DeKalb County property tax bills are in the mail

Property owners can access bills online, make payments, sign up for notifications to avoid mail delays

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– DeKalb County property tax bills can now be accessed online today, Aug. 15. The tax commissioner’s office recently began mailing nearly 260,000 bills to property owners for the 2024 tax year. The first and second installments are due Sept. 30 and Nov. 15. Bills for City of Atlanta properties in DeKalb will be mailed and available online at a later date.

The tax commissioner’s office is responsible for billing, collecting and disbursing county taxes. Each tax bill indicates how tax funds are distributed within the county. Bills display the breakdown of collected taxes for the county, including the county’s general fund, fire and police services, along with cities and school board. Generally, the school board receives a majority percentage followed by the county and cities. This year, the office is set to collect $1.8 billion in revenue.

“This year’s bill is expected to be higher for homeowners, even though some mill rates remained steady but rising home sale prices led to increased property assessments. Additionally, last year’s one-time homeowner tax relief credit granted by the state of Georgia was not extended to this year,” said Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson.

Each year, property tax bills are computed based on millage rates set by the governing authorities, the fair market values determined by the Property Appraisal & Assessment Department and the assessment valuation of 40%. Bills also reflect any credits (deductions) that may result from a base assessment tax freeze, EHOST and homestead exemptions provided by state and local law.

“A sample bill, including what you need to know about your tax bill, frequently asked questions and payment methods, is available online at DeKalbTax.org,” said Johnson.

While all mailed bills reflect the correct net tax due, some bills include incorrect subtotals due to a data transfer issue. Bills that were affected have been corrected and will be available online for download by the end of the month at publicaccess.dekalbtax.org. Taxpayers may also generate their bill online that reflects taxes due.

Payments can be made online, in person, by phone or secure drop box. There is no service fee for paying by e-check; however, processing fees apply for credit/debit card payments. Drop box payments must be received by the due date; cash is not accepted. Mailed payments must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service by the due date; metered or kiosk postage dates are not accepted as proof of timely filing. For more information, visit DeKalbTax.org/property-tax.

Property owners can pay their tax bill in two installments by the Sept. 30 and Nov. 15 due dates. Taxpayers choosing to pay the full amount at once must do so by the Sept. 30 deadline to avoid a late fee.

“Taxpayers are reminded of the ongoing USPS mail delivery issues and are encouraged to view their bill and make payments online instead of by mail,” said Johnson. “Regrettably, the non-receipt of a bill does not relieve the owner of the responsibility to meet payment due dates.”

Property owners can sign up for e-billing notifications by email to avoid delays. To opt in, access your property information at publicaccess.dekalbtax.org and click the “Sign up for E-Alert” button.

Property tax reminders:

• Payment can be made in two installments each year by the due date. At least half of the payment is due Sept. 30, and the second installment is due Nov. 15.
• Online payment:https://publicaccess.dekalbtax.org. Credit/debit card payments are accepted; processing fees apply. There is no service fee for paying by e-check.
• Pay-by-phone:770-336-7500, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Credit/debit card payments are accepted; processing fees apply. There is no service fee for paying by e-check.
• Drop box:24-hour secure drop box available at all three office locations. Payment must be placed in the box by the due date; cash is not accepted.
• In person:Central Office located at 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur, GA 30032; North Office located at 3653 Clairmont Road, Chamblee, GA 30341; South Office located at 2801 Candler Road, Suite 66, Decatur, GA 30034 (South DeKalb Mall).
• All property tax payments made in the office or online may take 24-48 hours to appear on the website. Due to volume, payments received by mail during payment season may take up to a week or longer to post once received. DO NOT cancel payment. Please contact the tax office about any payment concerns to avoid late fees.
• If paying the entire tax bill amount by mail, it must be postmarked by the due date to avoid any late fees. Metered or kiosk postage dates are not accepted as proof of timely payment.
• Tax bills are not mailed to mortgage companies by the Tax Commissioner. Contact your closing attorney, mortgage company, escrow agent or review your closing statement to determine who is responsible for paying the taxes.
• Questions about property appraised values should be directed to the county’sProperty Appraisal Department by calling 404-371-0841.
• Questions about tax payment and exemptions may be directed to theTax Commissioner’s Office by phone at 404-298-4000 or email proptax@dekalbcountyga.gov.