Georgia Taxes

This year I’m finding that Georgia taxes are something that deserve attention. Here are some things to pay attention to:

• Capital gains in Georgia are meaningless and offer no benefit. At the highest levels, income tax, short term capital gains, and long term capital gains are all 6%.
• There is a Georgia Job Tax Credit Program that is available for companies in the ATDC building and a few other select buildings around the state. It is not related to HubZones. It can provide significant state tax credits if you add 5+ people in a given year.
  • I wish I had known about this before; we could’ve used it. Perhaps ATDC admins can educate tenants about it.
  • The Atlanta Tech Village does not qualify (yet), which is unfortunate. It would be great if the ATV building became part of the credit, given that it’s all about building companies and keeping technology jobs in Georgia.
• There is a Georgia R&D Tax Credit that is available for certain companies, and I’m guessing a lot of technology startups in Atlanta fit the credit. It is looking like a good option for AccelerEyes. It’s benefits can include dropping the effective tax rate from 6% to 3%.

While Georgia capital gains rates are fairly high, the credits seem to be well positioned to help technology startups grow in Atlanta.

Have you used the Georgia Jobs or R&D programs as a stimulus for your business?

Note: this isn’t tax advice so consult your tax professional.

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