Roswell homeowners have a deadline: Thursday, Oct. 15 to pay their 2026 property tax bills.

Fulton County mailed the bills on Aug. 15 after a Superior Court judge authorized temporary billing based on preliminary 2026 property valuations and last year's millage rates, Appen Media reported. The mailing ends weeks of uncertainty for Roswell property owners, who were initially excluded from the county's billing order in early August because the city collects its own taxes.

As we reported Aug. 7, Roswell homeowners faced billing limbo with no timeline for when their bills would arrive.

What you owe now — and what could change

These are interim bills. The county's 2026 tax digest has not been certified by the Georgia Department of Revenue, and final millage rates have not been set. Once that happens, homeowners will receive a second notice. Fulton County Chief Financial Officer Sharon Whitmore told Appen Media in a July 24 report on the tax digest delay that the second notice "could come with an additional amount owed to the county or news of a refund from the county." Overpayments will be refunded with interest.

Penalties for late payment

Miss the Oct. 15 deadline and interest starts accruing the next day. A 5% penalty kicks in on the 120th day past due and continues to accrue every 120 days up to a maximum of 20%. The Tax Commissioner's Office accepts partial payments, but interest accrues on any unpaid balance.

Homeowners who have not received a bill by Sept. 15 should call the Fulton County Tax Commissioner's Office at 404-613-6100. Bills can also be viewed and paid online at fultoncountytaxes.org.

School tax increase could raise the final bill

The largest piece of a Roswell homeowner's property tax bill, roughly 55%, goes to Fulton County Schools. Superintendent Mike Looney has recommended raising the school millage rate from 17.08 to 18.08 mills, a 5.85% increase. The Board of Education is scheduled to vote on that tentative rate on Aug. 20.

If approved, three public hearings would follow before a final vote. The district cited rising costs, increased employer contributions for health care and the Teachers Retirement System, and declining local tax revenue from senior property tax exemptions as reasons for the proposed increase.

Looney said at an Aug. 11 work session that the district made roughly $50 million in austerity cuts over the past year through a program called GLIDE. The additional revenue, Rough Draft Atlanta reported, would allow the district to eliminate a proposed employee furlough day and provide flexibility for future salary increases.

How Roswell taxes break down

Roswell residents pay property taxes to three agencies: Fulton County Schools (about 55%), Fulton County government (about 29%) and the City of Roswell (about 16%). The city's 2025 millage rate was 4.949 mills; the 2026 rate has not yet been set.

The next step for homeowners: pay by Thursday, Oct. 15 and watch for a second notice once the county finalizes its tax digest.