05/20/2026
Soon you will all be receiving your annual Notices of Assessment from the Tax Assessor’s office. Yet again this year your Assessment Notices are going to look a bit different than what you've seen in the past.
Historically, in addition to the assessed Fair Market Value, the Assessment Notices included an estimate of your property tax amount. This was a rough estimate because the Assessment Notices are required to be sent BEFORE the annual tax rates are set by the County, City, and School. Enough people found this confusing that they changed the law. So, starting this year, you will instead see an Estimated Tax Savings Amount. In the simplest possible terms, it is the amount your bill will be reduced because of your Tax Exemptions like your Homestead, etc. Neither the Assessment Notice nor the Estimated Tax Savings Amount will include any sales tax roll-back amounts. We will calculate that later in the year and include it on your property tax bills.
Check the accuracy of the assessment to ensure your property valuation is correct. You have limited time to appeal the assessment and request any corrections. You do this with the Board of Assessors via the Tax Assessors office. Once the appeal period is over, there is no other opportunity to try to amend the taxable value of your proprty. There is information on how to appeal on your Assessment Notice and on their website https://qpublic.net/ga/putnam/ . You can also visit them on the 1st floor of the courthouse or call them at (706)485-6376.
In July and August, the Board of Commissioners, City Council, and Board of Education will run advertisements in the newspaper and host several public meetings to discuss millage rates. This is when you have an opportunity to hear what is going on and participate in the process of setting the millage rates. Once set by the local authorities and submitted to the State Department of Revenue, the rates are fixed for the entire tax year. Your annual tax bill is the result of applying the tax (millage) rate to the taxable value minus any sales tax reductions.
If you appeal the value on the Assessment Notice, and the appeal is not settled prior to billing on (or before) October 1st, you will receive a bill for 85% of the assessed value. You will have 60 days to pay this bill. Once the appeal is settled, you will receive an additional bill for whatever additional tax amount, if any, you owe above the originally-billed 85%. Again, you will have 60 days to pay this. (Unless you’re really lucky and get a refund instead of a second bill!)
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, we are happy to help. Just give us a call, check out our website ( www.PutnamGaTax.com ), or swing by and pay us a visit.
