Tax Assessor
Notice to Stephens County Property Owners and Occupants. In accordance with O.C.G.A. 48-5-264.1, please be advised that the Stephens County Appraisal Staff may be visiting your property to review your parcel information concerning an appeal filed, return filed, construction of new improvement or addition, review of parcel, and/or conservation use application. The field appraiser from our office will have photo identification and will be driving a marked county vehicle. If you have any further questions, please call our office at (706) 886-7435.
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The Board of Tax Assessors (BTA) was created by the Georgia General Assembly and is appointed by the Board of County Commissioners for staggered four year terms, have specific responsibilities, and employ the Chief Appraiser who is responsible for the operation and functioning of the county property appraisal staff as per the Official Code of Georgia (OCGA) 48-5-290, 264, and 299.
The Chief Appraiser and staff determine all property values in the county for tax purposes, maintains county tax records and maps, compiles building costs, prepares annual assessments, adheres to policies set forth by the Georgia Department of Revenue, assists the Board of Tax Assessors and the Board of Equalization.
The Assessors are appointed by the Board of Commissioners. The Department of Revenue is the administrative entity with immediate direct supervisory powers over the Board of Assessors.
The Board of Assessors is more of a friend to the individual tax payer than most people realize. While valuation is extremely important to each member of the Board of Assessors, equalization between taxpayers is of primary importance. Taxpayers perceive that the Board of Assessors is raising values and thereby costing them more tax dollars, when acutally the Board of Assessors primary task is to make sure that everyone is valued uniformly so that each taxpayer, as nearly as possible, pays his or her fair share. The Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education set the millage rate.
April 1 is the last day to:
- make application for Homestead Exemptions for current tax year; Applications made after April 1, will be applied to the next tax year
- file a property tax return
- apply for Freeport Exemption for industries
- file Personal Property Reporting Form without penalty
Appeals of the notices must be received within 45 days of the date of assessment notice.
2017 Tax Digest and Five Year History 2016 Tax Digest 2015 Tax Digest and 5 Year History