DeKalb County Tax Commissioner reminds property owners of first installment deadline, encourages online payment before Sept. 30

DECATUR, GA – DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson is reminding property owners of the upcoming Sept. 30 installment deadline. Payments can be made online at DeKalbTax.org; additional payment methods include drop box, mail or by phone. Tax bills were sent mid-August by mail and by email to property owners who signed up for paperless billing. City of Atlanta/DeKalb were mailed beginning Sept. 15 and are due Nov. 15.

To accommodate walk-in customers paying their property tax bills at the Tax Commissioner’s Office located on Memorial Drive, taxpayers will use the Extension Services entrance located at the front of the building beginning Monday, Sept. 20 through Thursday, Sept. 30.

“We encourage taxpayers to plan ahead and make payments well in advance before the September 30 deadline,” said Johnson. “Customers paying in person can expect long lines and wait times, or chose to pay online, by phone, mail or drop box to avoid delays.”

What taxpayers should know before visiting the central office location to pay their bill:

• The first installment is due Sept. 30. If you’re paying the full amount in one payment, it must be paid in full by Sept. 30. The second installment is due Nov. 15. Please check your bill for the amount due before the deadline.
• Remember to bring your tax bill stub and a valid Georgia ID or Georgia driver’s license.
• Acceptable payment methods include a credit card, debit card, check or money order; processing fees apply for credit/debit card payments.
• General parking is available at the Extensions Services lot and the Property Tax lot; disabled customers use the Property Tax entrance off Northern Avenue.
• Security screening, masks and temperature checks are required for service. Please review theCOVID-19 safety requirements before visiting any office location.

To avoid long lines, wait times and late fees, please consider the following payment methods:

• Online:dekalbtax.org/property-information. Credit/debit card payments are accepted; processing fees apply. There is no fee for paying by e-Check.
• Drop box:Convenient 24-hour drive-up drop box available at all three office locations. Payment must be placed in the box by the due date (cash not accepted).
• Pay-by-phone:Call 770-336-7500, Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM. Payment does not apply to prior year, delinquent payments. Credit/debit card payments are accepted; processing fee applies.
• Mail:Mailed payment must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service by the due date to avoid late fees; metered or kiosk postage dates are not accepted.

Tax bills reflect millage rates set by the DeKalb Board of Commissioners and the fair market values determined by the county’s Property Appraisal Department. Taxpayers should be aware that in any tax year, tax bills could be higher due to an increase in the fair market value of a property but can be offset by tax savings (E-Host and exemptions). The deadline to appeal property assessment values was in July; the deadline to apply for homestead exemptions was April 1, 2021.

“Although we are performing our legal duties, I want taxpayers to know that my office will do what it can to assist them in addressing their tax bill concerns,” said Johnson. “I encourage property owners to take time to carefully review their tax bill and contact my office about senior and special exemptions or contact the Tax Assessors Office with questions about their property values.”

For questions about property appraised values, call the county’s Property Appraisal Department at 404-371-0841. For questions regarding tax payment and exemptions, contact the Tax Commissioner’s Office at 404-298-4000 or proptax@dekalbcountyga.gov.