2026 Updated Property Tax FAQs
The Homeowner Tax Relief Grant (HTRG) is the result of homeowner tax relief enacted by the Governor and the General Assembly of the State of Georgia. The credit reduces the amount of property taxes an eligible homeowner is required to pay.
For the 2026 tax year, eligible homesteaded properties receive an $18,000 reduction in assessed value for purposes of calculating the HTRG benefit. The actual dollar amount of the credit shown on your tax bill will vary depending on the applicable millage rates. However, eligible homeowners can expect to receive a credit up to the following amount based on their tax district on their Newton County tax bill:
The credit is automatically applied to eligible properties that have a qualifying homestead exemption. There is no separate application with the Newton County Tax Commissioner’s Office to receive the credit.
If you qualify, your 2026 property tax bill will show a separate line labeled “HTRG Credit.” This amount is deducted from your Current Taxes Due to determine the final TOTAL DUE.
No. Your regular homestead exemption and the HTRG Credit are two separate forms of property tax relief.
Your homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of your property when your property taxes are calculated. Depending on your eligibility, you may also receive other exemptions, such as senior, disabled veteran, or other qualifying exemptions.
The HTRG Credit is additional tax relief provided by the Governor and the General Assembly of the State of Georgia. On the 2026 tax bill, your exemptions are reflected in the tax calculation, while the HTRG Credit is shown separately near the bottom of the bill and reduces the final amount you owe.
A taxpayer may therefore have both a homestead exemption and an HTRG Credit on the same property tax bill.
Newton County’s property tax due date has changed.
Beginning with the 2026 tax year, the annual property tax due date changed from December 20 to November 15. This change was approved by the Newton County Board of Commissioners in 2025, with an effective date beginning with the 2026 tax year.
Therefore, the November 15 deadline is not a one-time change. Going forward, Newton County property taxes will generally be due on November 15 each year.
Taxpayers do not have to wait until the deadline to pay. Payments may be made once tax bills are
issued, and taxpayers are encouraged to make payments toward their account before the deadline if that is more convenient.
The official 2026 property tax due date is November 15, 2026. However, November 15 falls on a Sunday this year.
Because the deadline falls on a Sunday, taxpayers will have through Monday, November 16, 2026, to make their payment without interest being charged.
The official annual due date remains November 15. The November 16 date applies to the 2026 tax year because November 15 falls on a Sunday.
Official Due Date November 15, 2026
Billing Good Through November 16, 202
Possibly, if your property taxes are paid through your mortgage company.
The HTRG Credit lowers your 2026 property tax bill. If your mortgage company collects money each month to pay your property taxes, the lower tax bill could affect the amount they collect from you for escrow.
The Newton County Tax Commissioner’s Office does not determine your mortgage or escrow payment. Your mortgage company decides how much to collect and whether your monthly payment will increase, decrease, or stay the same.
Receiving the HTRG Credit does not automatically mean your mortgage payment will go down.
If your mortgage company pays your property taxes, we encourage you to contact them about how the HTRG Credit may affect your escrow or monthly payment. Be sure they understand that the HTRG Credit is a one-time credit for the 2026 tax year only.
Property Tax FAQs
Property tax is an ad valorem tax, which means according to value. Ad valorem tax, the tax collected by the tax commissioner, is based on the value of the taxable property in the county.
All real estate, personal property, mobile homes, and motor vehicles are taxable unless law has exempted the property. (O.C.G.A. 48-5-3)
Any taxpayer or property owner may elect to file an appeal from an assessment by the following options of appeal.
- Board of Equalization method with further appeal to the Superior
Real property is land and generally anything that is erected, growing or affixed to the land; personal property is everything that can be owned that is not real estate.
Personal property typically consists of inventory and fixtures used in conducting business, boats, aircraft, and farm machinery. Personal household property is not normally taxable.
The Board of Assessors and their staff have the sole responsibility and authority of determining the value of property in Newton County. Each year between January 1 and April 1, every property owner has the ability to declare a proposed value for their property. (O.C.G.A. 48-5-9) These values are declared by ‘filing a return’ with the Board of Assessors.
If the taxpayer is dissatisfied with the value placed on the property, the taxpayer has the right to appeal this value within 45 days of the date of the assessment notice. The appeal may be based on taxability, value, uniformity, and/or the denial of an exemption. The written appeal must initially be filed with the Board of Assessors and must state their chosen method of appeal. For more information regarding appeals, please call the Board of Assessors Office at 770-784-2030.
No, the Tax Commissioner is an independent and elected office separate from both the Board of Assessors and the Board of Commissioners.
- Property tax dollars support the administration of county government and the public school system
- Build and maintain public buildings; bridges and county roads
- Pay expenses of courts; county jail and law enforcement
- Provide fire protection
- Provide for public health
- Parks, recreation, and libraries
This is an abbreviated list of how tax dollars are used to support local government projects. Please see the Georgia Code for a complete list. (O.C.G.A. 48-5-220)
The Fair Market Value is the 100% value as determined by the Board of Assessors. The assessed value is defined as being 40% of the Fair Market Value. Property is taxed on the 40% Assessed Value, less any exemptions.
