HB 0049 |
Support | Option to Send Tax Notices Electronically |
Harrell, Brett 106th |
---|
|
1/11/2016 |
Senate Recommitted |
W&M |
FIN |
- |
|
|
| This legislation authorizes, but does not require, the tax commissioner to implement electronic service of notices to taxpayers regarding ad valorem tax payments, overdue taxes, and delinquencies. The taxpayer would also have to agree to receive their notices electronically. |
HB 0051 |
Support | Redemption Costs for Property Sold at a Tax Sale |
Benton, Tommy 31st |
---|
|
7/1/2016 |
Effective Date |
Judy |
JUDY |
- |
|
|
| This legislation makes several changes regarding the redemption of property on or after July 1, 2016, which has been sold under a tax execution. In the event that a tax sale purchaser has paid any sums to property owners', condominium, or owners' associations, then any person who subsequently redeems the property must repay such amounts to the tax sale purchaser in addition to the current statutory redemption amounts. This change would help the tax commissioner sell these properties at a tax sale. |
HB 0055 |
Oppose | Exempt Moose Lodges from Ad Valorem Taxes |
Turner, Scot 21st |
---|
|
1/26/2015 |
House Second Readers |
W&M |
- | - |
|
|
| This bill changes the ad valorem tax exemption for property owned by a fraternal benefit organization (FBO). Existing law requires the FBO to have received its charter from the General Assembly prior to January 1, 1880. The bill changes this to any FBO which received its charter from the General Assembly 125 or more years ago. The author of the legislation is making this change to add Moose Lodges to the exemption that is already provided to the Masons. |
HB 0068 |
Neutral | Waive Payment For Outstanding Property Taxes of $5 or Less |
Spencer, Jason 180th |
---|
|
1/27/2015 |
House Second Readers |
W&M |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation provides for the automatic waiver of property taxes when the amount due is $5.00 or less. The legislation prohibits mailing a tax bill or otherwise notifying the taxpayer of the tax liability and prohibits any action to collect the waived amount from the taxpayer. |
HB 0081 |
Support | Closing Super Lien Loophole |
Turner, Scot 21st |
---|
|
4/2/2015 |
House Withdrawn, Recommitted |
W&M |
- | - |
|
|
| The current House Ways and Means substitute to this bill (LC 34 4582ERS) makes several changes to procedures for redemptions of property including: 1) adding record owners of property at the time of sale as well as mortgage or security deed holders to the list of persons who can redeem; 2) judgment creditors or tax lien holders can redeem after 300 days upon payment of the required redemption amounts; 3) following redemption, the title may vest back in the record owner at the time of sale subject to all valid liens that exited at that time; and 4) lien enforecement cannot commence sooner than one year from the date of the tax sale. |
HB 0094 |
Neutral | Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Penalty Waiver |
Williams, Chuck 119th |
---|
|
7/1/2015 |
Effective Date |
W&M |
FIN |
- |
|
|
| This bill excuses Georgia residents who unregister their vehicle from paying any penalties due on unpaid motor vehicle ad valorem taxes while the vehicle was unregistered. The underlying ad valorem tax liability remains in place. This legislation should have very little to no fiscal impact on county governments. |
HB 0143 |
Support | Tax Accountability Act |
Wilkerson, David 38th |
---|
|
2/2/2015 |
House Second Readers |
W&M |
- | - |
|
|
| This bill makes significant changes to the legislative procedural process for adopting bills that propose a tax exemption having a fiscal impact. The term 'tax exemption' is defined as an exemption, exclusion, or deduction from the tax base or a tax credit, deferral, or preferential rate. The bill does not differentiate between state and local taxes so presumably it will apply to local taxes. The term 'fiscal impact' is not defined. Consequently, it would appear that any financial impact is sufficient to trigger the new review process. |
HB 0147 |
Neutral | Two Year Vehicle Registration |
Powell, Alan 32nd |
---|
|
7/1/2015 |
Effective Date |
MotV |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation allows an initial two year registration for certain motor vehicles. The registration fee for new passenger cars for which the purchaser has paid state and local title ad valorem taxes is $40. This change should should provide a slight reduction in administrative burden in the county tax commissioner's office. |
HB 0156 |
Evaluating | Revisions to TAVT |
Rice, Tom 95th |
---|
|
2/2/2015 |
House Second Readers |
W&M |
- | - |
|
|
