Chattooga County property owners can expect their 2025 tax bills in the mail, following a brief delay attributed to state compliance requirements. To ensure residents have sufficient time to prepare, the county has officially extended the payment deadline.

County Commissioner Andy Allen announced that the due date for 2025 property taxes has been moved from the traditional date to Tuesday, December 10, 2025.

According to Tax Commissioner Joy Hampton, the processing of the bills was intentionally held up for a few days to guarantee full compliance with the state’s new requirements under HB581. Hampton noted that local residents will also see a refreshed design when they open their statements.

“Nobody loves paying taxes, but our mission is to make it as easy as possible,” Commissioner Hampton stated. “We love to serve our citizens and are happy to help—we just ask that you bring a copy of your statement for fastest service.”

Key Information for Taxpayers

The Extended Deadline

The extension to December 10, 2025, provides taxpayers with nearly an extra month to arrange finances or communicate with mortgage lenders. Interest and penalties will only accrue on the unpaid portion of the bill after this new due date.

Taxpayers are reminded that they have the option to make smaller incremental payments toward their total bill balance before the final due date.

Who Receives a Bill?

If you have already paid: If property tax payments were made prior to September 17, 2025, residents should disregard the newly mailed bill, as the account has already been settled.

Property Sales: Taxes are levied as of January 1st of the tax year. If a property was sold during 2025, the original owner on record as of January 1st will receive the bill. The Tax Commissioner’s Office will also notify the purchaser if their correct information is available.

Mortgage Companies: While mortgage companies typically request a file directly from the county to process payments, the Tax Commissioner’s Office strongly recommends forwarding a copy of the new bill to your mortgage company just to ensure timely payment.

Payment and Office Information

All payments, inquiries, and payment arrangements must be handled through the Tax Commissioner’s Office, which is the same location where citizens renew their vehicle tags. The Assessor’s Office is unable to process payments or set up payment plans.

Payment Options include:

Online: Payments can be made securely at the official county website: www.chattoogacountytax.com. Paid receipts can also be printed from this portal.
Mail: Payments can be mailed to the office address.
Night Drop: A secure night drop box is available on the side of the Tax Commissioner’s building for after-hours payments.
In Person: Payments are accepted during regular business hours.

Assessing Values and Appeals

The window for appealing 2025 property values is now closed. Any deadlines for property tax returns and exemption applications will reopen in the Assessor’s Office starting January 1, 2026, and will run through April 1, 2026.

Taxpayers should ensure their mailing address is current. Bills are mailed to the address provided at the time of purchase unless an update was officially filed with the Assessor’s Office.