Tax Commissioner encourages online payment to avoid delays
DECATUR, Ga. – DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson is reminding property owners of the upcoming Sept. 30 property tax deadline. Taxpayers paying the first installment, or the full annual amount in one payment, must be paid by Sept. 30. Payments can be made online at DeKalbTax.org; additional payment methods include secure drop box, mail or by phone. The second installment deadline is Nov. 15.
DeKalb County tax bills were sent mid-August by mail and by email to owners who signed up for paperless billing. Owners who did not receive their bill should check their spam folder or access their property record online to download their bill.
“Property owners who have not received their bill may contact the tax office to avoid delays,” said Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson. “Failure to receive a bill does not relieve the owner of the responsibility to pay taxes due. It is the property owner's responsibility to inform our office of any mailing address changes.”
Bills for City of Atlanta properties in DeKalb will be mailed beginning Sept. 15; payment is due Nov. 15.
“We encourage taxpayers to plan ahead and make payments either by phone, secure drop box at one of our three office locations, or online before the September 30 deadline,” said Johnson. “Customers paying in person can expect longer lines and wait times as the deadline approaches.”
To accommodate walk-in customers paying their property tax bills at the Memorial Drive office location, taxpayers will use the UGA Extension Service entrance located at the front of the building beginning Monday, Sept. 19 through Friday, Sept. 30.
What taxpayers should know before visiting the central office location to pay their bill:
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The first installment is due Sept. 30. If you’re paying the full amount in one payment, it must be paid in full by Sept. 30. The second installment is due Nov. 15. Please check your bill for the amount due before the deadline.
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Remember to bring your tax bill stub and a valid Georgia ID or Georgia driver’s license.
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Acceptable payment methods include a credit card, debit card, check or money order; processing fees apply for credit/debit card payments.
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General parking is available at the Extension Services lot and the Property Tax lot; disabled customers may use the Property Tax entrance off Northern Avenue.
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Security screening and temperature checks are required for service.
To avoid long lines, wait times and late fees, please consider the following payment methods:
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Online: dekalbtax.org/property-information. Credit/debit card payments are accepted; processing fees apply. There is no fee for paying by e-Check.
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Drop box: Secure gold drop box at the Memorial Drive or Clairmont Road tax office locations, or secure mail slot at South DeKalb Mall tax office location. Payment must be placed in the box by the due date (cash not accepted).
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Pay-by-phone: Call 770-336-7500, Monday - Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM. Payment does not apply to prior year, delinquent payments. Credit/debit card payments are accepted; processing fee applies.
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Mail: Mailed payment must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service by the due date to avoid late fees; metered or kiosk postage dates are not accepted as proof of timely payment.
Tax bills reflect millage rates set by the DeKalb Board of Commissioners and the fair market values determined by the county’s Property Appraisal Department. Taxpayers should be aware that in any tax year, tax bills could be higher due to an increase in the fair market value of a property but can be offset by tax savings (E-Host and exemptions). The deadline to appeal property assessment values was in July; the deadline to apply for homestead exemptions was April 1, 2022.
“Although we are performing our legal duties, I want taxpayers to know that my office will do what it can to assist them in addressing their tax bill concerns,” said DeKalb Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson. “I encourage property owners to take time to carefully review their tax bill and contact my office about senior and special exemptions or contact the Tax Assessors Office with questions about their property values.”
For questions about property appraised values, please call the county’s Property Appraisal Department at 404-371-0841. For questions regarding tax payment and exemptions, contact the Tax Commissioner’s Office at 404-298-4000 or proptax@dekalbcountyga.gov.
Follow the Tax Commissioner’s Office on Twitter and Facebook at @dekalbtaxga or visit the website DeKalbTax.org for updates.