UPDATE, AUG. 29: Fulton County has now mailed temporary 2026 tax bills, and Roswell has authorized its City Attorney to seek temporary court relief if the county assessment process is not completed in time. Read the latest Fulton + Roswell tax update here.
Fulton County’s 2026 property tax bills are now out, but this year’s bills come with an important caveat: they are temporary.
Fulton County announced that 2026 property tax bills were mailed on August 15 and are also available online. Because the final 2026 tax digest was not yet certified when billing began, the temporary bills use the preliminary 2026 digest and 2025 millage rates.
That means homeowners should treat the bill as a real payment obligation, but not necessarily as the final amount for the year.
Why the 2026 bills are temporary
Earlier this summer, Fulton County said the Board of Assessors had an unprecedented number of unprocessed land packages and had not completed all of the work needed to finish the 2026 tax digest on the normal schedule.
On July 15, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners authorized the County Attorney to seek Superior Court approval for temporary tax collection so the billing process could continue before the final digest was complete.
That temporary collection process is why bills could be issued in August even though the final 2026 tax digest and final 2026 millage rates were not yet in place.
What the current bill is based on
Fulton County says the temporary bills are based on the preliminary 2026 digest and the 2025 millage rates.
That distinction matters because your final 2026 tax obligation may change after the tax digest is certified and each taxing jurisdiction adopts its 2026 millage rate.
If the final calculation is higher, a revised bill may be issued. If it is lower, taxpayers may receive a refund or other adjustment.
When are Fulton County property taxes due?
Fulton County says the temporary 2026 property tax bills for Fulton County and most jurisdictions are due October 15, 2026.
City of Atlanta property tax bills are due September 30, 2026.
Owners should use the due date printed on their actual bill as the controlling deadline.
What homeowners should check now
- Verify the property address and owner information.
- Confirm the exemptions shown on the bill.
- Review the taxable value and taxing jurisdictions.
- Note the payment due date shown on the bill.
- If your taxes are escrowed, watch for any future escrow analysis after the final tax amount is known.
If you expected a 2026 property tax bill and have not received one by September 15, Fulton County says to contact the Tax Commissioner’s Office.
Your assessment is still not the same as your tax bill
This remains one of the most important distinctions for homeowners.
The Fulton County Board of Assessors determines property values and processes exemptions and appeals. Taxing jurisdictions set millage rates. The Tax Commissioner then calculates the bill using the applicable taxable value, exemptions and millage rates.
So a change in assessed value does not automatically translate dollar-for-dollar into the same percentage change in the final tax bill.
What this means for buyers and sellers
Property taxes are part of the true monthly cost of owning a home, especially in markets such as Alpharetta, Roswell, Johns Creek, Milton and Sandy Springs.
If you are buying a home, do not rely only on the prior year’s tax bill when estimating future carrying costs. If you are selling, buyers may pay closer attention to the property’s annual tax burden when comparing monthly payments.
Cary’s take
The headline is no longer that Fulton County’s tax bills are delayed. The bills are out.
The important part now is that they are temporary. Homeowners should pay attention to the bill they received, meet the current deadline, and then watch for any revised bill or refund after the final digest and 2026 millage rates are set.
What happens next
- Certification of the final 2026 tax digest
- Adoption of final 2026 millage rates by the applicable taxing jurisdictions
- Any revised bills or refunds triggered by the final calculation
That is the next decision point BBDN will be watching.
FAQ
Have Fulton County’s 2026 property tax bills been mailed?
Yes. Fulton County says 2026 property tax bills were mailed August 15 and are also available online.
Why are the 2026 bills temporary?
The final 2026 tax digest was not yet certified when billing began, so temporary bills were issued using the preliminary 2026 digest and 2025 millage rates.
Could my bill change later?
Yes. After the final digest is certified and 2026 millage rates are adopted, the final calculation could result in a revised bill or a refund.
When is my Fulton County property tax bill due?
Fulton County says most temporary 2026 bills are due October 15. City of Atlanta property tax bills are due September 30. Use the due date printed on your bill as the controlling deadline.