LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE DIVISION

Georgia Department of Revenue

1. UNCLAIMED PROPERTY2. DISTRIBUTION3. PROPERTY TAX DIGEST COMPLIANCE4. PUBLIC UTILITY5. GEORGIA CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE DIVISION

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1. UNCLAIMED PROPERTY

Unclaimed Property laws require money, intangible property, and other assets that are presumed abandoned to be reported and remitted to the state after the expiration of a dormancy period.

Dormancy period is five years for most property and one year for unclaimed wages.

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Facts• Georgia UCP collects approximately $130 million annually (last five year average)

• Last year Georgia collected $161,418,366.

• Georgia pays approximately $16 million in claims annually

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To search for Unclaimed Property in Georgia:• Call 1‐855‐329‐9863 (toll free) to speak to a

claim’s representative; or• Go online http://etax.dor.ga.gov and select

“Search Unclaimed Property in Georgia” then enter your name and city and press search…If your name comes up select “Submit Request” to request a claim form

Maybe GA has some money for you!

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To search for UCP in all other 49 states:• Go online http://unclaimed.org

There is a map on the home page, click on any state and the site automatically directs you to that state’s UCP siteFollow the search instructions for that site

Good Luck!

Maybe another state has your money!

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Valuable vs Non‐valuable• Bank deposits, stocks, bonds, insurance proceeds, utility deposits…

• Cash, coins, jewelry, gold, silver …• Guns, knives, evidence...• Diplomas, deeds, titles, birth certificates…

• Baby teeth, clothing, photos, love letters, collectables…

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2. DISTRIBUTION

• Sales Tax ($400,000,000/month)– LOST– SPLOST– ELOST

• E‐911 Pre‐Paid Wireless ($17 million/year)• Forestland Grants ($28 million/year)• IRP (first annual distribution April 2015)

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400

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Market downturn and recovery

Recent sales tax exemptions:

Motor VehiclesManufacturing Agricultural


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3. PROPERTY TAX DIGEST COMPLIANCE

• Rules and Regulations• Digest Review and Approval• Audits• Performance Reviews• Technical Support

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Primary Uses for Property Tax Digests

1. Direct taxation to support local governments– $10 Billion per year

2. State school funding (QBE)– Equalization grants– 5 mill share

3. Invaluable demographic data

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History:

County Boards of assessors were created by legislation in 1913 to seek out unreturned property or concealed property.

At that time, taxpayers declared their own value ….

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In the 1960’s….

The state created a revaluation loan program to assist counties in correcting assessment deficiencies

The state auditor performed the first statewide sales ratio study.

Assessment levels across the state averaged 21.3%


Legislation implemented between 1972 ‐ 1992

• Established requirement for county appraisal staff• Created the State board of equalization ‐ public utility appeals• Created the County boards of equalization ‐ local tax appeals• Adopted the measurements for quality in the tax digest

– Level of assessment– Uniformity of assessment– Bias in assessments

• Implemented the current digest review process performed by Department of Revenue and Department of Audits

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2014 Status:

• Approximately 9 counties have not yet submitted their 2014 digest to Revenue Commissioner

• DOR provided the 2014 public utility digest to the county boards of assessors in October– Finalized 2012, 2013 Ga Power Appeals– 2012, 2013 Bellsouth appeals will remain pending

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Key Players:

1. Chief Appraisers and Appraisal Staff2. County Boards of Assessors3. Governing Authorities4. School Boards5. County Tax Commissioners6. GA Department of Audits and Accounts7. GA Department of Revenue

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Mass Appraisal is the …

– Process of estimating value for a large group of properties as of a given date, using standard methodology and allowing for statistical testing

– Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) mathematically model appraisal process

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Appraisal Procedures Manual• O.C.G.A. §48‐5‐269.1• Uniform procedures• Effective October 1999• County Board of Tax Assessors/staff must adhere to standards and procedures

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Other Appraisal Guidelines…

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Real property must receive an annual notice of current year assessment

Personal Property receives a notice when corrections or changes have been made

The notice must include an estimate of tax

Notice of Assessment

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Constitutional elected officer

Duties:– Receive tax returns and applications for homestead exemptions

– Compile annual tax digests and submit to revenue commissioner for review and approval

– Collect tax and pay over the funds collected to the state, county and school

– Place executions in the hands of levying officer

County Tax Commissioner

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Tax liens are superior to most other liens and the sheriff has duty and authority to sell property to satisfy

delinquent tax.

Therefore it is imperative that taxpayers receive proper

notifications of assessmentsand that

Appeal procedures are followed precisely

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Responsibilities:– Adopt respective annual budget – Publish 5‐year history and current year digest value and tax rate

– Advertise and hold public hearings regarding tax increase

– Adopt annual millage rate

Governing Authority and School Board

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Once the digest is accepted by DOR, data files are forwarded to the

Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts

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Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts

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International Association of Assessing Officials

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DOR uses the sales ratio analysis to measure the quality of the appraisals and assessments and to recommend a uniform assessment rate to be applied

to public utility valuations.

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• Level of Assessment»36.0 – 44.0

• Uniformity of Assessment»Residential <15»Non residential <20

• Assessment Bias»Between .95 – 1.10

Failure to meet standards could result in penalties

Statistical Standards

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Overall assessment level between 38% and 42% ....then utilities assessed at 40%$100 million * 40% * 20 mills = $800,000

Overall assessment level at less than 38%…then utilities assessed at lower level$100 million *37.99% * 20 mills =759,800

‐$40,200

40% assessment rule on Utilities

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5 mill shareEqualization Grants

The Sales Ratio Study is also used for State school funding

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Recent special examination regarding school funding….

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4. PUBLIC UTILITY ASSESSMENT

1. Appraise utilities, railroads, & flight equipment ($38 Billion in Value)

2. Assess, collect & disburse tax on rail car companies

3. Receive and disburse TVA payment in lieu of tax

4. Collect and disburse public service commission fees

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1. Appraise utilities, railroads, flight equipment

o Receive Returnso Appraise Property o Submit values to State Board of Equalization for approval

o Defend Appealso Send assessment notices to county assessors

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Electric Power Companies (7)

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Railroads (26)

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Gas Companies (26)

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Telecommunication Companies (75)

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Pipelines (9)

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Electric Membership Co‐op (50)

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Flight Equipment Companies (37)

Air TranAmericanDeltaFedExNorthwestUPS

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2. Assess and Collect Tax on over 200 private rail car companies

o Collection of Tax is based on track miles within each jurisdiction

o Disburse funds to counties and cities

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3. Disburse TVA Payment in Lieu of Taxo Tennessee Valley Authority

issues monthly payment in lieu of tax to certain north GA jurisdictions.

o DOR receives and disburses funds quarterly

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4. Collect and Disburse Public Service Commission Feeso $1,050,000o Collected from various regulated public utilities

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5. GEORGIA CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

• Tax Commissioners• Board of Assessor members• Appraisal Staff• Board of Equalization members• Hearing Officers

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Digest SubmissionCAVEAT SeminarGATO Seminar

Courses of interest to Schools:

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Ellen Mills, DirectorLocal Government Services Division

[email protected]

Questions?

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE DIVISION

Documents

Transcript of LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE DIVISION