Homestead exemptions reduce taxes on your primary residence. They
may also reduce the impact of future value increases on the county
portion of your tax bill. Apply online at GwinnettTaxCommissioner.
com/Apply, by mail or in-person year-round. Apply by April 1 to reduce
taxes in the current year. To be eligible, owners must occupy the home
as their legal, primary residence on Jan. 1. Once granted, exemptions
continue automatically unless there is a change in ownership or
Apply for Homestead Exemptions by April 1 to Reduce Taxes
S1R - REGULAR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
• For all property owners who occupy the property as of Jan. I of the
application year. No income or age limit.
• Includes $10,000 off the assessed value on county, $4,000 off
school, and $7,000 off recreation.
S3 - REGULAR SCHOOL EXEMPTION
• Must be 62 years old as of Jan. I of the application year.
• Has income requirement. You must provide copies of federal and
state income tax returns for the year prior to the application year
for occupant and spouse.
• Includes $10,000 off the assessed value on county, school, and
school bond, and $7,000 off recreation.
S5 - DISABLED VETERAN EXEMPTION
• Requires a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
stating you are I00% service-connected disabled.
• Includes an annually-adjusted amount set by the U.S. Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, off the assessed value on county, county bond,
school, school bond, and recreation.
• Extends to the unmarried widow/widower or minor children of
the disabled veteran provided they continue to claim homestead
within the same county. No age or income limit.
SG - SPOUSE OF PEACE OFFICER OR FIREFIGHTER KILLED IN
THE LINE OF DUTY
• Applies to the unremarried widow/widower of a police ofcer or
reghter killed in the line of duty.
• Must provide a copy of decedent’s obituary or death
certicate and sign a form stating that you are lawfully entitled
to this exemption.
• Provides 100% exemption from ALL taxes.
• Does not exempt applicant from fees (stormwater, street lights,
or speed tables).
SS - SURVIVING SPOUSE EXEMPTION
• Requires a letter from the Secretary of Defense stating
unremarried surviving spouse receives spousal benets as a result
of the death of spouse who was killed or died as a
result of a war or armed conflict while on active duty. No age
or income limit.
• Includes an annually-adjusted amount off the assessed value
on county, county bond, school, school bond, and recreation.
L1 - DISABILITY EXEMPTION
• Requires letter signed by your doctor stating that you are 100%
totally and permanently disabled as of Jan. I of the application
year. No age or income limit.
• Includes $10,000 off the assessed value on county, $4,000 off
county bond, school and school bond, and $7,000 off recreation.
L3A - $20,000 SENIOR EXEMPTION
• Must be 65 years old as of Jan. I of the application year.
• Has income requirement. You must provide copies of federal and
state income tax returns for the year prior to the application year.
• Includes $20,000 off the assessed value on county, school,
and recreation.
L5A - SENIOR SCHOOL EXEMPTION
• Must be 65 years old or 100% disabled as of Jan. I of the
application year. If disabled, a signed letter from your doctor
stating that you are 100% totally and permanently disabled is
required. If disabled, you cannot be gainfully employed.
• Applies to the house and one acre of property.
• Must own and occupy residence within the Gwinnett County
Public School district as of Jan. I of the current tax year.
• Has income requirement. You must provide copies of federal and
state income tax returns for the year prior to the year for which
application is being made.
• Includes total exemption from all school and school bond tax,
$10,000 off the assessed value on county, and $7,000
off recreation.
S4 - SENIOR SCHOOL EXEMPTION*
• Must be 65 years old as of Jan. I of the application year.
• Has income requirement. You must provide copies of federal and
state income tax returns for the year prior to the application year.
• Includes $10,000 off the assessed value on county, school and
school bond, $7,000 off recreation, and $4,000 off county bond.
S6 - FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION - BASED ON
INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT*
• Must be 62 years old as of Jan. I of the application year.
• Total household income cannot exceed $30,000 (no exclusions).
• Applies to the house and up to ve acres of property.
• Exemption will not freeze assessment on school tax.
• Requires forfeiture of your regular exemption. Your parcel must
have a substantial increase in the assessment value to receive a
benet similar to the regular homestead exemption.
SE - SENIOR SURVIVING MILITARY SPOUSE EXEMPTION*
• Applies to the unremarried surviving spouse, age 65 on Jan. I of
the current year, of a U.S. service member killed in action.
• Requires a letter from the Secretary of Defense stating
unremarried surviving spouse receives spousal benets because
the spouse died in a war or armed conflict while on active duty.
• Includes an annually-adjusted amount off the assessed value on
county, county bond, school, school bond, and recreation.
