For Immediate Release:

Contact: Bill Doughty, APR, 678-512-3274

March 1 is deadline for filing Homestead Exemptions
Only those who've not filed before need apply for County, City exemptions

JOHNS CREEK, Georgia—January 24, 2008—City homeowners have until March 1 to file their applications for Homestead Exemption with Fulton County, but only those who have not applied previously or who qualify for new exemptions need to fill out the paperwork.

To qualify for any Homestead Exemption, homeowners must have owned and occupied their home as their primary residence as of January 1 of the application year. Where an application is required, it must be filed with the Fulton County Tax Assessor's Office; the City and Assessor's Office have created a combined application process so there is no need to file separately with the City. Here are the exemption categories:

Basic Homestead Exemption

• $15,000 off assessed value of the residence.
• No age or income requirements.
• Automatically extended to all City homeowners who have previously qualified for the County's Standard Exemption.
• For homeowners not previously qualified, application with the Fulton County Tax Assessors Office for the County's Basic Exemption also serves as application for the City's Basic Exemption.

Senior Basic Exemption

• $15,000 off the assessed value of residence.
• Age requirement – 65 years or older as of January 1 of the year in which application filed.
• No income requirement.
• Automatically extended to homeowners who have previously qualified for the County's Senior $10,000 Exemption.
• Application with the Fulton County Tax Assessors Office in person by March 1 for all other seniors.
• Proof of age must be presented.

Seniors who are not eligible for the County's Senior Exemptions, or who have not even applied for them because their income is too high, should take special note of this Exemption and the filing requirements.

Additional Senior Exemption

• $10,000 off the assessed value of residence.
• Age requirement – 65 years or older as of January 1 of the year in which application filed.
• Income limited to the maximum amount allowed under Social Security for an individual and spouse.
• Automatically extended to any homeowner who has qualified for the County's senior $10,000 Exemption.
• For homeowners not previously qualified, application with the Fulton County Tax Assessors Office for the County's senior $10,000 Exemption also serves as application for the City's Additional Senior Exemption.
• Proof of age and income must be presented.

Full Value Exemption

• Age requirement – 70 years or older as of January 1 of year in which application filed.
• Also available to disabled individuals.
• Income limited to maximum amount allowed under Social Security for individual and spouse.
• Automatically extended to any homeowner who has previously qualified for the County's Full Value Exemption.
• For homeowners not previously qualified, application for the County's Full Value Exemption also serves as application for the City's Full Value Exemption.
• Proof of age and income must be presented.

Senior homeowners are also eligible for an exemption that eliminates payment of the .25 mill of property tax to the State of Georgia. The Fulton County Tax Assessors Office can provide details.

For details regarding eligibility requirements and proper methods of applying for Homestead Exemptions, please contact Fulton County Tax Assessors Office at (404) 224-0102 or access the Tax Assessor's Web site at www.fultonassessor.org. The District 3 Office is located in the Royal 400 Office Park, 3155 Royal Drive, Alpharetta.

For other general information regarding the City's Homestead Exemptions, call the City of Johns Creek Administrative Services Department at (678) 512-3200.

About the City of Johns Creek
The City of Johns Creek, Georgia is located in the northeast corner of Fulton County. It was incorporated December 1, 2006, following a voter referendum July 18, 2006.

For more information, visit the City of Johns Creek Web site at www.JohnsCreekGA.gov.

Press Contact:
Bill Doughty, APR
Director of Communications
City of Johns Creek
P 678-512-3274

The City of Johns Creek believes all press releases were accurate as of their respective dates, but makes no representation as to accuracy on any other date and assumes no responsibility for updating information contained in any press release.