The deadline for filing a variety of property tax exemptions is just around the corner.
At a Feb. 15 board of assessors meeting, Chief Appraiser Theresa Gooch confirmed the deadline is April 1 for filing multiple types of homestead exemptions and property returns for the current tax year.
Those homestead exemptions include the standard exemption, an income-based school tax exemption for ages 62-64, an income-based county tax exemption for ages 65 and up, a complete school tax exemption for ages 65 and up, an exemption for 100-percent disabled veterans and unremarried surviving spouses of veterans and an exemption for unremarried surviving spouses of deceased firefighters or peace officers.
April 1 is also the deadline for filing real and personal property returns for the current tax year.
Real property returns are typically filed when changes to property have been made, including adding or removing buildings, acreage changes and adding or removing improvements. A return can also be filed if one doesn’t agree with the previous year’s assessed property value and would like the assessors office to further review the value.
Personal property returns are typically filed by business owners to report a business’ personal property assets, including furniture, fixtures, equipment, machinery, inventory and supplies used for day-to-day operation.
Personal property returns and homestead exemptions are among the forms that can be filed online at GilmerAssessors.com.
In other news...
﹣ A settlement for appealed values for 2021 and 2022 has been reached with the local Walmart store, Gooch told present board members Bill Logan, John Williamson and Gary Engel.
“They wanted to be around $9 million, and we were at $11.3 (million), so we settled within the appropriate threshold,” said Gooch.
Board chairman Logan commended Gooch and county attorney David Clark for their performance in the settlement conference.
“I was at the mediation. I think we were here about four or five hours. Theresa and David did a great job. It was a definite back and forth, and I was amazed at the background knowledge they went through with the mediator,” said Logan.
﹣ Board members voted to deny a tax exemption request for a family cemetery.
Gooch said the Stanley Family Cemetery is being used for that purpose, but it’s not in the name of the cemetery and hasn’t been zoned as a cemetery.
Gooch said the property owners were notified about what would have to be done to qualify for tax exemption and were already aware that the request would be denied.