State tax exemption discriminaton of mobile home owners

[Jenny Bratcher]

I own a mobile home located in a park in Georgia. I also work for a mobile home community. Our state personal property tax is due on the first of May. Recently an elderly lady of 76 years old came into the office asking about her tax bill. When I looked at it, I could not believe that this poor woman was being charged over $180 in school taxes, the bulk of her tax liability. When I questioned the tax office, I was told it was because she did not own the land on which the house was located. I was aware that we were denied the homestead exemption for this reason but it also seems that we are excluded from all other tax exemptions allowed other property owners. I think this is blatant discrimination. I, like many others, live in a mobile home because it is all we can afford today with the high cost of housing. Private lots are at a minimum and land prices have become so exhorbitant that most mobile home owners have been shut out of the markett. I am sure that legislators are aware of these facts. I have a very nice home and I love it. I pay taxes like everyone else. My husband and I are both 55 years old and it has upset us to realize the exemptions we are denied, but to expect a senior citizen of the lady's age previously mentioned to pay school taxes just blows my mind. What can we do to change this situation?

[Bill Fry]

Write your congressman.Death and taxes are
unavoidable.All states differ in property tax and exemptions.

[Lynne Stewart]

I'm curious on whther the same tax laws apply to condos....seems like they are in a similar situation..owning the home and not the land. Now, if you find they are exempt, THEN maybe you can fuss at the tax people and demand an explanation!

[Jenny B.]

Thanks for your reply. I am going to do some research on the condo suggestion. Appreciate your input. JB

[Jenny B.]

Thanks for input. Group of homeowners currently working on petition. Any suggestions on issues other than the tax exemption that directly effect mobile home owners? JB

[rmurray]

Start with your state senator and house members...You are right manufactured home owners pay way too much tax in GA...It starts with the 7% sales tax...Stick builts only pay sales tax on parts...not labor, freight or profit...in GA......Then when resold they again collect 7% sales tax...There is NO sales taxes on the resale of real estate in GA....
Three years ago the GA legislature changed the way value for personal property taxes are calculated on manufactured homes...The arguement was manufactured homes dwellers do not pay enough tax...They used to tax manufactured homes like automobiles and taxes would fall every year until they were nearly nothing...the new plan taxes by the square foot w/local governement setting the value in your communty...just like stick builts...but you are right..they did not pass the tax exemptions on the stick builts enjoy...
The only way to get this changed is from preasure on the governement from folks like you...

[JohnnyJ]

Actually.... Condos are taxed as real estate. A condo owner owns a percent of
the real estate that is occupied by the entire dwelling. In other words, if there
are 32 condos, a single condo occupant would own 1/32 of the property, and would
be responsible for 1/32 of the property tax. Hope this makes sense.

[Lynne Stewart]

Didn't know that..
But, I'm assuming that it isn't quite the same as my owning my land? I he can't tear the condo down and put up a new house????

[JohnnyJ]

It is ownership of the land.... just on a percentage basis wtih other owners. If you
own your own piece of property, then you alone are entitled to the rights, and
the taxes. If you have multiple dwellings, and multiple owners sharing the piece
of property, the taxes split amongst the owners. I could do a 2 - 3 page explanation
on variations of this, but have simplified it for the sake of brevity.