Timber Tax Terms

• Lump Sum Sales – The Report of Timber Sale or Harvest (form PT-283T), which may be obtained from this office, must be completed by the purchaser. The seller must remit to the purchaser, at the time of sale, a negotiable instrument for the taxes due. The purchaser must remit the taxes and this form to the Tax Commissioner within five business days of purchase. The purchaser must also give a copy of this form to the Board of Tax Assessors at the time of remittance. The purchaser is personally liable for the tax if it is not paid by the seller. Seller and purchaser must both sign Form PT-283T. The Clerk of Superior Court will not record a timber deed without evidence that the timber taxes have been paid as evidenced by a stamped copy of the Form PT-283T.
• Unit Price Quarterly Report – When timber is sold by volume, the purchaser must complete, sign, and submit two copies of the Form PT-283T to the seller and one copy to Board of Tax Assessors within 45 days after the end of the calendar quarter of the timber harvested in that calendar quarter. Seller must sign and submit one of the copies to the Tax Assessors within 60 days after the end of the quarter. Seller will be billed by the Tax Commissioner for taxes due.
• Owner Harvest – Owner must complete and submit one copy of Form PT-283T to the Board of Tax Assessors within 45 days after the end of the calendar quarter of the timber harvested in that calendar quarter. Ad Valorem taxes shall be paid by the landowner as provided in subsection (h) of O.C.G.A. 48-5-7.5(e) and shall be calculated by multiplying the 100% fair market value of the timber times the millage rate applicable at the time of harvest.

O.C.G.A. § 48-5-7.5 (J): Penalties

Any person who fails to timely make any report or disclosure required by this code section shall pay a penalty of 50% of the tax due, except that if the report or disclosure is filed within 12 months after the due date, the amount of the penalty shall be 1% for each month or part of a month that the report or disclosure is late.

Taxpayers are allowed 30 days from date billed by Tax Commissioner to pay timber taxes based on quarterly reports. After that time a late payment penalty of 10% O.C.G.A § 48-5-24(d) and interest at the rate specified in O.C.G.A § 48-2-40.

Note: Form PT-283T may be obtained in the Richmond County Tax Commissioner’s Office. You may call (706) 821-2391 to have a form mailed to you.