Business Tax Incentives

Property Tax Abatement

Companies may be able to obtain certain property tax relief for new project investments. This discretionary incentive is considered on a case-by-case basis and is usually structured as a phase-in of property taxes over a specific period of time.

• Projects may include improvements to land, building or equipment not already on the tax digest.

• Quality and quantity of jobs created is one determining factor in considerations.

Freeport Inventory Tax Exemption

Rockdale County offers a 100% Freeport Inventory Tax Exemption for qualifying businesses. Manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and warehouse operations inventory are tax exempt on three categories of property: (1) Manufacturer’s raw materials and goods in process, (2) Finished goods held by the original manufacturer, and (3) Finished goods held by distributors, wholesales, and manufacturers destined for out-of-state shipments.

State Tax Credits

Tax credits give Georgia businesses the opportunity to minimize or even eliminate state corporate income tax. They apply to all qualifying companies – large, small and in between – rooted in Georgia or new to the state. Typically, corporate income tax credits apply to 50 percent of a company’s state tax liability in a given year. But in some cases, they can offset up to 100 percent of corporate income tax as well as payroll withholding liability. The tax credits are extended by the state of Georgia to support business growth.

For a full list and description of available State of Georgia tax credits and incentives please visit www.georgia.org.

Job Tax Credits

Businesses in Rockdale County that are in strategic industries can earn $1,750 – $3,500 in annual tax savings for each new job created, with a minimum of 15 jobs, for up to five years. A job credit is a tax credit that helps fuel company expansion by rewarding job creation. They’re available to businesses (or their headquarters) in seven strategic sectors:

Special Zones

Companies in Less Developed Census Tracts (LDCT), and Opportunity Zones (OZ) are eligible for a $3,500 job tax credit which can be applied to 100 percent of corporate income tax liability, with excess to payroll withholding.

The Opportunity Zone program provides new businesses incentives for locating or expanding in economically distressed areas of Rockdale County as designated by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Businesses that locate in an OZ may qualify for tax credits designed to encourage job creation and investment in these areas.

We currently have two Opportunity Zones –  Olde Town Conyers and Rockdale Industrial Boulevard. We also have a Tax Allocation District located at Old Salem Road at GA Hwy 138. To see if your business is located in an Opportunity Zone or Less Developed Census Tract please call us for a determination.

Georgia Quality Jobs Tax Credit

The Quality Jobs Tax Credit is another job tax credit for jobs that pay higher-than-average wages. It can give Georgia companies a significant tax break and help drive growth. The Quality Jobs Tax Credit rewards companies that create at least 50 jobs in a 12-month period – provided the jobs pay wages that are at least 10 percent higher than the county average for wages.

More about Georgia’s Quality Jobs Tax Credit:

• New quality jobs created within seven years of initial eligibility qualify for the credit.
• Credits may offset a company’s payroll withholding once all other corporate income tax liability has been exhausted.
• Credits may be carried forward for 10 years.
• New jobs that do not qualify for Quality Job Tax Credits may still be eligible for Georgia’s job tax credit if they meet requirements for that credit.
• A Quality Job Tax Credit must be claimed within the earlier of the following time periods: a) one year from the date the original return is filed; or, b) one year from the date the return is due (including any approved extension).
• Georgia Department of Revenue Form IT-QJ must be filed with the income tax return for the company to claim the Quality Jobs Tax Credit.
• Companies that prefer to use the Quality Jobs Tax Credit to offset withholding taxes must file Georgia Department of Revenue Form IT-WH 30 days prior to filing the income tax return.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit

Georgia’s Department of Labor administers a federal tax credit to Georgia companies that hire individuals who have faced barriers to employment. The tax credit ranges from $1,200 to $9,000 per hire.

The Development Authority’s purpose is to encourage and promote the expansion and development of industrial and commercial facilities in Rockdale County. It has the power to borrow money, to issue notes, bonds, and revenue certificates, to execute trust agreements or indentures, and to sell, convey, mortgage, pledge and assign any of its funds, property and income as security.

Film, Television And Digital Entertainment Tax Credit

Film and television companies may receive a tax credit of up to 30 percent of money spent on production and post-production in Georgia, either in a single production or on multiple projects. Minimum spending amount is $500,000.

For more information on fil tax credits please visit

https://www.georgia.org/industries/film-entertainment/georgia-film-tv-production/production-incentives