How to apply
In the City of Decatur you apply to two offices. Each exemption is a separate application, and none is added automatically when you reach a new age.
City of Decatur
Covers city taxes and Decatur's school taxes (GH-1, GH-2, GH-3 and the S exemptions).
Deadline: April 1 for that year's taxes. File by March 15 to see it on the first bill.
Online: application forms on the city's homestead exemption page.
In person: Administrative Services, City Hall, 509 N. McDonough St., Decatur, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Phone: 404-370-4100
DeKalb County
Covers DeKalb County taxes (the basic H1 homestead and county senior exemptions).
Deadline: DeKalb accepts applications from January 1. Filing by April 1 is safest; check the county's page for the current cut-off.
Online: the Tax Commissioner's homestead page links to online filing for basic and senior exemptions.
In person or by mail: any Tax Commissioner office, year-round.
Phone: 404-298-4000
Tips
Bought recently?
Check that you filed with both offices. Filing with DeKalb at closing doesn't cover the city.
Turned 62, 65, 70 or 80?
Look at the list below again. New exemptions don't start on their own.
Not sure?
Call the office. Staff can tell you what's on file and which forms fit.
What to bring
- For a basic homestead: proof you own and live in the home, such as a Georgia driver's license or ID showing the address. DeKalb also asks for vehicle registration in DeKalb.
- For age-based exemptions: a Georgia ID or birth certificate.
- For exemptions with an income limit: last year's income tax return, or your Social Security benefit statement (SSA-1099) if you don't file taxes.
City exemptions for owners 62 and older
| Code | Age | Income limit | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| GH-2 | 65+ | None | $15,000 |
| GH-3 | 62+ | Georgia taxable income under $60,000 | $25,000 |
| GS-1 | 62+ | Household income under $25,000 | $50,000 |
| S-1 | 62+ | Under $10,000, not counting retirement income | $10,000 |
| S-5 | 65–69 | Federal adjusted gross income under $62,000 | $200,000 |
| S-3 / S-6 | 70+ | None | $50,000 / $200,000 |
| S-2 | 80+ | Federal adjusted gross income under $40,000 | All school taxes |
Amounts are taken off the home's taxable value, not off the bill. Source: City of Decatur, 2026. DeKalb's senior exemptions (H3 to H10) have their own age and income rules; see the county's page.