Property Tax in Henry County, Georgia

Property Tax in Henry County

A calculator and field guide for McDonough-area homeowners — and for anyone considering a move to Henry County — including Georgia's 40% assessment ratio, the layered homestead exemptions (state + county + city), HB 581's 2025 inflation cap on assessment growth (with county opt-out provisions), and the senior school exemption that exempts 62+ or 65+ residents from school millage in many counties.

Henry County, home to McDonough and 244k Georgians, uses Georgia's distinctive 40% assessment ratio plus locally-set millage to compute property tax. Total millage combines county operations, school district, and city (where applicable) levies. Senior school exemptions are unusually generous in many GA counties — entirely exempting 62+ or 65+ residents from school millage, which is typically the largest portion of the bill.

How the bill is built

Georgia's calculation has three steps. Step 1: Assessed Value. Multiply fair market value by 40% — that's your AV (Georgia is one of the few states using a sub-100% assessment ratio for residential property). Step 2: Net AV. Subtract homestead exemption ($2,000 state minimum plus county add-ons; Fulton offers up to $30,000 for the county portion, Cobb/DeKalb $10,000, Forsyth $8,000). Step 3: Tax. Multiply Net AV by the total millage rate (county + school + city) and divide by 1,000. For the City of McDonough, total millage is approximately 28.84 mills.

HB 581 (2024, effective 2025) caps annual homestead assessment growth at the inflation rate — but counties had a one-time option to opt out by ordinance. Henry County participates in HB 581, so 2025-onward homestead assessments are capped at CPI growth.

Senior school exemption can be transformative. Many Georgia counties exempt 62+ or 65+ residents from school millage entirely. Check with the Henry County Tax Assessor for the current Henry County senior school exemption rules.

Bills typically due December 20 in most Georgia counties (Gwinnett and DeKalb may bill earlier, in October or November). Late payments incur 10% penalty plus 1% interest per month. Check your county tax commissioner's website for your specific due date.

Henry County rate breakdown (mills per $1,000 of assessed value (AV = 40% of FMV), McDonough district)

Taxing entity	Rate
Henry County operations	9.9200
Henry County Schools	18.9200
Combined total	28.8400

Data record updated April 26, 2026. This is an editorial update date, not a tax year or a guarantee that every figure has been independently verified.

Sources and scope: Check rates and parcel details with Henry County Tax Assessor. Figures may refer to different source years; a county-seat rate does not apply to every address. How we use data and estimates.

Note: Henry County sits immediately south of Atlanta along I-75 and has been one of the fastest-growing counties in Georgia since 2010. McDonough (the county seat) and Stockbridge serve as commercial centers, while extensive new-construction subdivisions have driven rapid suburban-style growth. Henry has emerged as a primary affordable-housing alternative for Atlanta-metro buyers priced out of Fulton, Cobb, and Gwinnett.

Note: Henry's combined effective rate of approximately 1.05% is moderate. The school millage of 18.92 mills accounts for roughly two-thirds of the typical bill. Henry adopted HB 581's assessment-growth cap, so 2025-onward homestead AVs are capped at the inflation rate.

Note: For relocation buyers: Henry combines lower-than-Cobb home values ($254K vs $320K) with similar or moderately higher effective rates, producing a bill that's substantially lower in absolute dollars. The school district is mid-tier rated. The substantial new-construction inventory makes Henry one of the easier Atlanta-metro counties to buy in for first-time buyers.

Homestead, exemptions, and senior tax breaks for 2026

Georgia's homeowner tax relief works through layered homestead exemptions plus the unusually generous senior school exemptions in many counties. Most of these require a one-time application; once granted, they continue for as long as you qualify.

Standard Homestead Exemption

If McDonough is your primary residence on January 1 of the tax year, you qualify for at least the Georgia state minimum $2,000 homestead exemption. Henry County typically offers an additional county-level homestead exemption that stacks on top. Henry County offers a $12,000 county homestead exemption. File the homestead application by April 1 of the tax year with the Henry County Tax Assessor.

Senior School Exemption (the big one)

Many GA counties exempt 62+ or 65+ residents from school millage entirely. Check with the Henry County Tax Assessor for Henry County's specific senior school exemption rules and application procedures.