Types of Exemptions Available in Gwinnett County
eligibility. Exemptions should not be affected by renancing a mortgage
unless the name is changed on the deed.
Applications must be postmarked or received by April 1 to receive
the exemption that year. If mailed, certied mail is recommended.
A metered stamp is not accepted as proof of date mailed. The same
application is used for all exemptions.
*Local Gwinnett County exemption provides more tax savings than this
statewide exemption.
Preferential Assessments and
Tax Exempt Status
The board of assessors (BOA) determines eligibility and processes
applications for property qualied for specialized assessments such
as Conservation Use and Preferential Assessment (agricultural,
historic, conservation, Browneld, etc.) and tax exempt property
(churches, non-prot hospitals, etc.). The BOA must approve
exempt status before tax liability is removed.
The Gwinnett Value Offset Exemption (VOE) is a local homestead
exemption. When a homestead exemption is granted, county VOE is
automatically applied. The VOE protects homeowners from county
property tax increases that are the result of increases in a property’s
value. The VOE is applied to the home and up to ve acres of land.
The VOE establishes the property value as of Jan. 1 of the year prior
to the application year as the base value for county tax purposes
(not school or city). Even though the appraised value will change
due to market value updates, the county portion of taxes will
continue to be calculated using the base-year value, unless the
value drops below the base-year value.
If the assessed value drops below the base-year value, there will be
no VOE savings until the value rises above that point. Until then, the
current assessed value will be used to calculate taxes.
City Taxes
The tax commissioner’s ofce collects taxes for mobile homes,
heavy-duty equipment, and timber in all cities within Gwinnett
County. In addition, cities may contract with Gwinnett County for the
tax commissioner’s ofce to collect real and personal property taxes
or they may bill taxes independently. Property owners who apply for
a county homestead exemption and reside in a city billed by the
tax commissioner’s ofce will automatically receive applicable city
exemptions to which they may be entitled. For information on city
taxes, contact that city’s tax department. City contact information
and a current list of cities that are billed by the tax commissioner’s
ofce can be found at GwinnettTaxCommissioner.com.
Gwinnett Value Offset Exemption
Payment Options
• Pay online at GwinnettTaxCommissioner.com by check,
credit or debit card. Paying by check is free. Convenience
fees apply for credit/debit card transactions online.
• Pay by check using drop boxes accessible 24 hours a day at
all ve Gwinnett County tag ofces.
• Mail payments to the Tax Commissioner at P.O. Box 372,
Lawrenceville, GA 30046.
• Pay in person during regular business hours at all tax
commissioner ofces.
Please note: Driver’s licenses are handled by the Department of
Drivers Services. They can be reached at 678-413-8400 or by
visiting dds.georgia.gov.
Buying/Selling Property
The Jan. 1 property owner is legally responsible for the full year’s
taxes. If a property changes ownership after Jan. 1, both the Jan.
1 owner and new owner receive a tax bill. The tax commissioner
is not responsible for determining each owner’s payment
obligation. The buyer and seller decide how to divide taxes
between themselves to ensure they are paid by the due date. This
is typically predetermined at the property closing.
When taxes go unpaid, the Jan. 1 owner is named on the tax lien;
unless, within 90 days of the tax due date, the seller provides
acceptable proof that the tax liability was transferred to the buyer.
Closing document language such as, “Seller assigns liability for
the payment of property taxes to the purchaser and purchaser
accepts such assignment,” as well as a recorded deed in the
purchaser’s name are acceptable proof. Once complete, liens for
delinquent taxes will be led in the name of the owner as of the
tax due date. Learn more at GwinnettTaxCommissioner.com/Sold.
Delinquent Taxes
Taxes are delinquent if not paid by the due date, and penalties and
interest are added based on the unpaid amount. For details, visit
GwinnettTaxCommissioner.com/PenaltyAndInterest.
Delinquent properties are also subject to tax liens, which are
issued in the name of the owner as of Jan. 1. For real property, the
Jan. 1 owner has 90 days after the date of delinquency to provide
proof of the transfer of ownership and tax liability to have the lien
issued against the new owner. Once a tax lien has been issued, the
property is subject to seizure and sale at a tax auction.
Board of Assessors: Values and Appeals
www.Gwinnett-Assessor.com
Real Property: 770-822-7200
taxpayer.services@gwinnettcounty.com
Personal Property: 770-822-7220
personal.property@gwinnettcounty.com
Board of Commissioners: 770-822-7000
Millage Rates and Fees
www.GwinnettCounty.com
Clerk of Court: 770-822-8100
Deeds and Liens
www.GwinnettCourts.com
Other Contacts
Driver’s Licenses