Georgia (Summary)
Last Updated: March 2020
Tax Type: Current Use Tax and ad valorem tax on the value of harvested timber
Description: Preferential Agricultural property is assessed at 30% of fair market value (FMV). Conservation use property and FLPA property are assessed at 40% of current use value. Harvested timber is assessed at 100% of its FMV.
Law: O.C.G.A. §§ 48-5-7.1., 48-5-7.4., 48-5-7.5, 48-5-7.7
Principal Forest Property Tax Incentive Programs
1. Preferential assessment for agricultural and forest property (Agricultural Preferential Assessment)
Objective: This favorable tax treatment is designed to protect these property owners from being pressured by the property tax burden to convert their land from agricultural use to residential or commercial use.
Program Requirements
Min/Max Acreage: No minimum acreage requirement, maximum of 2,000 acres
Min. Stocking Growth: N/A
Forest Management Plan: N/A
Duration of Enrollment: 10-year covenant
Penalties for Use Change: Tax savings multiplying a factor.
Program Administration
State: Georgia Department of Revenue
County Tax Assessor: Landowner must file application with County Board of Tax Assessors.
University: N/A
Landowner: N/A
2. Conservation use assessment (CUVA)
Objective: This favorable tax treatment is designed to protect these property owners from being pressured by the property tax burden to convert their land from agricultural use to residential or commercial use.
Program Requirements
Min/Max Acreage: No minimum acreage requirement, maximum of 2,000 acres
Min. Stocking Growth: N/A
Forest Management Plan: N/A
Duration of Enrollment: 10-year covenant
Penalties for Use Change: Two times the amount of tax savings realized while under the program, plus interest which begins on the date of breach
Program Administration
State: Georgia Department of Revenue
County Tax Assessor: Landowner must file application with County Board of Tax Assessors.
University: N/A
Landowner: N/A
3. Forest Land Protection Act (FLPA)
Objective: This favorable tax treatment is designed to protect these property owners from being pressured by the property tax burden to convert their forest land to other uses.
Program Requirements
Min/Max Acreage: minimum 200 acres across the state as long as parcels in any given county are more than 100 acres; no maximum acreage limit
Min. Stocking Growth: N/A
Forest Management Plan: N/A
Duration of Enrollment: N/A
Penalties for Use Change: Two times the amount of tax savings realized while under the program, plus interest which begins on the date of breach
Program Administration
State: Georgia Department of Revenue
County Tax Assessor: Landowner must file application with County Board of Tax Assessors.
University: N/A
Landowner: N/A
For a more in depth discussion of Georgia property taxes click here!