Disability Exemption (House Bill1731 - Effective January 1, 2003)

1. Each resident of the Chatham County and City of Savannah School District who is disabled is granted an exemption on that person’s homestead from all Chatham County and City of Savannah School District Ad valorem taxes for the full value of the homestead.
    
2. The term “disability” as used for this exemption means mentally or physically incapacitated to the extent that such person is unable to be gainfully employed and that such incapacity is likely to be permanent.
    
3. “Ad valorem taxes for educational taxes for educational purposes” means all ad valorem taxes for educational purposes levied by, for, or on behalf of the Chatham County and City of Savannah School District, including, but not limited to, taxes to pay interest on and to retire school bond indebtedness.
    
4. A person shall not receive the homestead exemption granted unless the person or the person’s agent files an affidavit with the Board of Assessors giving such additional information relative to receiving such exemption as will enable the Board of Assessors to make a determination as to whether such owner is entitled to such exemption. The Board of Assessors shall provide affidavit forms for this purpose.
    

In Order To Apply For The School Tax Disability Exemption, Applicants Must Bring in either of the following:

1. A letter from one licensed Georgia medical physician licensed to practice medicine under Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the O.C.G.A. certifying that in their opinion, the person requesting the exemption is mentally or physically incapacitated to the extent such person is unable to be gainfully employed and that such incapacity is likely to be permanent.
    
2. For persons who have previously received the Chatham County Special Homestead exemption or the Veterans exemption because of a disability, they will be required to submit their disability status from a qualifying agency, such as the Social Security Administration, Veterans Administration, or other such entity or physician.

SUMMARY

1. All exemptions must be filed with the Assessors Office, Fifth Floor, Chatham County Judicial Courthouse, 133 Montgomery St., Room 503, between 9:00am and 5:00pm Monday through Friday.
    
2. Time for filing for 2013: April 3, 2012 thru April 1, 2013.
    
3. Failure to file within the allocated time for the school tax disability homestead exemption constitutes a waiver of exemption for that year. Georgia law does not provide for extension of time for filing for whatever reason.
    
4. All exemptions, once approved, are automatically renewed each year until eligibility changes.