Stephens-Day is a homestead exemption that is equal to the difference between the current year fair market value and the adjusted base year value (property’s value in the year prior to the homestead application plus any improvements since the year of the application). This exemption does not apply to improvements added to the property after January 1 of the base year.

Difference in Local Bills
The Chatham-Savannah Board of Education and the City of Savannah bills have a Consumer Price Index percentage that will be added to the base year value, whenever there is an annual increase in the Consumer Price Index. There have been annual Consumer Price Index increases each year for the last 10 plus years. The Consumer Price Index percentage increase is not included in any of the other levying authorities’ bills. If you have any questions, please call 912-652-7271 or 912-447-4856. You can also e-mail your exemption questions to exemptions@chathamcounty.org.

In Order To Apply For The Stephens-Day Homestead Exemption, Applicants Must Bring in the Following:

1. Georgia driver’s license with your current Chatham County property address
    
2. Chatham County Voter’s Registration Card with your current Chatham County address
    
3. Georgia Identification Card
    
4. Prior TAX YEAR’S December utility bill (with correct name and current Chatham County address)
    

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 – April 1, 2013.
    
3. Failure to file within the allocated time for the Stephens-Day 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.

Chatham County (Local Ref. House Bill 1023)

Each resident of Chatham County is granted an exemption on that person’s homestead from all Chatham County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in an amount equal to the amount of the assessed value of that homestead that exceeds the assessed value of that homestead for the taxable year immediately preceding the taxable year in which this exemption is first granted to such resident.

This exemption shall not apply to taxes assessed on improvements to the homestead or additional land that is added to the homestead after January 1 of the base year.

If any real property is removed from the homestead, the assessment in the base year shall be adjusted to reflect such removal and the exemption shall be recalculated accordingly. This exemption shall include only the primary residence and not more than five contiguous acres of land immediately surrounding such residence. This exemption applies to all ad valorem taxes for county purposes levied by, for, or on behalf of Chatham County, including, but not limited to, any ad valorem taxes for special district purposes, but not including taxes to pay interest on and to retire county bonded indebtedness.

This exemption shall not apply to or affect state ad valorem taxes, and county school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes, or municipal ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes. This exemption shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other homestead exemption applicable to county ad valorem taxes for county purposes. This exemption becomes effective January 1, 2001.

Board of Education for Chatham County and the City of Savannah School District (Local Ref. House Bill 1024)

Each resident of the Chatham County and City of Savannah School District is granted an exemption on that person’s homestead from all Chatham County and City of Savannah School District taxes for educational purposes in an amount equal to the amount, if any, by which the assessed value of that homestead that exceeds its adjusted base year assessed value.

This exemption shall not apply to taxes assessed on improvements to the homestead or additional land that is added to the homestead after January 1 of the base year. If any real property is removed from the homestead, the adjusted base year assessed value shall be calculated reflecting such removal. In the event that the assessed value for the current year is less than or equal to the assessed value for the base year, then the adjusted base year assessed value shall equal the current year assessed value.

This exemption shall include only the primary residence and not more than five contiguous acres of land immediately surrounding such residence. This exemption applies to all ad valorem taxes for educational purposes levied by, for, or on behalf of the Chatham County and City of Savannah School District, except for taxes to pay interest on and to retire school bonded indebtedness.

This exemption shall not apply to or affect state ad valorem taxes and county ad valorem taxes for county purposes, or municipal ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes. This exemption shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other homestead exemption applicable to county school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes. This exemption becomes effective January 1, 2001.

City of Savannah (Local Ref. House Bill 965)

1. Each resident of the City of Savannah is granted an exemption on that person’s homestead from all City of Savannah ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes in an amount equal to the amount, if any, by which the assessed value of that homestead that exceeds its adjusted base year assessed value.
   
   This exemption shall not apply to taxes assessed on improvements to the homestead or additional land that is added to the homestead after January 1 of the base year. If any real property is removed from the homestead, the adjusted base year assessed value shall be calculated reflecting such removal.
   
   In the event that the assessed value for the current year is less than or equal to the assessed value for the base year, then the adjusted base year assessed value shall equal the current year assessed value. This exemption shall include only the primary residence and not more than five contiguous acres of land immediately surrounding such residence.
   
   This exemption applies to all ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes levied by, for, or on behalf of the City of Savannah, except for taxes to pay interest on and to retire municipal bonded indebtedness. This exemption shall not apply to or affect state ad valorem taxes and county ad valorem taxes for county purposes, or school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes.
   
   This exemption shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other homestead exemption applicable to municipal ad valorem taxes. This exemption becomes effective January 1, 2001.
    
2. Applicant must own and reside on property as of January 1 of the tax year.
    
3. Once approved, this exemption is automatically renewed each year until eligibility changes.