2018 Property Assessment Notices To Be Mailed May 22

ATLANTA, GA — Property owners around Fulton County should expect to get their 2018 property assessment notices by the end of the month, as these letters will be mailed on Tuesday, May 22, the county said.

Property in Fulton County is becoming more valuable, so most property owners will see an increase in value, the county added.

"Your property is important to you and we want you to understand the assessment process and your rights and responsibilities," the county said Thursday.

Fulton County has also rolled out a video (which can be viewed below) designed to help property owners understand the assessment process and why your values are expected to rise.

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An overhaul of the Fulton County Tax Assessors website has also been rolled out to the public. The new site includes more self-service tools for property owners, and allows you to make corrections to your property's characteristics, update your mailing address and submit appeals.

Of course, your 2018 assessment is not a bill, and you will have the opportunity to file an appeal if you believe the notice does not represent the fair market value of the property. Property owners have 45 days after the assessment notice date to appeal the value, and that can be done in person, online or by mail. According to the county, it may take some time to resolve an appeal once a challenge has been filed. If an appeal is pending at the time tax bills are mailed, a property owner can choose to pay 85 or 100 percent of that bill.

If the current state of Fulton County property assessments has you up in arms, relief could be around the corner. Gov. Nathan Deal last week signed six bills that would essentially freeze reassessments beginning in 2019.

These new homestead exemptions would be added to the Fulton County School Board portion of your property tax bill and the portions for the cities of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park and Roswell. The city of Sandy Springs already has protections in place for its segment of residents' property tax bills.

The exemptions would freeze homeowners' assessments for purposes of taxation at the 2016 level and allows for increases up to three percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. Homestead exemptions would remain in place as long as homeowners own their homes. The more current assessment would take effect and become the new level after a home is sold.

Fulton County voters outside the city of Atlanta will have to vote on the new exemptions for the school system in a referendum planned for November. Residents in the aforementioned cities will consider referendums for their jurisdictions at the same time.

If approved by voters, the exemptions would go into effect for the 2019 tax bills. You should note that because the tax digest is set at April 1 for the current tax year by state law, the homestead exemptions cannot not take effect for the 2018 tax year.

For more information about the 2018 property assessment process, visit the Tax Assessors website or call 404-612-6440.

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