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Compared with other states, Georgia’s sales, income and property taxes are all relatively average. It's one of the more tax-friendly states for older workers and retirees, with tax breaks for seniors on their retirement income and property, and no state tax on Social Security, estates or inheritances.
The state moved to a 5.39 percent flat tax rate for 2024 and plans to gradually lower the rate to 4.99 percent by 2029 (and possibly as early as 2028).
Watch the video below to learn how to identify your 2024 federal income tax brackets.
Yes, retirement income such as pensions, annuities and money drawn from IRAs and 401(k)s are taxed as regular income, but there are generous breaks for older adults.
AARP’s Retirement Calculator can help you determine if you are saving enough to retire when — and how — you want.
Capital gains from investments are treated as ordinary personal income and are taxed at the same rate.
No, but you may pay federal taxes on a portion of your Social Security benefits, depending on your "provisional income." In most cases, provisional income is equal to the combined total of half your Social Security benefits, your adjusted gross income (not including any Social Security benefits) and any tax-exempt interest for the year.
Up to 50 percent of your benefits will be taxed if your provisional income is $25,001 to $34,000--or if you file jointly and your provisional income is $32,001 to $44,000.
Up to 85 percent of your benefits will be taxed if your provisional income is more than $34,000 individually or more than $44,000 as a couple.
AARP’s Social Security Calculator can assist you in determining when to claim and how to maximize your Social Security benefits.
Property tax in Georgia is a local tax based on the value of your home, which is assessed by the county. The average rate is .72 percent of the assessed value of your home, but taxes vary widely by county and municipality.
The state’s median property tax bill in 2022 ranged from $557 in Quitman County to $3,631 in Fulton County, according to the Tax Foundation. The Georgia Department of Revenue has more information about how your property is assessed and how to file an appeal. You can also find information about property taxes in your county.
Georgia localities collect taxes on personal property including boats, aircraft and some mobile homes, but only if the combined value is more than $7,500. Cars purchased after March 1, 2013, are exempt. Contact your county board of tax assessors for more information.
No. Georgia does not have an estate or inheritance tax, so heirs don’t pay taxes on money or property they inherit.
Yes. Georgia offers a tax exclusion on up to $35,000 of retirement income earned by people 62 to 64, or up to $65,000 earned by those 65 and older. (If you’re married, you and your spouse both may qualify, but each must qualify separately. If you’re a part-year resident, your retirement exclusion will be prorated.) There’s an additional $1,300 standard deduction for those who turn 65 before the end of the tax year.
Retirement income includes interest, dividends, net rentals, capital gains, royalties, pensions, annuities and the first $5,000 of earned income. Railroad retirement and Social Security are exempt from Georgia state income tax.
Homeowners 62 and older may qualify for additional homestead exemptions (above the standard $2,000) for taxes on their primary residence. Find more information about eligibility and how to apply on the Georgia Department of Revenue’s website.
Yes, but a 2022 law introduced some exemptions. Military retirees who are younger than 62 are exempt from paying taxes on up to $17,500 of their military retired pay. Those with at least $17,500 of earned income are eligible for up to $35,000 in exemptions. Veterans who are 62 to 64 qualify for Georgia’s retirement income tax exemption of up to $35,000. Those 65 and older are eligible for an exemption of up to $65,000.
Active-duty pay is taxed like normal income if you’re a legal resident of Georgia. If you’re in the National Guard or reserves and stationed in a combat zone, your income is exempt from state tax. If you’re a nonresident stationed in Georgia, you must pay taxes on any nonmilitary income you earn while in the state.
The deadline to file a Georgia state tax return is May 1, 2025, the same day Georgia residents’ federal tax returns are due. The deadlines were extended because of Hurricane Helene. For help estimating your annual income taxes, use AARP’s Tax Calculator.
Details about filing for a six-month extension are available at Georgia.gov. You must file for the extension on or before the May 1, 2025, deadline. The extension extends the deadline for filing, but any taxes owed must be paid by the original deadline to avoid penalties and interest.
Register with the Georgia Tax Center to make online payments, check the status of your refund and more.
Editor’s note: This guide was originally published on March 1, 2023. It has been updated to reflect new information.
Natalie Missakian covers federal and state policy and writes AARP’s Fighting for You Every Day blog. She previously worked as a reporter for the New Haven Register and daily newspapers in Ohio. She has also written for the AARP Bulletin, the Hartford Business Journal and other publications.
Michelle Cerulli McAdams is a freelance writer based in Massachusetts. She has written for the AARP Bulletin for more than 10 years, covering health, medicine, politics and policy.
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