Tax exemption deadlines fast approaching

GAINESVILLE - Hall County is reminding property owners that the deadlines for most tax exemption applications is just around the corner.

Among them: the full school tax exemption for people 70 and older and Homestead and other related exemptions.

The application period for the latter ends Monday, March 1; for the full school tax exemption, the deadline is May 1.

Spokeswoman Nikki Young says there are many people, such as first-time home buyers, who may not know that they are eligible for an exemption.

Detailed explanations as provided by Hall County:

*Hall County property owners are eligible to receive a full school tax exemption at age 70. Applications must be received by May 1. You must have turned 70 before Jan. 1 to get the exemption for this year.

Taxpayers who applied for a partial school tax exemption at age 62 do not have to reapply for the full exemption when they turn 70. However, a taxpayer's birth date must be in the Hall County Tax Assessors' database by May 1 for the automatic exemption to take effect.

The 2009 tax year was the first opportunity to have received this exemption, so this is still new to many people. The Tax Assessors and Board of Commissioners want to make sure all residents are aware of the deadlines and requirements to take advantage of this exemption.

*The application period ends Monday, March 1, for Homestead and all other exemptions. Applications are accepted year round, however, in order for the exemption to be applied to the current tax year they must be in before the deadline.