This legislation is a substantial revision of the new state and local title ad valorem tax (TAVT) system. Among other things, the bill changes how fair market value is determined; exempts commercial trucks (IRP vehicles) used for moving products interstate from the new system and continues them under the apportioned ad valorem tax; changes registration procedures; changes numerous items regarding dealers who directly finance sales; changes numerous items regarding leases; and provides for new criminal penalties. 

 

Please have your finance officials and tax commissioner review the proposed changes and provide feedback to Clint Mueller at ACCG. Click here for a summary of the proposed changes.

This legislation allows title to a vehicle to be transferred without a fee if it is transferred due to the death of the owner.

This legislation increases the tag fee that may be retained by the county tag agent from $.50 to $5.00.

This legislation allows the tax commissioner some discretion when valuing a used vehicle that sells for less than the value in the Department of Revenue Assessment Manual. Upon the request of the vehicle owner and supporting documentation, the tax commissioner could consider mileage, condition, the bill of sale and values from a reputable pricing guide to determine a value that more closely reflects the current condition of the vehicle. This discretion may help address the taxpayers concerns with the DOR value and prevent the owner from making an appeal to the Board of Assessors.

 

This legislation changes the way interstate commercial trucks that register under the International Registration Program (IRP) are taxed by the local governments.  Currently they are required to pay a proration of the ad valorem taxes due based upon the percent of total miles driven in Georgia.  Under the new system they will pay a local alternative ad valorem tax based upon a proration of miles driven in Georgia to the Department of Revenue (DOR).  The DOR will then distribute the local revenues back to the counties, schools and cities based upon their pro rata share of total ad valorem taxes collected statewide.  The industry estimates that the new system will increase local revenues from $9 million to just under $17 million per year.  IRP truck owners will also be authorized to pay the local ad valorem taxes due on their trailers to DOR or the county.  Any local trailer taxes collected by DOR will be distributed back to the local governments where the trailers are domiciled.

This legislation prohibits law enforcement agencies from requiring a minimum time that an individual must be missing before issuing a missing person's report. It also adds medically endangered individuals (i.e., individuals with known medical conditions that may reasonably cause the individual to become incapacitated or that my result in life-threatening physiological conditions likely to lead to serious bodily injury or death if not immediately treated) to the list of individuals whose absence can trigger the use of the statewide "Mattie's Call" alert system.