Homeowners in unincorporated Cobb County have until April 1 to apply for their homestead exemption. Applications must be received or U.S. postmarked April 2, (April 1 falls on a non-business day) to affect the 2012 tax year.

Applications not received by the deadline will be processed and applied in the following year. The applicant must own and occupy the property on Jan. 1 and his or her name must appear on the deed in order to qualify. Homeowners must apply separately for each exemption for which they are eligible; exemptions are automatically renewed thereafter unless there is a change in ownership or eligibility.

Homeowners must notify the Tax Commissioner’s Office if they are no longer eligible for an exemption. It is not necessary to reapply if the home has been refinanced. Tax bills are mailed on Aug. 15 and payment is due within 60 days to avoid late charges. Homestead Exemption applications and tax payments must be received or U.S. postmarked (metered postmark not accepted as proof of timely mailing) by the filing or payment deadline to be considered timely. Applications, detailed information, tax bills and online bill payment options are available on our Web site at www.cobbtax.org or by calling 770-528-8600.

In the City of Smyrna, Homestead Exemption applications must also be postmarked by the April 1 deadline to be accepted. The city offers a Floating Homestead Exemption freezes the value of a property owner's home at its fair market value the year it was purchased. It's not necessary for homeowners to apply for this exemption each year.

The City also offers an exemption to homeowners who are 62 and older. This exemption reduces the assessed value of the property by $10,000, which saves homeowners who are 62 as of Jan. 1 $89.90 according to the city's millage rate. Homeowners who are totally disabled and have an annual net income of less than $12,000 can have their assessed value reduced by $22,000, which saves them $197.78 based on the millage rate. More information about filing these exemptions can be found on the City's website.

As with Cobb County, all applications filed or received after April 1 will be processed for the following year.

-Courtesy of Cobb County and City of Austell e-newsletters