Tax Commissioner Office - Homestead Exemption Information

Municiple Building Augusta
Office of the Tax Commissioner

Homestead Exemption Information

Each homeowner of Richmond County who is a legal resident of Georgia is entitled to a homestead exemption on the property owned and occupied as a permanent residence on January 1st of the taxable year. The exemption is deducted from the assessed (40%) value of the property for county and school tax purposes, except bonded indebtedness. The State taxing authority also allows an exemption. The value of the property in excess of the exempted amount is subject to all taxes.

Application for homestead exemption must be made between March 2 of the preceding year and March 1 of the year in which the exemption is sought. Once applied for and granted, the exemption shall automatically be renewed from year to year, as long as the applicant continuously occupies the residence as a homestead and the eligibility conditions still apply. However, a new homestead exemption application must be made if the taxpayer bought a new home, had any type of deed change during the year, or is eligible for a larger exemption.

Applications for homestead exemption may be mailed to or made in the Tax Commissioner’s Office, Room 117, Municipal Building, 530 Greene Street, Augusta, GA 30901.

The Tax Commissioner receives applications for homestead exemption, determines the eligibility of the applicant to claim the exemption and forwards the application to the Board of Tax Assessors for final determination as to eligibility of the applicant. The applicant, if denied, has the right to appeal the decision of the Board of Assessors to the Board of Equalization.

May I apply for homestead exemption?

Do you own the property?
If yes, proceed to question number 2.
Do you live on this property as your primary residence?
If yes, you may apply for homestead exemption, but please proceed to question number 3.
Did you recently purchase this property?
If yes, please attach a copy of your recorded warranty deed to your homestead exemption application.

Click here to download the homestead exemption application (PDF).

Click here to view the homestead exemption explanation/instructions (PDF).

If you have questions about homestead exemptions, you may call (706) 821-2391.