TIER STATUS:  Tier 2

JOINT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY: Yes.  Carroll County is an active participant in the Greater West Georgia Joint Development Authority (GWGJDA).

JOB TAX CREDIT:  Job Tax Credit – Strategic industries such as distribution, technology, manufacturing, telecom, processing companies and their headquarters qualify for Georgia’s Job Tax Credit.  Depending on the community’s tier, companies must create between five and 25 net new jobs per year to qualify. For each year (up to five years) the jobs are maintained, qualified companies can claim a tax credit with a value of $750 – $3,500 per job, per year. An additional $500 credit is offered in counties that participate in a multi-county joint development authority. Unused job tax credits may be carried forward ten years.

In Tier 1 and 2 counties, credits may be taken against 100 percent of corporate income tax liability, 50 percent in Tiers 3 and 4. Excess credits may be carried forward for ten years. 

                                                                                          
 Tier       Job Tax Credit $        Jobs           Use of Credits           Carry Forward 
 2          $2,500 - $3,000*        10          100% of tax liability          10 years
*includes $500 bonus for Joint Development Authority. Georgia counties can form partnerships which benefit companies with this $500 Job Tax Credit bonus.

INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT:  Existing manufacturing or telecommunications companies that have operated a facility in Georgia for at  least three years, and which make a minimum $50,000 additional qualified capital investment, may claim from 3% of the new investment as a tax credit. Higher credits (5%) are available for investments in recycling or pollution control equipment and for defense plant manufacturing conversion to a new product. Taxpayers must choose either the investment tax credit or the job tax credit. This credit may be applied against 50 percent of tax liability and carried forward for ten years.

                 Investment            Limit of                       Carry               Minimum      
 Tier             Credits                Credits                     Forward          Investment
 2                 3% - 5%*      50% of tax liability        10 years           $50,000
*Recycle, Defense Conversion, Pollution Control

INVENTORY (Freeport):  Freeport is the general term used for the exemption of ad valorem tax on inventories as defined by Georgia law. The law offers manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and warehouse operations an attractive inventory tax exemption on three classes of property.
 
Carroll County and Carrollton exempt 100% on all classes of certain business inventory from property taxation.

Enterprise Zone:  Enterprise Zones (EZ) are recognized as a crucial tool in a county’s promotion of investment which encourages useful employment, diversifies overall business activity, and provides a foundation for future economic growth.