Disabled Veterans Exemption — $121,812 reduction

Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating (or rated as totally disabled under VA conditions) qualify for a $121,812 reduction in assessed value (2025; indexed annually). Since assessed value is 40% of fair market value, this protects approximately $304,530 of fair market value — for most Georgia homes this functions as a near-full exemption, particularly when stacked with the standard homestead. Surviving spouses and Gold Star spouses retain the exemption.

Appealing your assessment

Georgia's appeal process starts with the annual Notice of Current Assessment mailed in spring (timing varies by county; typically May-June). You have 45 days from the notice date to file an appeal with the Henry County Tax Assessor. The Board of Tax Assessors will review and either adjust or refer to the County Board of Equalization for a hearing. If still unresolved, the next step is Superior Court. Many GA counties also offer a non-binding arbitration option that can resolve appeals faster than the formal Equalization Board process.

Cities and towns in Henry County

This guide lists 4 selected communities in or associated with Henry County. It is not a complete municipal directory. Local taxing districts can differ between communities and individual addresses.

Data: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census. Populations rounded. Cities marked as "split" straddle a county border — the portion inside Henry County is subject to Henry County's tax rolls, while the portion outside is subject to the adjacent county's.

City or town	Type	Population (2020)
McDonough County seat	city	32,077
Stockbridge	city	30,050
Locust Grove	city	9,089
Hampton	city	8,654

About city-level property tax rates: The rate breakdown and calculator on this page use a representative district around McDonough. Other cities in Henry County may pay into different school districts, city rates, and special districts — so their combined rates can differ, sometimes substantially. Always verify the specific rates for your address with the Henry County Tax Assessor before relying on any estimate.

Frequently asked questions

When are Henry County property taxes due?

Most Georgia counties set the deadline at December 20, but Gwinnett, DeKalb, and several others bill earlier (October or November). Late payments incur a 10% penalty plus 1% interest per month. Check with the Henry County Tax Assessor for the exact Henry County due date.

How does Georgia's 40% assessment ratio work?

Georgia is one of the few states using a sub-100% assessment ratio. Your assessed value is exactly 40% of fair market value — so a $400,000 home has an AV of $160,000. From AV you subtract homestead exemptions, then multiply by total millage (county + school + city) and divide by 1,000 to get the annual tax. The 40% ratio is constitutionally fixed; only the millage rate and exemption amounts change year-to-year.

What is HB 581 and did Henry County opt out?

HB 581 (passed 2024, effective 2025) caps annual homestead assessment growth at the national CPI rate. Counties had a one-time option to opt out by ordinance. Henry County participates in HB 581, so 2025-onward homestead assessments are capped at CPI growth. Recent buyers benefit most from a county that opts out (assessments grow naturally); long-term owners benefit most from counties that participate (assessments held below market).

Do I qualify for the senior school exemption?

Many Georgia counties exempt 62+ or 65+ residents from school millage entirely; check with the Henry County Tax Assessor for Henry County's specific eligibility rules and income limits (if any).

About Henry County

Beyond the property tax — a few things you might not know about the place.

Weird fact

Henry County is home to Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton — a 1.54-mile NASCAR Cup Series oval that is one of the most distinctive in the NASCAR circuit. The track's "quad-oval" design and 24-degree banking produce some of the highest average speeds in NASCAR's short-track schedule. The annual Quaker State 400 (typically June) draws 100,000+ fans and is one of the largest single-day sporting events in Georgia.

Hometown hero

Jason Aldean

The country music star (b. 1977) was born in Macon, GA but spent significant career time at his property near McDonough (Henry County) before relocating to Tennessee. Aldean's early-career Atlanta-area residency was typical of country-music stars who settle in Henry/Cherokee/Forsyth counties for the combination of lower cost of living and Atlanta's major-market country radio.

Biggest annual event

Atlanta Motor Speedway race weekend

Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton (Henry County) hosts the annual NASCAR Cup Series race (typically February or June, depending on schedule) plus an Xfinity Series race weekend. Combined attendance across the race weekends typically exceeds 200,000.

Property Tax in Henry County