Tax Assessor

2021 Digest Residential Increase Notice

FORMS & APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT:

https://dor.georgia.gov/documents/forms

FORMS CAN BE SUBMITTED BY:

EMAIL, REGULAR MAIL & DROP OFF BOX OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE

Office

Located in the Decatur County Courthouse on Water Street in Bainbridge, Ga., this office is responsible for placing the value on all property, real and personal, for the Tax Digest in Decatur County.

Chief Appraiser Amy Rathel
Phone: (229) 248-3008
Email: amy@decaturcountyga.gov
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1106, Bainbridge, GA 39818

The Board of Tax Assessors assesses property in the county for tax purposes and to compile the Tax Digest.  It is a five-member board that includes Chairman Larry Carroll, Vice-Chairman Annalee Yarbrough, William Harrell, Jackson Kendrick and Gloria Freeman.

WELCOME
The Office of the Board of Assessors maintains records of all properties within the county, the property owners and the fair market value of the property.

This Board directs a staff of appraisers and appraisal clerks to obtain and manage these records. Information from building permits and other sources are used. The properties are visited where improvements have been made or for verification of incorrect information.

In addition to establishing values for real and personal property, the Board is ordered by Georgia state law to submit a tax digest (a compilation of all property values, motor vehicle values, timber values, and exemption amounts) to the State Revenue Commissioner at the Department of Revenue.

The Decatur County Board of Tax Assessors is also designated to receive property tax returns for real and personal property and applications for various homestead exemptions, conservation use valuation, preferential agricultural assessment, forest land conservation use assessment and Freeport. It is the duty of the Board to determine the eligibility of these applications.

PROPERTY INSPECTION
PUBLIC NOTICE: Decatur County Property Owners and Occupants. In accordance with O.C.G.A 48-5-264.1(a), representatives of the Decatur County Board of Assessors, with proper ID, may enter upon your property during normal business hours, for the purpose of collecting accurate data or any verification thereof due to any permits issued, return of value filing, revaluations (partial or whole), parcel sales, and appeal reviews.

IMPORTANT DATES

Real and Personal Property Returns are filed between:
January 1st and April 1st

File applications for Conservation Use Assessment, Forest Land Conservation Use Assessment or Preferential Agricultural Assessment between:
January 1st and April 1st

Homestead Exemption Applications:
An applicant seeking a homestead exemption as provided in code Section 48-5-44 and qualifying under the provisions of code Section 48-5-44 shall file a written application and schedule with the Tax Receiver charged with the duty of receiving returns of property for taxation at any time during the calendar year subsequent to the property becoming the primary residence of the applicant up to and including April 1st of the following year.

Appeals
Appeals can be filed within 45 days of the date the Annual Notice of Assessment is mailed each year. The date is subject to change from year to year. The last day to file an appeal will be printed in the top right-hand corner of the notice mailed.

MEETINGS
The Board of Assessors meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. The meetings are held in the Grand Jury Room in the Decatur County Courthouse.

For more information on the Board of Assessors meetings such as individuals agendas or minutes, please click here.

Link to Tax Assessor web site: http://qpublic.net/ga/decatur/