The Board of Assessors determines eligibility and processes applications for property qualified for specialized assessments such as Brownfield Property, Rehabilitated Historic Property, Landmark Historic Property, Preferential Assessment for Agricultural Property, Conservation Use, Forest Land Protection Act, and tax-exempt status must be approved by the Board of Assessors.
The Board of Assessors’ appraisal staff determines property values based on the 3 approaches to value (Market, Cost, and Income) and issues a Notice of Current Assessment to all property owners each year. Visit the Newton County Tax Assessor website for more information.
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 Court;
- Arbitration method with further appeal rights which requires the appealing party to submit a recent certified appraisal of the property within 45 days of filing the appeal
- Hearing Officer method for non-homestead real property with fair market value in excess of $500,000 as shown on the taxpayer’s annual notice of current assessment under Code Section 48-5-306.
Note that billing and due dates may change year-to-year as required by the Newton County Tax Commissioner, but the due date is November 15th of each billing year.
Property owners may apply for exemptions with the Newton County Tax Assessors Office year-round. However, application must be made by April 1 to receive the exemption for that tax year.
Residents can pay property taxes by mail, in person, or online. – Mail payments to the Newton County Tax Commissioner’s Office at 1113 Usher St Suite 101 Covington, Georgia 30014 – Pay in person during regular business hours at the Administration Building or Satellite Tag Office- Pay online by check, credit card or debit card. Visit the Search and Pay page.
Taxes are delinquent if not paid by the due date, and penalties and interest are added based on the unpaid amount. Delinquent properties are also subject to tax liens, which are issued in the name of the owner as of January 1.
The Tax Commissioner is responsible for billing the property owner on record as of January 1 for each tax year. If the property has changed ownership after January 1 and before the tax billing, a tax bill will also be sent to the new owner. For more information, visit our New Resident’s page.
If your payment is late, the following interest and penalty is added to the balance owed:
– 0.52% interest is added each month a balance remains.
– A 5% penalty is added on the remaining balance after 120 days, then an additional 5% on the remaining balance after every 120 days, not to exceed 20%.
