General Information

Real Property vs. Personal Property

Real Property is land and improvements on the land. Personal Property includes movable items not permanently affixed to or part of the real estate, such as motor vehicles, mobile homes, airplanes and boats.

Appraisal Process

We use 3 approaches in appraising your property:

• The sales comparison: Based on sales prices of comparable properties. "Sales price" is a historical fact from a particular transaction which may or may not reflect the conditions of a normal market. "Market value" is a theoretical notion of what a knowledgeable buyer would pay a willing seller in a normal market.
• The cost approach: based on the estimated costs of replacement or reproduction of structures, less accumulated depreciation, plus land value.
• The income capitalization process: based on how investors put prices on investment properties.

Filing a Return

While filing a Taxpayer Return of Real Property is not always necessary it can be helpful to the appraisal process. In prior years returns were required to be made if you made improvements so to avoid penalties. However, that is changed and not required any longer. However, if you would like to inform us of any improvements or removal of improvements this is a good way to do that. More importantly this process is a good avenue for letting us know you would like for us to re-look at your property appraisal. This gives you a head start on the reappraisal process and potentially resolves any issues you might have on the front end of the appraisal process.

Georgia law requires that you make a property tax return on real estate if:

• You made improvements to property you own
• You wish to claim homestead exemption
• You wish to apply for special exemptions such as senior citizens, school tax or disabled veterans
• You wish to apply for special covenants such as conservation use (farm use), transitional use or historical property (applications not received year round for conservation use exemptions)

If you feel your appraised value is incorrect, you may file a Property Tax Return to declare what you believe to be the fair market value of your property. Our staff will review all Returns, and if we accept your Return Value, that value will be used for property tax billing that year. If we do not accept your Return Value, we will mail an assessment change notice to you, which will give you 45 days to file an appeal form (PDF).

Review & Inspections

Reviews and inspections may be conducted pursuant to state law O.C.G.A. 48-5-264.1. A member of the Hall County Appraisal Staff may visit your property to review the property information. The visit may be in response to one or more of the following; a return filed, an appeal filed, new construction of improvement or addition, change in zoning, review of parcel information, conservation use application or exempt property application.

The field appraiser will have proper identification and will be driving a marked county vehicle. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 770-531-6720.