| This bill makes numerous changes to the TAVT statute. These include: major revisions to determining the fair market value of vehicles; a new valuation methodology for kit cars; authorization for a tag agent to deviate from fair market value methodology based upon mileage and vehicle condition; redefining trade in value as fair market value rather than as stated in the bill of sale; requiring the state revenue commissioner to develop a standard form for use by dealers; providing for civil fines and dealer license revocation for failure to apply for title and remit TAVT proceeds; allowing tag agents to retain one percent of the local proceeds to defray administration cost which proceeds go to the county general fund; increasing the criminal penalty for failure to obtain a title and register a vehicle to a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature; providing for conditional titles for 1962 or earlier model years and allowing opt in under the TAVT system; providing for transfers as a result of divorce decrees or court orders; providing for refund requests and prompt payment of the proceeds thereof by dealers to vehicle purchasers; providing an express expiration period of 45 days for temporary license plates; allowing the state revenue commissioner and the county tag agent to provide for 30 day extension of initial registration periods; allowing the county tag agent to require further information to make determinations regarding certificates of title and liens; providing for electronic submission of title applications; and many other changes. The bill appears to be almost identical to HB 158. |
HB 0158 |
Evaluating | Revisions to TAVT |
Rice, Tom 95th |
---|
|
2/2/2015 |
House Second Readers |
W&M |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation makes numerous changes to the TAVT statute. These include: major revisions to determining the fair market value of vehicles; redefining trade in value as fair market value rather than as stated in the bill of sale; requiring the state revenue commissioner to develop a standard form for use by dealers; providing for civil fines and dealer license revocation for failure to apply for title and remit TAVT proceeds and allowing tag agents to retain one percent of the local proceeds to defray administration cost which proceeds go to the county general fund. |
HB 0199 |
Neutral | Timber Harvesting - Revision of Notice, Bond and Fee Procedures |
Corbett, John 174th |
---|
|
7/1/2015 |
Effective Date |
NR&E |
NR&E |
- |
|
|
| Current law stipulates that timber harvesters provide notice of their operations prior to cutting timber. This legislation requires notice prior to entering the property if possible, but no later than 24 hours after entering the property and cessation notice within 24 hours after the job is completed. Only one $5,000 bond shall be required of a harvester in each county, regardless of the number of tracts being harvested, so long as the bond remains in effect; however, if the bond is called, a harvester with multiple tracts must secure another bond within five business days. Counties remain authorized under O.C.G.A. 32-6-1 to recover all costs from a party damaging a public roadway. Lastly, counties cannot require any kind of fee for receiving a harvest notification. Counties with timber harvesting notification ordinances will have to adjust them accordingly. |
HB 0202 |
Support | Property Tax Appeals and Administration Reform |
Battles, Paul 15th |
---|
|
5/6/2015 |
House Date Signed by Governor |
W&M |
FIN |
- |
|
|
| This legislation is a comprehensive revision of processes and procedures regarding ad valorem taxation, assessment, and appeal. Major highlights include a revamping of appraisal staff procedures to allow for joint staffs and contracting for advice and assistance and a total overhaul of the appeal process and county boards of equalization. This legislation will have an administrative impact on the county tax assessor's office, office of the superior court clerk, tax commissioner's office and boards of equalization. For a summary of HB 202 as passed please click here. |
HB 0215 |
Neutral | HOST/SPLOST for DeKalb County |
Jacobs, Mike 80th |
---|
|
5/4/2015 |
House Date Signed by Governor |
W&M |
FIN |
- |
|
|
| This bill leaves the current HOST statute in place but adds a new type of HOST called the Equalized Homestead Option Sales Tax (EHOST). The name is unclear and somewhat misleading as the property tax relief provided is not targeted to homeowners specifically. First, the bill provides that both HOST and EHOST are excluded from the 2 percent local sales tax cap. Provisions applicable to EHOST include: it cannot be levied if LOST is in effect; approval of EHOST requires the simultaneous approval of a SPLOST; a special procedure is included for DeKalb County, but not Rockdale County, to repeal HOST and replace it with EHOST plus the requisite SPLOST; EHOST proceeds are used to fund and eliminate any fees or assessments levied uniform throughout the county, including in all municipalities; any remaining unexpended proceeds go to fees or charges levied only in the unincorporated area of the county and fees or charges levied in each city and not in the unincorporated area of the county; proceeds of the concurrent SPLOST levy are to be split between the county and cities on a per capita basis unless provided otherwise by intergovernmental agreement; and, if EHOST is repealed, the SPLOST is likewise repealed. |
HB 0221 |
Negotiating | Clarify That Rural 515 Properties are Treated Like Section 42 Properties for Valuation Purposes |
Powell, Jay 171st |
---|
|
1/11/2016 |
Senate Recommitted |
W&M |
FIN |
- |
|
|
