News From Mitch Schrader, Clarke County Tax Commissioner

Notice for Clarke County Taxpayers:

Monday, April 1, is the deadline for real and personal property tax returns and homestead exemption applications for 2013.

Real Estate Returns and Homestead Exemption Applications need to be made in the Tax Commissioners Office. Only property owners, who purchased or made improvements on real property, during 2012, need to file the return. Property owners who live in a home, as their principal residence, may qualify for homestead exemption and need to file an application. To receive the homestead exemption for the current tax year, the homeowner must be a United States citizen or legal resident alien, have owned the property on January 1 and file the homestead application by April 1. The property must be your legal residence for all purposes, including vehicle registration, voter registration, and state and federal income tax. Application for Homestead exemption does not have to be filed annually. Property owners who move or convert their homes to rental should notify the Tax Commissioner as they will no longer qualify for the exemption.

Personal Property Returns are required for business inventories and fixtures, boats, farm equipment and airplanes and are also due by April 1. In order for a qualifying business to receive the full advantage of Freeport exemption, that application must be submitted to the Board of Assessors by April 1. Businesses which fail to file the required personal property tax returns are subject to a penalty of 10% of the tax liability. Personal Property Returns and Freeport applications are filed with the Tax Assessors Office.

Both the Tax Commissioner (706-613-3120) and the Tax Assessor (706-613-3140) offices are in the Clarke County Courthouse, 325 East Washington Street. Please feel free to contact me personally, at 706-613-3120, if you have additional questions.

Mitch Schrader
Tax Commissioner, Athens-Clarke County