Special Chatham County Exemption (local option Governed by 1978 GA Law p. 2373)

1. This exemption is applicable to taxes levied for Chatham County purposes only. The aggregate sum of this exemption when added to all other authorized exemptions for this category shall not exceed $30,000.
    
2. Applicant must be 65 years of age and must own and reside on the property prior to January 1 of the current tax year OR must be totally and permanently disabled as certified by either the Veterans Administration, Social Security Administration, Georgia Department of Human Resources, Workman’s Compensation Board, County Health Office, or Civil Service.
    
3. Combined net income of applicant and spouse for preceding tax year cannot exceed $10,000 (Social Security and income from pension and retirement systems are excluded except for that portion which exceeds the maximum amount authorized to be paid to an individual and his spouse, on January 1 of the year for which the exemption is sought, under the Federal Social Security Act. See Double Exemption for example of calculation.)
    
4. Once approved, this exemption is automatically renewed each year until eligibility changes.
    

In Order To Apply For The Special Chatham County Exemption, Applicants Must Bring in the items in bold from above and ONE of the Following:

1. Completed Prior Tax Year’s State And Federal Income Tax Forms
   
   
2. Disability Applicants Must Also Supply A Letter From One Of The Following:
   
   
   1. Veterans Administration
      
      
   2. Social Security
      
      
   3. Department Of Human Resources
      
      
   4. Workmen’s Compensation
      
      
   5. Civil Service
      
      
   6. Medicare Card
      
      The letter must show that the applicant is 100% Totally And Permanently Disabled.
      
      
3. Georgia driver’s license with your current Chatham County property address
    
4. Chatham County Voter’s Registration Card with your current Chatham County address
    
5. Georgia Identification Card
    

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 special Chatham County 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.