How to File for a Homestead Exemption in Georgia After You Buy

Quick answer

In Georgia, you file for a homestead exemption with your county’s tax assessor’s office, and the deadline is April 1. To qualify for a given tax year, you need to own the home and live in it as your primary residence as of January 1 of that year. So if you close on a home after January 1, you will file by April 1 of the following year. Most metro Atlanta counties take applications online, and once you are approved, the exemption generally renews automatically as long as you own and live in the home.

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What a homestead exemption does

A homestead exemption lowers the taxable value of the home you live in, which lowers your property tax bill. It only applies to your primary residence, and you can only claim one.

Every county in metro Atlanta offers a basic homestead exemption, and many offer additional ones based on age, income, disability, or veteran status. Some cities and school districts have their own exemptions on top of the county’s. The amounts vary by county, city, and school district, so two homes a few miles apart can see very different savings.

Because you pay property taxes for as long as you own the home, this is one of the easiest money-saving steps a new homeowner can take. It is also one of the easiest to forget.

Who qualifies and when

• You own the home as of January 1. Ownership on January 1 determines eligibility for that tax year.
• You live there as your primary residence. It has to be your legal residence for all purposes.
• You are not claiming a homestead exemption anywhere else, in Georgia or any other state.

Timing matters. If you close in, say, March 2026, the previous owner’s status applies for 2026, and you would apply by April 1, 2027 for the 2027 tax year. If you close in late December, you may be able to file for the following year as soon as January 1 arrives.

How to file in metro Atlanta

The process is similar in most counties:

1. Find your county’s tax assessor or tax commissioner website. In Fulton County, for example, you apply through the Board of Assessors, online or in person. DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, Clayton, and Henry each have their own office and process.
2. Gather your documents. Requirements vary, but you will commonly need your name and property address, the parcel ID, a Georgia driver’s license or ID showing the property address, and your vehicle registration. If county records have not caught up with your purchase, you may need your recorded deed.
3. Apply before April 1. Applications received by the deadline apply to that year’s tax bill.
4. Watch for your confirmation. Once approved, the exemption generally carries forward each year as long as you own and live in the home.

Your closing attorney or lender may remind you about this at closing, but it is still on you to file. I put it on every buyer’s post-closing checklist so it does not slip through the cracks.

What is changing with Georgia property tax relief

Property tax relief in Georgia has been changing, so it helps to know the basics.

• The statewide floating homestead exemption. Approved by voters in November 2024, it limits how fast the taxable value of a homesteaded property can rise each year, tied to inflation. In its first round, many metro Atlanta counties, cities, and school districts opted out.
• The 2026 HOME Act. A new state law passed in 2026 extends the floating exemption to the jurisdictions that had opted out, starting in 2027.
• New local exemptions. Fulton County added new exemptions in 2026 for homeowners in the Fulton County Schools and Atlanta Public Schools areas, applied automatically to qualifying homeowners who already have a basic exemption.

Because these details depend on your county, city, and school district, check with your county’s tax office for exactly what applies to your home.

Property taxes are one piece of the full cost of owning. I break down the rest in the real cost of buying a home in Atlanta and closing costs for buyers in Georgia.

Homestead exemption FAQs

Next steps

The homestead exemption is a small step with savings that add up for as long as you own your home. If you are planning a purchase in Metro Atlanta and do not have an agent yet, you can search homes for sale or book a time with me to talk through the full cost of owning before you start touring.

This post is general information, not tax or legal advice. Exemption amounts and rules vary by county, city, and school district. Confirm details with your county tax office.