CPA for Atlanta, GA Clients: Remote Tax, Payroll and Accounting

We are a Naperville, Illinois CPA firm, and we serve Atlanta-area clients remotely; we do not have an office in Georgia. Georgia taxpayers file a state income tax return, and Atlanta homeowners and landlords deal with Fulton County's assessment system, which has its own deadlines. This page walks through the parts of Georgia and Atlanta-area taxes that most often catch people off guard.

Georgia income tax

For tax years beginning January 1, 2025, Georgia's income tax rate is 5.19% on taxable income, and Form 500EZ was discontinued, so everyone files the regular Form 500. If you are a part-year resident or a nonresident with Georgia income, you apportion your income on Georgia's schedule. Georgia taxes the wages of nonresidents who work in the state, so moves between Illinois and Georgia or remote-work arrangements deserve a second look.

Two process changes are worth knowing. First, taxpayers now have 45 days to file a protest after a notice of proposed assessment or a refund denial. Second, from July 1, 2026, the Georgia Tax Court replaced the Tax Tribunal as the forum for tax appeals. If a Georgia notice arrives, do not let the deadline pass; our state tax notice page explains how we help.

Fulton County property tax

Fulton assesses every property annually, and the Board of Assessors mails a notice of assessment. You can appeal only the assessed value, not the estimated tax, and you must file before the deadline on the notice, which is within 45 days of the notice date. Fulton lets you file online, in person at one of its offices, or by mail, and asks you to choose one of three routes:

1. A hearing before the Board of Equalization.
2. Non-binding arbitration on valuation only (fees may apply).
3. A hearing before a Hearing Officer (fees may apply).

An appeal can take months, and you may receive a temporary tax bill while it is pending. Pay that bill to avoid penalties. Homestead exemptions come from several jurisdictions, including the county, the school system and the cities, and each has its own rules. Once granted, most renew automatically as long as you keep occupying the home under the same ownership; Fulton's low-income exemption must be renewed every two years.

Businesses and employers

Georgia cities and counties generally require a local business license or occupation tax certificate in addition to state registration, so check with the city where you operate. Employers also register for state withholding and unemployment accounts. Our payroll services cover those registrations and filings, and our guide to state income tax withholding explains the rules. For a business that sells, rents or hires across state lines, multi-state tax planning keeps Georgia in step with the rest.

The Indian-American community

The Atlanta metro area has about 167,000 residents who identify as Asian Indian alone or in combination (roughly 2.7%). Fulton County is about 4.1% and Forsyth County is about 14.2% (American Community Survey, 2020 to 2024). We support these families with the US-India tax treaty, India bank and property reporting, and payroll for employers, all remotely.

How we can help

We prepare Georgia and federal returns, review notices and appeal deadlines, and keep small-business books and payroll for clients across the Atlanta area. For personal advice on a protest or an assessment appeal, consult a qualified professional. Our Georgia page has additional state-level guidance.

Frequently asked questions

General information only, not tax, legal or accounting advice for your situation. Rules, limits and deadlines change; confirm the current rules with the official source or a qualified professional before you act. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship with CPA Tax Payroll and Accounting Corp.