Definition
Taxes become delinquent the first day following the due date.
Late Payment - Interest
Taxes owed state or local taxing jurisdiction shall bear interest at an annual rate equal to the bank prime loan rate posted by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, plus 3 percent, . Any period of less than one month is considered to be one month.
(Jan. 1, 2019, rate .7083% monthly)
Minimum interest paid on unpaid taxes is $1. (O.C.G.A 48-5-148)
Late Payment - Penalties
Penalties imposed by law are part of the tax and are to be collected as such. (O.C.G.A. 48-2-42)
120 Days Late = 5% on tax due (O.C.G.A. 48-2-44)
240 Day Late = 5% on tax due
360 Days Late = 5% on tax due
480 Days Late = 5% on tax due
The penalty shall not apply to the following:
- taxes of $500 or less on homestead property
- Homestead property acquired during the tax year by a new owner who did not receive a bill and who before acquiring such property resided outside the State of Georgia and if taxes are paid within one year following the due date