Course I: Certification of Assessors

How are counties classified?

By # of real parcels

What level is min. requirement for a Chief Appraiser?

Level III

Who appoints members to the BOA?

County Governing Authority

What are the qualifications to be on the BOA?

•21 yrs of age

•Residency within 6 months of oath

•Highschool diploma (or equivalent)

•Completed 40 hrs training within 180 days of appointment

•Complete additional 40 hrs every 2 yrs

Term of BOA member

3-6 yrs

By what date does the Digest need to be sent to the Commissioner?

July 15th

By what date does the annual notice of assessment need to be sent?

July 1st

How long is the initial appeal period when the 1st notice is sent?

45 days

How long is the appeal window for follow-up notices?

30 days

What are the qualifications for BOE members?

•Qualified & Competent to serve as grand juror

•Owner of real property in county

•Highschool diploma (or equivalent)

•Complete at least 40 hrs of instruction

How long are BOE member terms? (AND) what date does their term begin?

3 yrs

Jan 1st

What type of appeals are heard by the BOE?

•Taxability

•Uniformity

•Value

•Denial of Homestead

•Denial of covenant

•Breach of covenant

•Denial of freeport

What does the appeal administrator do?

Provides facilities, secretarial, and clerical help to the BOE

If a real property value is set by a decision made by the BOE, hearing officer, arbitrator, or Superior Court, the BOA cannot change that value (unless certain conditions have been met) for the next ____ yrs.

2

How often should each piece of real property be reviewed?

Every 3 years

What are the 3 approaches to Sales Ratios:

•Market

•Cost

•Income

Which approach to value is most often used by BOA to determine land values?

Market

What approach to value is most often used by BOA in appraising buildings?

Cost

What are the 3 types of depreciation?

•Physical

•Functional

•Economical

What does the Coefficient of Dispersion (COD) measure?

uniformity

What are the two primary responsibilities of Tax Assessors?

•Property valued at correct level

•Insuring uniformity of assessments

What range of ratios are considered compliant?

between .36-.44

What are the acceptable ranges for the COD when measuring the Uniformity for residential property? Non-residential property?

•Residences: 0-.15

•Other: 0-0.2

True/False: Personal property is exempt from state tax?

true

True/False: Personal effects are taxable personal property.

false: if for personal use, they are exempt

By what date must the Mobile Home digest be approved and returned by the BOA?

Jan 5th

What is the equation to find the millage rate?

=Budget/Digest

At what level is property assessed for taxes in Georgia?

40%

What is the formula to calculate a tax bill?

= Assessed Value * Millage Rate

What is the formula to calculate a sales ratio?

=Assessed Value/Sales Price

What is the median ratio?

middle of all ratios

What is the equation for Deviation of median?

= median ratio - sales ratio

(*Don't use negatives)

What is the formula for average deviation?

= Total deviation (sum of all deviations) / # of sales

What is the formula to calculate COD?

= average deviation / median ratio

What is the formula to find the mean ratio?

= Sales ratios (sum) / # of sales

How do you calculate the aggregate ratio?

= Total assessments / total sales price

How do you calculate PRD?

= mean ratio / aggregate ratio

What does the Price Related Differential (PRD) measure?

level of assessment bias within a group of properties

When is a mobile home considered real property?

(Either)

•Application for Homestead submitted

•Certificate of Permanent Location recieved

What is the APM?

Appraisal Procedure Manual

What is ad valorem tax?

tax based on the value of the property

What structure do Georgia statutes take?

Title-Chapter-Section

Define "fair market value".

the amount a knowledgeable buyer would pay for the property and a willing seller would accept for the property at an arm's length, bona fide sale

What are the two classes of property in Georgia?

Tangible

Intangible

What is "arms length, bona fide sale"?

A sale between two unrelated parties, both seeking to maximize thier positions from the transactions

What is the date of valuation of property for property taxes in Georgia?

Jan 1st

Who is responsible for filing a tax return?

Property owner (OR) their agent

What does SB346 state concerning sales prices?

The transaction amount of the MOST RECENT arm's length, bona fide sale in any year shall be the MAXIMUM allowable fmv for the next taxable year.

All property should be returned for taxation at its ... value

fair market

The time period to file a property return is?

Jan 1st - April 1st

At which meeting of the year should the Board of Assessors elect a chairman?

1st meeting of the year

T/F: The secretary to the BOA must be a member of the appraisal staff.

True

Who must approve a county's tax digest before it can be used for the collection of taxes?

the revenue commissioner

Can an appraiser on the appraisal staff also serve as a member of the BOA?

Yes, sometimes, depending on population

In order to qualify for preferential assessment, an individual property owner must:

Be a natural or naturalized citizen

What is the maximum amount of acreage that a property owner can enter into a FLPA covenant(s)?

No max

T/F: The death of a property owner that had property in a conservation use covenant is a breach of the covenant with penalty?

False

What is the penalty for a breach of conservation use due to the sale to a nonqualified owner?

twice the savings

T/F: If a property is under conservation use assessment, buildings used for storing or processing agricultural products are included in the conservation use value.

True

The conservation use values furnished to each county by the DOR are limited to what percent change in value?

3%

What is the maximum amount of acreage a property owner can enter into a covenant(s) for preferential agricultural assessment?

2000 acres

What is the level of assessment for a parcel in a preferential agricultural covenant?

30%

T/F: Large timber and pulp corporations can qualify for conservation use assessment?

False

Preferential Use Covenants have a term of how many years?

10 yrs

Conservation use covenants have a term of how many years?

10 yrs

Forest Land Protection Act covenants have a term of how many years?

before 2019 = 15 yrs

2019+ = 10 yrs

A hearing officer may hear appeals for which issues?

•Uniformity

•Values $500,000+

An arbitrator may hear appeals for which issues?

value

What is the equation for assessed value?

= Fair Market Value * 40%

What does the median ratio measure?

the level of assessment for a homogeneous group of properties