The millage rate or tax rate is a rate that is used to calculate property taxes based on the assessed value of your property. The tax rate, or millage rate, is set annually by the Newton County Board of Commissioners and the Newton County Board of Education. A tax rate of one mill represents a tax liability of one dollar per $1,000 of assessed value.
Millage rates are set by the Board of Education and the Board of Commissioners.
A combination of the property value and the millage rate.
The amount for tax is calculated using How is my tax statement calculated?
The property owner and the Board of Assessors agree on an appropriate value, which is provided to the Tax Commissioner for tax calculation. To calculate a tax statement, first deduct any exemptions that may apply from the assessed value, which generates a net assessed (taxable) value. Then, multiply the net assessed value by the millage rate. Subtract credits and add fees as applicable.
Property tax statements for real estate and personal property are mailed by September 15 of each year. Property tax statements for non-homesteaded mobile/manufactured homes are mailed by February 1 of each year. If you did not receive a tax statement, please contact our office or check our website by clicking here.
Tax for real estate and personal property is due in Newton County by November 15th of each year.
Tax for non-homesteaded mobile/manufactured homes is due by April 1 of each year.
Non-homesteaded mobile/manufactured homes are considered personal property and are taxable in Georgia. Tax must be paid annually with a due date of April 1. The owner of any mobile/modular home located in Newton County must file a return and obtain a location permit. In order to obtain the location permit, the mobile home tax for the current year must be paid in full.
Tax statements are mailed to the homeowner, never to the mortgage company. It is the property owner’s responsibility to forward the bill to the mortgage company if necessary. Please contact your mortgage company directly if you have any questions, especially if your mortgage company has recently changed.
Several exemptions and special assessment programs are available that may apply. The most common are the homestead exemption for real estate and the freeport exemption for business personal property. Contact the Newton County Tax Assessors’ Office (770-784-2030) for details of the available special assessment programs and Homestead exemptions.
Exemptions from taxation reduce a specified amount of assessed value of your property. Exemption applications such as Homestead, Disabled, Veterans and Seniors are processed by the Tax Assessors’ Office. Exemptions may be applied for at any time of the year, but will only apply for the current year if filed by April 1 or during the property assessment appeal period.
Some properties are subject to street light fees – applied to subdivisions that have opted in to cover energy cost of running street lights.
Copies of your warranty deed, quit claim deed or other type of deed may be obtained from the Clerk of Superior Court Deed Room located in the Newton County Courthouse.
If payment is late, the state-mandated interest and penalty will be added to the original amount remaining. Interest is applied monthly, equal to the prime rate plus 3% per annum. It is currently .0875% per month. After 120 days of delinquency, a 5% state-mandated penalty will be added based on the unpaid amount of the original tax. A five percent 5% penalty accrues on the unpaid original tax amount every 120 days until the penalty amount equals 20% of the original tax amount.
Yes, we honor U.S.P.S. (United States Postal Service) dated postmarks (only) as confirmation of an on-time payment for current year tax owed. Meter-dated postmarks are not honored. In the event of delinquent tax, we strongly encourage our taxpayers to bring the payment in person, especially if legal action (levy and advertisement of tax sale) has already started. To confirm status of property tax, please click HERE.
The Tax Commissioner does accept partial payments, and taxpayers are welcome to make as many payments as needed to pay off the balance; however, penalties and interest continue to accrue on the outstanding balance. Any account with an outstanding balance will be subject to a lien and possible tax sale; therefore, the Tax Commissioner encourages full payment of any outstanding balance as soon as possible.
A lien, also known as a FiFa, is defined as “a claim, encumbrance, or charge on a taxpayer’s property to obtain payment of overdue taxes” (Georgia Department of Revenue). Prior to the issuance of a FiFa, a 30-day notice of intent is mailed to the owner of record. This notice will warn of a possible FiFa and will allow for payment in full to the account within 30 days. FiFas are recorded on the General Execution Docket of the Clerk of the Superior Court and remain in effect for seven years, but can be renewed indefinitely.
When tax remains unpaid for more than 30 days after the due date, the tax is subject to a tax FiFa (lien) being recorded in the Office of the Clerk of Superior Court. Such records are public, and credit bureaus may access them, which may be used to adversely affect your credit. The tax office does not report to credit bureaus and has no control of how they use the information or how often they update their records.
Payment of outstanding tax along with applicable fees, penalties, and interest, will serve to cancel the FiFa.
No. Our office does not sell tax liens.
If a tax sale is scheduled, a current list can be found HERE.
No merchant convenience fee is applied when paying by cash, check, or money order.
For online transactions, payments made by eCheck are available for a flat fee of $1.50.
For credit card payments (both online and in person):
- Visa, MasterCard, and Discover: 2.35% fee with a minimum charge of $1.50
- American Express: 3% fee, with a minimum charge of $1.50
