Frequently Asked Questions

Business Personal Property assets are any furniture, fixtures, equipment, machinery and inventory used in the normal course of your business. Leased and rented equipment must also be reported, however, these assets are reported separately from the owned assets.

Yes. All businesses located in Gilmer County should report Business Personal Property regardless of value.

Business Personal Property assets must be reported on form PT-50P. The return is available on the downloadable forms page or click here.

Assets owned as of January 1st of each year must be reported on or before April 1st of each year. If you do not receive a return, it is your responsibility to file a return if you are a new business owner or if you have any changes in previously reported assets or inventory.

The Gilmer County Board of Assessors must be notified in writing. You may fax information to 706-635-2721 or mail to Gilmer County Board of Tax Assessors, 1 Broad Street, Suite 104, Ellijay, GA 30540.

No. If the Fair Market Value of ALL business assets and any boats, motors and aircraft located in Gilmer County is $7,500 or less, the assets are exempt from tax.

If your business has inventory and you are a Georgia Manufacturer or a Distributor that ships products out of the State of Georgia, you may qualify for “Freeport Inventory Exemption.”

• A Freeport Inventory Application (PT-50PF) is available on the downloadable forms page or click here.

For new businesses, an estimated value will be placed on the account along with a 10% penalty for unreported assets. For established businesses, the account may be subject to audit and a 10% penalty will be added to any unreported or late reported assets.

No. Your return will not be accepted via fax or email.

Yes.

IMPORTANT NOTICE! A metered return will not be accepted as proof of a timely return. Only the USPS cancellation stamp will be considered when determining if a return has been filed on time.

Aircraft Personal Property means any contrivance used or designed for navigation through the air.

Yes. Aircraft whose “Primary Home Base” meaning an airport where an aircraft is principally hangered or tied down and out of which its flights normally originate should be reported to Gilmer County regardless of value.

Aircraft Personal Property Assets must be reported on form PT-50A. The return is available on the downloadable forms page or click here.

Assets owned as of January 1st of each year must be reported on or before April 1st of each year. If you do not receive a return, it is your responsibility to obtain and file a return by the deadline to report anything new and/or changes.

The aircraft will be valued using the best available information and a 10% penalty will be added to all taxable unreported or late reported assets.

No. If the Fair Market Value of your aircraft and ALL business assets and boats or motors located in Gilmer County is $7,500 or less, the aircraft is exempt from tax.

No. Your return will not be accepted via fax or email.

Yes.

IMPORTANT NOTICE! A metered return will not be accepted as proof of a timely return. Only the USPS cancellation stamp will be considered when determining if a return has been filed on time.

“Boats” means every description of watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water, including jet skis and boat motors.

Yes. Boats shall be returned to the county where located 184 days a year or more.

Marine Personal Property Assets must be reported on form PT-50M. The return is available on the downloadable forms page or click here.

Assets owned as of January 1st of each year must be returned on or before April 1st of each year. If you do not receive a return, it is your responsibility to obtain and file a return by the deadline to report anything new and/or changes.

The marine property will be valued using the best available information and a 10% penalty will be added to all taxable unreported or late reported assets.

No. If the Fair Market Value of your marine assets and ALL business assets and aircraft located in Gilmer County is $7,500 or less, the marine property is exempt from tax.

No. Your return will not be accepted via fax or email.

Yes.

IMPORTANT NOTICE! A metered return will not be accepted as proof of a timely return. Only the USPS cancellation stamp will be considered when determining if a return has been filed on time.

If your business has inventory and you are a Georgia Manufacturer of a Distributor that ships products out of the State of Georgia, you may qualify for “Freeport Inventory Exemption.” Application for Freeport Inventory Exemption must be reported on form PT-50PF. The return is available on the downloadable forms page.

Gilmer County does not have a provision for level ‘1’ Stock in Trade of a Fulfillment Center Freeport Exemption or a level ‘2’ Freeport Exemption.

The Freeport filing date for 100% exemption is January 1 through April 1. The exemption amounts for late filed applications and supporting documentation are as follows:

• April 2-April 30 will receive 66.67% of full exemption
• May 1 – May 31 will receive 58.33% of the full exemption
• June 1 – Will receive 50% of the full exemption
• June 2 or later shall constitute a waiver of the entire exemption for the current tax year. Reference OCGA 48-5-48.1

Yes. An exemption granted in one year does not carry forward to subsequent years. Failure to provide the following documentation at the time of filing, or before the deadline, shall constitute a waiver of Freeport Exemption for the current year:

• Inventory verification for 12/31 (balance sheet, trial balance, general ledger, etc.)
• Distributors also must provide sales documentation for prior calendar year detailing total sales made from Gilmer County location and either, sales made inside Georgia, or sales made outside Georgia.

No. Your application will not be accepted via fax or email.

All appeals need to be filed in the Tax Commissioner’s Office by the registered title holder at the time the tag is obtained. A copy of the appeal will be forwarded to the Board of Tax Assessor’s Office the 1st day of each month.

If you have any questions on how to file the appeal, contact the Tax Commissioner’s Office at 706-635-4762.

Title owners are to be informed by the Tax Commissioner’s Office when the appeal is filed that they will need to appear on the 2nd Thursday of the month between the hours of 9:00am – 4:00pm for an inspection of the vehicle by a member of the Tax Assessor’s Office. The title owner is to inform the Tax Assessor’s Office of their arrival.

After a member of the Tax Assessor’s staff has performed the inspection, a recommendation will be provided to the Board of Assessors at their regularly scheduled meeting. If there is not change in value by the Board of Assessors, the appeal will automatically be forwarded to the Board of Equalization. If a change in value is made, the appraiser will use NADA online to revalue the vehicle.

Upon the approval of a value change by the Board of Assessors, a 30 day notice will be mailed to the taxpayer. Once resolved, the values will be forwarded to the Tax Commissioner for processing of a refund.

If the owner fails to appear on the 2nd Thursday for the inspection, the appeal will be forwarded to the Board of Equalization. However, if the owner cannot bring the vehicle for inspection for any reason, invoices (along with proof of payment), receipts or other documents showing work has been performed and paid for, may be submitted for consideration. If the documents provided appear to be invalid or cannot be verified, the appeal will be forwarded to the Board of Equalization.