Fulton County has one of the most scrutinized property tax systems in Georgia. Rising home prices, shifting commercial real estate investments, and recent changes to state statutes have led to higher tax liability. Many property owners don't realize they have the right to appeal unfair property valuations and lower their Fulton County property tax bill.
Fulton County property tax rates have significantly changed over the past three years. In 2022, the county reduced its general fund millage rate from 9.33 mills to 8.87 mills to provide residents relief.
One mill is equal to one dollar in taxes for every $1,000 of assessed property value. A property valued at $326,600 with a median effective property tax rate of 1.05% would have an annual tax bill of $3,182.
A year later, Fulton County adopted a millage rate that resulted in a 12.8% increase in local property taxes. Although the county's millage rate stayed the same in 2024, property tax bills still increased 3.74%. How can that be?
Rising property values are to blame.
Even when millage rates remain stable, Georgia law requires taxing entities to calculate a rollback millage rate used to generate the same revenue as the previous year when a property has not been reassessed. When the adopted millage rate is higher than the rollback rate, property taxes increase.
Regardless of whether millage rates stay the same from one year to the next, when the tax rate is applied to higher property assessments, the result is higher tax bills.
2025 Property Tax Rates in Fulton County
Fulton County is home to some of Georgia's most valuable residential and commercial properties. The county's median property value is $326,600.
The median effective property tax rate in Fulton County is 1.05%. Note, an effective tax rate is the percentage of a property's value that owners pay in taxes each year. Tax rates are set by local government entities and expressed as millages, which is the tax rate applied to the assessed value of your property.
This information matters because the higher your property is valued, the larger your Georgia property tax bills will be. That's why it's crucial to ensure that your property is accurately assessed and recorded.
Available Exemptions
One way to reduce residential property tax bills is to apply for homestead exemptions, which decrease the taxable value of your residential property. For example, an assessed property value of $326,600 with Georgia's state-wide $2,000 general homestead exemption would only be taxed on $324,600 of value.
Exemptions can be stacked for additional savings. The following homestead exemptions are available to qualifying Fulton County residents:
State general homestead exemption: $2,000 exemption from county and certain school taxes.
CPI homestead freeze: Limits the annual increase of property assessments to the lesser of the actual consumer price index or 3% based on the taxable value of a property during the year prior to the homestead application.
Senior citizen exemptions: Fulton County senior citizens over age 65 qualify for a $4,000 exemption when their household income doesn't exceed $10,000 during the previous tax year. Those 62 and older may be eligible to receive an additional exemption from some school taxes when their household income meets the income limit.
Disabled veteran exemptions: Disabled veterans and surviving spouses qualify for a $32,500 exemption or the maximum amount that can be granted to a disabled veteran, which is $121,812 in 2025, whichever is the highest of the two benefits. Any value beyond that remains taxable.
Surviving spouse exemptions: $60,000 exemption for surviving spouses of U.S. military members killed in the line of duty, plus an additional sum determined by an index rate set by the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Surviving spouses of law enforcement officers and firefighters killed on the job are exempt from paying taxes on the full value of their homestead as long as they continue to reside there.
How to Appeal Your Property Tax Bill in Fulton County
The Fulton County Board of Assessors (BOA) mails property tax assessments each June. You can view your property assessment online.
Look over your property tax bill carefully. If you believe there are errors, it's important to appeal to avoid paying too much in property taxes.
Due to the 299c tax provision, in Georgia, following a successful property tax payments appeal that results in a reduction in your market value and thus your assessed value, your property taxes are frozen for three years. However, a failed property assessment appeal in Georgia may result in property tax increases. Enlist the help of tax reduction professionals like those at Ownwell for the best appeal results.
How to Appeal Your Property Tax Bill in Fulton County
The Fulton County Board of Assessors (BOA) mails property tax assessments each June. You can view your property assessment online.
Look over your property tax bill carefully. If you believe there are errors, it's important to appeal to avoid paying too much in property taxes.
Due to the 299c tax provision, in Georgia, following a successful property tax payments appeal that results in a reduction in your market value and thus your assessed value, your property taxes are frozen for three years. However, a failed property assessment appeal in Georgia may result in property tax increases. Enlist the help of tax reduction professionals like those at Ownwell for the best appeal results.
Your Step-by-Step Appeal Process
File a written appeal with the Fulton County Board of Assessors. You have 45 days from receiving a property assessment notice to appeal. If you miss the deadline, you must wait until the following year to protest.
Gather evidence that supports the claim that your property's value is too high. An independent appraisal, photographs, repair estimates, and comparisons of similar properties help during the appeals process.
The BOA will review your evidence and change the property assessment value. If you disagree with their decision, you can request and schedule a formal hearing with the Board of Equalization (BOE).
Attend the informal and formal hearing and present your evidence.
Await the board's decision. If you disagree with the outcome, exercise your appeal rights by taking your protest to Georgia's Superior Court.
Referencing Comparable Properties
Finding other comparable properties in square footage, number of rooms, and finishes can provide the appeals board a reference guide to your property's worth.
Navigating the Appeals Process with Local Authorities
The informal appeals process begins with the Board of Assessors (BOA). If the BOA agrees to lower your property valuation and you accept it, the appeal is over. If the BOA stands by the original assessment, raises it, or doesn't lower it enough, your appeal will be forwarded to the Board of Equalization.
The BOE schedules a formal hearing to listen to your case and then returns a decision to lower the assessment or uphold the Board of Assessors' decision.
The Appellant or the County Board of Tax Assessors is the final level of appeals in Georgia. To escalate your appeal, file a notice of appeal within 30 days from the date on which the BOE decision was mailed.
Managing Property Tax Payments
April 1 is the deadline to apply for homestead exemptions in Fulton County. If you plan to appeal, Georgia residents have until the end of the 45-day appeals window to apply for exemptions.
Property tax due dates are no later than October 15 each year to avoid penalties or interest.
Paying property taxes while an appeal is pending can be complicated. While the appeal is being processed, you may receive a tax bill based on a temporary assessment.
The temporary value is typically the lesser of the previous year's assessed value or 85% of the current year's proposed value. You must still pay the temporary bill on time to avoid accruing interest or penalties.
Fulton County allows you to be billed at 100% of the current year’s assessed value instead of 85% of the assessed value listed on your assessment notice or 100% of the last approved assessed value at the time of your appeal.
Payment Methods
Pay taxes online, via mail, or in person to the Fulton County tax commissioner's office. Fulton County allows property owners to pay by cash, check, money order, credit or debit card, and through online payment apps.
Deadlines and Penalties for Late Payments
Penalties and interest begin to accrue on late property tax payments the day after the due date and continue accumulating on the principal amount each month until the bill is completely paid.
Note, a 5% penalty is charged on the 120th day after each due date and continues to accrue 5% every 120 days until the property taxes are paid in full or the total penalty reaches a maximum of 20% of the bill.
Learn more with our in-depth guide on Georgia property taxes.
Find out How to Lower Your Property Taxes with Ownwell
Don’t let Fulton County’s ever-rising assessments — and the risk of missing critical deadlines — leave you on the hook for thousands in unnecessary taxes.
With Ownwell guiding your protest every step of the way, you can lock in the powerful 299(c) freeze for a full three years and sleep soundly knowing your valuation is protected. But beware: Miss the 45-day window or botch the appeal, and you’ll potentially pay an unfair amount of property taxes.
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