Georgia · Ware County · Local exemptions · Updated Oct 2026

Ware County, GA property tax exemptions (2026)

The property tax breaks that are set or run locally in Ware County, on top of Georgia’s statewide rules: what each is worth here, who qualifies, where to apply and the deadline.

What is different in Ware County

Ware County's pages in the Georgia DOR local exemption list for digest year 2024 (a software export that names the City of Waycross) show a $20,000 local county exemption, an $18,000 local school exemption and a $20,000 Waycross city exemption on local codes, plus floating and freeze codes. The export does not say who qualifies for each code, so confirm with the county.

Apply at: Ware County Board of Tax Assessors
Phone: Not confirmed
Local breaks: Local exemption codes (county software export)
Tax year: 2024 (DOR digest-year 2024 sheet)

We could not confirm all of Ware County’s local rules yet. Some facts on this page rest on limited sources. Call the office below before you rely on them.

Where to apply in Ware County

Ware County Board of Tax Assessors

Official exemptions page

Other offices

Ware County Tax Commissioner – sends and collects tax bills
Georgia Department of Revenue, Local Government Services – state rules and forms

Local exemptions in Ware County

Other

Local exemption codes (county software export)

County M&O: $20,000 local exemption on the local (L/G/M) codes; school M&O: $18,000 local on top of the $2,000 state amount ($10,000 local with the 62/65 low-income codes); City of Waycross: $20,000 local. Codes also include local floating (FL) and freeze (FR) variants.

Set by: county, school district and City of Waycross
Tax year: 2024 (DOR digest-year 2024 sheet)
Who qualifies: Qualifications for each code are not stated in the export; ask the county
How to apply: Apply with the Ware County Board of Tax Assessors. Bring a Georgia driver's license or ID showing the home address.
Form: Application for Homestead Exemption (county form; DOR form LGS-Homestead is the state version)
Deadline: April 1 of the tax year, or by the end of the 45-day appeal window on your assessment notice (Georgia DOR)
Renewal: Renews automatically while you own and live in the home; tell the office if you stop qualifying (income-based exemptions can be re-checked)

Source: official page

State exemptions that also apply here

These breaks come from Georgia law. Their full rules, forms and deadlines are on the Georgia page.

Standard Homestead Exemption$2,000
Statewide Floating Homestead Exemption (HB 581)(only where the local government offers it)
2026 Homeowner (Property) Tax Relief Grant$18,000
Senior Exemptions: $4,000 county exemption (65+), school tax exemption (62+) and floating inflation-proof exemption (62+)$4,000
Disabled Veteran Homestead Exemption$126,526
Surviving Spouse of a U.S. Service Member; Surviving Spouse of a Peace Officer or Firefighter$126,526
Property Tax Deferral for the Elderly

All Georgia property tax exemptions

By group in Georgia: Seniors · Veterans · Surviving spouses

Savings estimate for Ware County

Roughly what an exemption could save you a year: the value it takes off, times your tax rate.

Exemption

Value taken off ($)

Filled in when the exemption is a fixed dollar amount. You can change it.

Tax rate (%)

Ware County median effective rate: 0.85% (taxes paid as a share of home value). Use your own rate if you know it.

Enter a value and a tax rateChoose an exemption or type the value it takes off.

Median effective rate in Ware County: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates, county figures as published by Tax Foundation. It is a county-wide middle value; rates differ by town and school district.

An estimate, not a bill. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Eligibility finder for Ware County

Answer a few questions to see which property tax breaks may fit you. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Do you own the home and live in it as your main home?

Your age, or the year you were born

Leave empty if you'd rather not say.

Are you a veteran?

Do you have a permanent disability?

Are you the surviving spouse of a veteran, service member or first responder?

Yearly household income ($)

Everyone in the home, before taxes. Optional: used only to compare with income limits.

Do you own and live in the home?Answer the first question to see results.

A first check, not a decision: only your county, city or town assessor decides. We read ages, ratings and income limits only where the official rule states them plainly; otherwise we show the rule for you to check.

Document checklist for Ware County

Pick the breaks you plan to apply for. You get a checklist of forms, documents, steps and deadlines to print or keep on your phone.

Questions about property tax exemptions in Ware County

What property tax exemptions are there in Ware County?

Where do I apply for a property tax exemption in Ware County?

Ware County Board of Tax Assessors. Also: Ware County Tax Commissioner, which sends and collects tax bills. Also: Georgia Department of Revenue, Local Government Services, which state rules and forms.

When is the deadline to apply in Ware County?

Local exemption codes (county software export): April 1 of the tax year, or by the end of the 45-day appeal window on your assessment notice (Georgia DOR)

Do I have to reapply every year in Ware County?

Local exemption codes (county software export): Renews automatically while you own and live in the home; tell the office if you stop qualifying (income-based exemptions can be re-checked)

Do Georgia’s statewide exemptions apply in Ware County too?

Yes. The statewide breaks on our Georgia page apply here as well, for example Standard Homestead Exemption, Statewide Floating Homestead Exemption (HB 581) and 2026 Homeowner (Property) Tax Relief Grant. This page adds what Ware County sets or runs itself.

Think your assessed value is too high? See how to appeal in Ware County.

Sources

Georgia DOR, 2024 Local Exemption Status Sheets (digest year 2024)
Georgia DOR, Property Tax Homestead Exemptions
Ware County Tax Assessors, Exemptions (qPublic)
Median effective tax rate for Ware County: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates, county figures as published by Tax Foundation. The rate is property taxes paid divided by home value.

Last checked: Oct 2026.