What should I do if my Homestead Exemption is denied?

The following flyer was prepared by Atlanta Legal Aid Society and was last reviewed on August 10, 2023. The PDF download may not meet all accessibility standards.

What should I do if my Homestead Exemption is denied?

1. If you get a notice denying or removing your homestead exemption, you have the right to appeal.
2. You must appeal in writing no later than 45 days from the date on the letter (not the day you receive it).
3. Your appeal can be on the same form used to appeal the notice of assessment, or it can simply be a letter that gives your parcel ID number and property address, along with a statement that says you want to appeal the homestead exemption decision. It does not have to be fancy.
4. Submit your written appeal by taking it to the assessors' office or mailing it to them. The address should be in the notice you received. If you mail your appeal, make sure it will be postmarked no later than that 45th day and that you mail it in a way that allows you to prove you mailed it on time and confirm it was received (for example, priority mail or certified mail).  Keep a copy.
5. If the assessors do not change their minds, you will get  a chance to state your case to the Board of Equalization, a panel of 3 taxpayers like you who are selected to hear these appeals.  It is a very informal hearing, but you should bring the documentation that shows you are eligible for the homestead exemptions that were denied or removed.