| This legislation was amended to clarify that federal loans for multi family housing purposes are to be treated like Section 42 properties for valuation purposes which includes Rural 515 properties. This provision clarifies the intent of HB 954 from last session. Please review this bill with your chief appraiser. |
HB 0291 |
Support | Motor Vehicles- Provide for an Allocation Benchmark for IRP Revenues to Counties |
Powell, Alan 32nd |
---|
|
2/12/2015 |
House Second Readers |
W&M |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation changes the distribution of the alternative ad valorem tax of apportionable vehicles. Qualified tax jurisdictions, defined as those which levied an ad valorem tax, will receive an amount of alternative ad valorem tax equal to a benchmark amount based upon the 2013 tax year. After distribution of the benchmark amount, the remaining proceeds are distributed based upon the existing formula. |
HB 0317 |
Evaluating | Vehicle Ad Valorem Exemption for Disabled Veterans |
Fludd, Virgil 64th |
---|
|
2/17/2015 |
House Second Readers |
W&M |
- | - |
|
|
| This bill provides a new, partial motor vehicle ad valorem tax exemption for disabled veterans who do not qualify for the existing exemption. The percentage of the new exemption matches the same percentage of disability of the disable veteran. |
HB 0335 |
Oppose | Assessed Value of Fire Damaged Property |
Harbin, Ben 122nd |
---|
|
2/17/2015 |
House Second Readers |
W&M |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation requires the tax assessor to deduct the value of fire damaged buildings from the current assessment of real property on a pro rata basis starting with the date of the fire. It further requires the tax assessor to take the damage into account prior to the next determination of value. |
HB 0336 |
Oppose | TAVT on Out of State Vehicle Transfers |
Kirby, Tom 114th |
---|
|
2/17/2015 |
House Second Readers |
W&M |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation allows persons who move to Georgia to choose between paying TAVT or the ordinary annual ad valorem tax on their motor vehicles. |
HB 0337 |
Oppose | TAVT on Leased Vehicles |
Kirby, Tom 114th |
---|
|
2/17/2015 |
House Second Readers |
W&M |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation allows persons who purchase a motor vehicle at the end of a lease to choose between paying TAVT or ordinary annual ad valorem tax on their vehicles. |
HB 0356 |
Negotiating | Place Boats Under TAVT |
Stephens, Ron 164th |
---|
|
2/18/2015 |
House Second Readers |
W&M |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation provides for a new TAVT system of ad valorem taxation of watercraft and provides for titling and registration of watercraft through the Department of Revenue and county tag agents. |
HB 0364 |
Negotiating | Tax Digest Violation Penalty |
Knight, David 130th |
---|
|
7/1/2016 |
Effective Date |
W&M |
FIN |
- |
|
|
| This legislation gives the Department of Revenue the authority to revoke a county's qualified local government status if the Board of Tax Assessors fails to comply with an order to remove a property that the department determines is illegally on the tax digest. Once the qualified local government status has been revoked, the Board of Commissioners is given the authority to remove and reappoint the Board of Assessors to correct the tax digest and reinstate the county's qualified local government status. The tax tribunal is also given jurisdiction over refund petitions filed under the new requirements and can award attorney fees and interest along with any refunds. |
HB 0365 |
Oppose | TAVT Distribution to Certain Authorities |
Knight, David 130th |
---|
|
3/2/2016 |
Senate Read and Referred |
W&M |
FIN |
- |
|
|
| The current House substitute to this bill (LC 28 8028S) requires the tax commissioner to make a proportional distribution of TAVT proceeds to any county authority that had a millage rate levied in 2013 under a local constitutional amendment. The distribution is to be equivalent to ad valorem tax on motor vehicles collected in that county in 2012. |
HB 0373 |
Oppose | Alternative Ad Valorem on Apportionable Vehicles |
Powell, Alan 32nd |
---|
|
2/19/2015 |
House Second Readers |
W&M |
- | - |
|
|
| This bill provides for a benchmark amount of alternative ad valorem tax proceeds on apportionable vehicles to be distributed to qualified jurisdictions. |
HB 0374 |
Oppose | Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for Forest Equipment In Dealer Inventory |
Nix, Randy 69th |
---|
|
7/1/2015 |
Effective Date |
W&M |
FIN |
- |
|
|
| This bill expands the current ad valorem tax exemption for farm equipment held for sale in dealer inventory to now include equipment used for forestry operations. The bill also clarifies that farm equipment purchased through a lease purchase agreement is eligible for the ad valorem tax exemption. This legislation may have a financial impact on counties that have forest equipment dealers. |
HB 0449 |
Neutral | Barrow County; ad valorem tax; eliminate requirement to submit a new application for the exemption in the year following a reevaluation |
England, Terry 116th |
---|
|
5/12/2015 |
House Date Signed by Governor |
IGC |
SLGO |
- |
|
|
| |