_PT50R.pdf.
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