A Guide to Claiming Fulton County Property Tax Exemptions for Seniors
Boasting a population of nearly 1.1 million, Fulton County is Georgia’s most populous county.
Its population is diverse, and the county is on the rise, with both median incomes and homeownership growing by 4% and 9%, respectively, year on year. The largest single block of Fulton County residents own properties costing over $300,000, meaning that the average household faces an annual property tax bill of over $3,000.
That is a lot of money, and if you are one of the approximately 156,000 people over 62 in Fulton County, you need to look for any tax break or relief you can find to reduce the financial burden. DoNotPay can help you access all the Fulton County property tax exemptions for seniors that are available.
What Is Property Tax?
If you own property, you are most likely liable to pay property tax. It is a tax on real estate and is vital to local economies as it provides revenue to fund local services and amenities, such as:
- Public schooling
- Libraries
- Parks and recreation facilities
- Police
- Fire department
- Garbage collection
- Street lighting
- Road maintenance
Property tax is normally charged annually, and failure to pay can lead to penalties up to and including the loss of your home. This means you need to be aware of how big your bill is going to be, when it will be due, and whether you can claim any kind of discount.
How Is Fulton County Property Tax Calculated?
Property tax is calculated by multiplying the fair market value of your property by the tax rate of your area.
Georgia does not have a statewide property tax system, so it is left to each county to calculate property tax rates and assess property values.
Fulton County’s tax rate lies at approximately 1.08%, slightly above the national average of 1.07%. Other counties in Georgia have much lower rates, meaning that the state as a whole is one of those with low property tax rates, but Fulton’s is notoriously high.
The county assesses property to determine its fair market value and uses Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) technology to appraise values. This means that individual property is generally not assessed but rather compared to recent sales data for a minimum of three similar properties and assigned a market value accordingly. The assessed taxable value is then calculated at 40% of the fair market value.
This can mean that your property’s assessment is less accurate than is ideal and may open the door to an appeal. However valid your property assessment, DoNotPay can help you explore every avenue to lower your property tax bill.
If you are a senior in Fulton County, you face a potentially hefty property tax bill every year. The property tax due dates are as follows:
| Date | Action |
| January–December | Property assessment period |
| July | Property tax bills are mailed |
| August 15 | City of Atlanta taxes due |
| October 15 | Fulton County taxes due |
Bearing the high tax rate and the difficulty in deferring tax payments beyond their due date, as a senior citizen, you may need help with paying your property tax bill.
What Are the Available Fulton County Senior Property Tax Exemptions?
Fulton County (FC) offers the following property tax exemptions for senior citizens over the age of 65:
- Homestead exemption
- Senior citizen exemptions
- Line of duty exemption
- Veteran exemption
Homestead Exemption
Any owner-occupied home in Fulton County is eligible for a $2,000 reduction in the assessed value of the property.
Senior Citizen Exemptions
Several options are available for senior citizens in Fulton County, the most accessible of which are dependent on your annual household income not exceeding certain thresholds. If you meet the eligibility criteria, exemptions of up to $50,000 off the assessed value of your property may be available.
Seniors over 65 with an annual income of less than $30,000 can also apply to have their property assessment frozen as long as they live in the property. Bearing in mind that property prices in Fulton are increasing rapidly, this may be a major benefit.
Line of Duty Exemption
If you are the surviving unremarried spouse of a police officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty, you may be 100% exempt from property tax.
Veteran Exemption
A disabled veteran or an unremarried surviving spouse may be eligible for a substantial property tax exemption.
DoNotPay Can Help You Apply for a Property Tax Exemption for Seniors in Fulton County
Applying for a property tax exemption is always hard work, but DoNotPay is here to help you.
checks your location, asks you a few simple questions, and comes up with customized recommendations on how you can secure all the exemptions you are eligible for. The app has two sections:
| Property Tax Exemptions | Property Assessment Appeals |
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How Do You Get DoNotPay’s Property Tax Guide?
Getting our guide couldn’t be easier:
- Sign up for DoNotPay using any and look for the Property Tax feature
- Answer the questions about yourself and your property
- Wait while the app generates a customized guide to your property tax reductions
More Tips From DoNotPay To Reduce Your Property Tax Bill in Fulton County
Your property’s assessed value is the most important factor in determining how big your property tax bill is. Here are some things you can do to lower your property tax bill further:
| Action | Explanation |
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Avoid renovations | Any improvements or renovations to your property could increase its market value compared to properties that have been sold recently in the area |
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Check your bill | Mistakes happen, and you should check your property tax bill thoroughly to make sure all the details are correct |
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Work with the assessor | Being present when your property is appraised can avoid mistakes or assessments made without all the relevant facts |
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Appeal your assessment | As a last resort, you can appeal an assessment if you feel it’s too high. DoNotPay can help you understand the appeal procedure, get the necessary documents together, and lodge your appeal |
Do You Need Help With All That Paperwork?
Saving money is great, but cutting the time wasted on bureaucracy sometimes sounds even better. DoNotPay joins the best of both worlds and helps you avoid boring paperwork while preventing future unnecessary charges and expenses.
With our help, you can enjoy free trials without any risk, file insurance claims, or handle issues with credit cards.
You won’t have to waste time on researching the right procedures or pay for help if you need to stop stalkers and harassers or put together all sorts of legal documents.
DoNotPay—The Easy Way To Save Money
If it looks like your wallet has a hole and the money keeps pouring out for unnecessary expenses, it might be time to come up with a better saving strategy.
DoNotPay uses AI-powered technology to identify the best opportunities for some serious penny-pinching or earning a few extra bucks:
| Saving Money | Earning Money |
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