Habersham County property tax bills are expected to hit mailboxes in October. The county announced on Tuesday that the bills are expected to be mailed on October 15.
If the county sticks to that deadline, property owners will have just under two months to pay their bills before the December 15 deadline.
The planned mailing is later than usual, and the county blames factors beyond its “direct control.”
The Tax Assessor’s Office rolled out new software this year to align with Georgia’s updated system, requiring extra time to ensure consistency and accuracy across counties. In addition, provisions of House Bill 581 went into effect this year, adding new requirements to the assessment and billing process.
County officials say the combination of the software transition and legislative changes extended the preparation timeline.
“Habersham County apologizes for any inconvenience the delay may cause residents and property owners,” officials said in a statement, emphasizing their commitment to accurate billing and transparent communication.
If the anticipated October 15 mailing date changes, the county says it will notify the public through official channels.
“If it gets pushed back, we will send out another statement with new dates,” said Habersham County Public Information Officer Ashlyn Brady.
Appeals process
Habersham County paid an outside vendor, McCormick & Associates, to reassess property values. Those reassessments contributed to the overall workload in the Tax Assessor’s Office, but county officials maintain the primary challenge was implementing the new software system.
“While it did take additional time to work through, we are confident that the improvements made will streamline the process and reduce delays moving forward,” said Brady.
Property owners who were dissatisfied with their reassessments had an opportunity to appeal. Brady said the county received over 900 appeals. The deadline to challenge reassessments was September 8.
This article has been updated. The county sent out a correction that the deadline for property bills to be paid is December 15, not 19. This article reflects that change.
