Would you like to receive an extra check without having to lift a finger? Well, if you live permanently in Georgia and have paid your state taxes, you may have some money coming your way very soon.
This is a new round of tax refunds that the Empire State of the South is sending out this summer, thanks to a surplus in the public treasury. And no, it’s not a joke or a bank promotion: it’s real money, approved by law, and it’s already being distributed to millions of recipients.
Georgia Tax Rebate 2025 – the surplus being distributed to thousands of Georgians
This tax refund program—in the form of stimulus payments—which some call the “Georgia Tax Rebate 2025” is providing a small financial reprieve to thousands of taxpayers who are in compliance.
The measure was sponsored by Governor Brian Kemp and passed by the General Assembly through House Bill 112, with the support of a significant majority of local legislators.
To support this project, the state has a surplus of more than $11 billion, and a portion of that surplus is being returned to taxpayers in 2025.
The income tax rate reduction was also accelerated, dropping to 5.19% this year. This is the third time such a refund has been issued since 2022, and it appears to have become a tax tradition in Georgia.
Who qualifies for this payment?
The first requirement to receive your tax refund is to have filed your state tax returns for the years 2023 and 2024. Both must be submitted by May 1, 2025. It’s worth noting that some peopl affected by natural disasters, such as Hurricane Helene, may have received an extension to file their taxes.
Additionally, you must be a Georgia resident, either full-time or part-time, or have had taxable income in the state if you are a nonresident but have economic or financial interests there. In either of the eligible cases, you must have had positive tax liability in 2023: That is, if you received a refund for what you paid and didn’t owe the state anything, you wouldn’t qualify for this refund.
Individuals who have been claimed as “dependents” on another taxpayer’s tax return, or who are exempt from retirement income that isn’t taxable in Georgia, are also ineligible. In other words, if you didn’t pay state income tax in 2023, there’s no check.
Georgia tax rebate program amounts you could receive
The amounts vary depending on the beneficiary’s tax status. For example, individuals who filed as single or married filing separately will receive up to $250.
If you’re a head of household, you can receive up to $375. Married couples filing jointly will receive a maximum of $500. However, if your tax liability was less than those amounts, your refund will be equal to the amount you actually paid.
Please note that if you are a partial resident or non-resident, the amount will be adjusted proportionally based on the income you generated in Georgia.
To apply, you don’t have to do anything. There are no forms to fill out or cumbersome or time-consuming application procedures. If you met the requirements and filed your returns on time, the state Department of Revenue will process your refund automatically.
For those who selected direct deposit when filing, the money will arrive directly into the bank account you provided. However, if you requested a paper check, your payment will arrive in your mailbox, but it could take several days, or even weeks.
Payments began to be issued in June 2025, shortly after the governor signed the law. Since then, they have been sent in weekly batches, and most taxpayers should receive their payments within six to eight weeks.
