Property tax is an ad valorem tax based upon the value of the property, both real and personal. Real property is defined as land and generally anything that is erected, growing, or affixed to the land. Personal property is boats, airplanes, business inventory, and any equipment, furniture, and fixtures needed to run a business.
Property taxes are charged against the owner of the property of January 1st and against the property itself if the owner is not known. Property tax returns are to be filed between January 1st and April 1st with the county tax assessor's office.
Fair Market Value
The Assessors are charged with establishing the fair market value of the taxable real and personal properties in Rabun County. Fair market value means "the amount a knowledgeable buyer would pay for the property and a willing seller would accept for the property at an arm's length, bona fide sale."
The Board of Assessors does not create property values. Assessors and appraisers merely interpret what is happening in the marketplace. The appraised value is simply the estimate of what the property is worth.
Appraisal Procedures
The Assessors use standard approaches in setting the value on all real and personal property. There are three approaches to value:
- Cost Approach: The cost approach uses the actual replacement cost of the building, less general depreciation, plus the value of the land.
- Market Approach: The market approach involves analyzing sales of similar properties to predict the likely selling price of unsold properties.
- Income Approach: The income approach is used for income-producing properties. It involves capitalizing on the net income to arrive at a probable selling price for the property.
Special Assessment Programs
There are special assessment programs available to taxpayers. These special programs include:
- Preferential Agricultural Property: Bona fide agricultural property can be assessed at 75 percent of the assessment of other property. This means that this type of property is assessed at 30 percent of fair market value rather than 40 percent. Property that qualifies for this special assessment must be maintained in its current use for a period of ten years.
- Conservation Use Property: Bona fide agricultural property can be assessed at its current use value rather than the fair market value. Property that qualifies for this special assessment must be maintained in current use for a period of ten years.
- Environmentally Sensitive Property: Property can be assessed at its current use value rather than the fair market value when such property is maintained in its natural condition and meets the requirements set by the Department of Natural Resources. Property that qualifies for this special assessment must be maintained in current use for a period of ten years.
- Residential Transitional Property: Property can be assessed at its current use value, rather than fair market value, when it is used for residential purposes but located in an area that is changing to, or being developed for, a use other than residential.
- Timber: Standing timber is not taxed until sold or harvested, at which time it is taxed based upon 100 percent of its fair market value. There are three types of sales and harvests that are taxable:
- Lump-sum sales where the timber is sold at a specific price regardless of volume.
- Unit price sales where the timber is sold or harvested based on a specific price per volume.
- Owner harvests where a landowner harvests his own timber and sells it by volume.
Equipment, Machinery, & Fixtures
Equipment, machinery, and fixtures are assessed at 40 percent of fair market value. The tax assessor may value the equipment, machinery, and fixtures of a going business to reflect the fair market value of the business as a whole. When no ready market exists for the sale of equipment, machinery, and fixtures, a fair market value may be determined by resorting to any reasonable, relevant, and useful information available. This information may include but is not limited to the original cost of the property, depreciation or obsolescence, and any increase in value by reason of inflation. Other determining factors include:
- Existing zoning of a property
- Existing use of property
- Existing covenant or restrictions in deed dedicating the property to a particular use
- Any other important factors.
Tax assessors have access to any public records in order to discover such information.
