Georgians may be noticing delays in receiving the special tax refunds announced by Governor Brian Kemp. The Georgia Department of Revenue is issuing these refunds in small batches to mitigate any potential technical issues. Joe Snowden, the department’s director of external affairs, explained that this methodical approach allows for careful monitoring, ensuring that there are no mishaps with the refunds being processed.
Initially, Kemp indicated that eligible taxpayers would begin seeing these refunds in the first week of June. This marks the third round of tax refunds in recent years, following similar initiatives in 2022 and 2023.
Eligibility for the refunds requires taxpayers to have filed individual income tax returns for both 2023 and 2024, pay into the system, and not owe the state Department of Revenue. Refunds will vary based on tax liability from 2023, capped at $250 for single or married individuals filing separately, $375 for head of household filers, and $500 for married couples filing jointly.
To check if they are eligible for a refund, taxpayers can use the Georgia Tax Center’s surplus tax refund eligibility tool located online.
Governor Kemp attributes the refunds to House Bill 112 passed during the 2025 legislative session, reflecting conservative budgeting practices and a robust state economy. Additionally, the state’s income tax rate is set to decrease from 5.39% to 5.19% starting July 1.
This initiative underscores an ongoing effort in Georgia to return surpluses to taxpayers, indicating a commitment to fiscal responsibility and economic growth.