I hope everyone€™s year is off to a great start! I wanted to take a few minutes of your time and briefly cover the process by which you can dispute the tax assessed value of your home in an effort to reduce your annual property tax bill. The decline in prices for some areas in town has created the opportunity to appeal the value the county is using. There is no cost to this process and it takes just a few minutes to initiate. I would strongly advise not waiting until March 1st as the line at the courthouse will be very long.Returns: In accordance with Georgia law, all property held and subject to taxation on January 1 of the tax year, shall be returned by the owner to the Assessor€™s Office during the time for making returns (disputing the value), between January 2 and March 1 of each year.

Any taxpayer who fails to return his property taxation shall be deemed to have returned for taxation the same property at the same final valuation and same real property exemptions as for the preceding year.

Making a Return:

Time- Between January 2 and March 1 from 9:00 am- 5:00 pm, Monday- Friday

Place- Assessors Office, Chatham County Judicial Courthouse, 133 Montgomery St., 5th Floor, Room 503

How- Ask to strike a return. The clerk will present the prepared from to the taxpayer. Taxpayer reviews property description and valuation. If valuation is accepted, sign the form and return to clerk. If not accepted, line-out value and write in your opinion of the true market value of the property as of January 1 of the tax year.

Who- Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and Agricultural

Returns must be made if:

1. Property has been partially sold.
2. Improvements have been added, i.e., swimming pool, rooms, carport, or porch enclosed, patio, sundeck, central air condition, or extensive remodeling.
3. Buidings have been razed or destroyed by fire or the elements.
4. Valuation is not equitable.

You can view your current tax value at http://prc.chathamcounty.org by putting in your address. The upper right hand corner of the tax card will have your site value, building value, and total value. You can also call the Tax Assessors Office at 912-652-7100 if you have any further questions.

George Jorgenson, REALTOR