If you moved to the Cumming area last year, and purchased a home, then you just had your first Christmas there. The decorations are all put away and you’re probably welcoming a normal routine again. But something in the back of your mind is saying “didn’t my Realtor tell me something about a property tax exemption I need to handle in January?”. Hopefully they did and now is the time to file.

What is a Homestead Exemption?

Simply put, it is an exemption for some of the property taxes you would owe on your primary residence and it remains in effect for the entire time you live there. So, if you own the property, reside on that property, and are a legal resident of the County, all as of January 1st of the tax year, you may qualify for homestead exemption.

The exemption amounts differ by county. For instance, in Fulton County the exemption for 2010 is $25,000. That will go up to $30,000 in 2011. In Forsyth County the Homestead Exemption is $8000.

The appropriate forms to file can typically be found on the county website page for the Tax Assessors Office, here are phone numbers and links to a few of those:

Cherokee County – 678-493-6120
Cobb County – 770-528-8600
Forsyth County – 770-781-2106
Fulton County – 404-612-6440
Gwinnett County - 770-822-8800