Georgia School Tax Exemption Program

The Georgia School Tax Exemption Program helps some homeowners lower or waive school taxes they owe. This benefit is offered under the state’s Homestead Exemption program, which helps people save money on property taxes for the home they live in.

What is the Georgia School Tax Exemption Program?

The Georgia School Tax Exemption Program helps homeowners lower the school taxes they owe. If you qualify, $10,000 of your home’s value may be exempt from school and other property-related taxes. If you are approved to receive school tax exemption, this tax benefit will automatically renew every year. However, you must let the county you live in know if you no longer qualify for this exemption.

Download Application

Am I eligible for Georgia school tax exemption?

The Georgia school tax exemption benefit has several rules for qualifying. These include:

• You have owned the home since January 1st of the year.
• You have no tax exemptions for another property in Georgia or in any other state.
• You are age 62 or older.
• You have an income, or combined income with a spouse, of $10,000 or less.

Note: Social Security and some pensions don’t count toward income, unless the pension is more than what you would get from Social Security.

How do I prepare to apply?

To apply for the Georgia School Tax Exemption, you must submit your application by April 1st for the current year. You will also need to present the following:

• Georgia Driver’s License or valid Georgia I.D.
• Social Security Number
• Registration for all vehicles you own
• Recorded deed in your name
• Proof of income (like copies of your Federal and State income tax returns or your Social Security Award Letter)

Apply for the Georgia school tax exemption

To apply for the Georgia School Tax Exemption, you need to fill out a homestead exemption application. Some counties let you apply online, but others do not. Contact your county tax office to find out how to apply. If your county requires a paper application, you can download and print it out here:

Georgia Homestead Exemption Application

Once completed, you will need to turn your application in at the local tax office in your county.

What if I need help applying?

If you need help applying, have questions, or want to know how to apply, contact your county’s tax office. You can find your county’s contact information by using this search tool or locating it on this map.

You can also contact the Georgia Department of Revenue’s Taxpayer Services at 877-423-6711  (877-GADOR11). They are available Monday—Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

You can also access your tax information anytime online through the Georgia Tax Center, or email Taxpayer Services if you have a tax question.