Incentives and Taxes

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Incentives: The right tier. The right time.                              

In a fast-moving global market, we know the importance of great timing, and whether your operation has startup or expansion needs, Jefferson County is ready to immediately coordinate and customize the right incentives—at the right time—for your operation’s continued success and prosperity. Best of all, as a Tier One Community, we’re prepared to offer you Georgia’s very best incentives, including:

 Tier One Jobs Tax Credit: Big dividends for even small job creators.          

Even small operations can reap big dividends, with qualified companies earning as much as $4,000 in annual savings for each job created for up to five years—based on a minimum of only two jobs. Available for a variety of sectors including:

• Processing
• Manufacturing
• Distribution and warehousing

100% Freeport Exemption: Complete flexibility for finished goods and more.

Park it or move it—if you’re a Georgia producer or manufacturer, it’s your choice with our 100% Freeport exemption on tangible personal property including goods in the process of being manufactured. Also qualified for exemption: finished goods held for a period of 12 months or less; or finished goods stored in a warehouse, dock or wharf, destined to for shipment outside the state for a period of 12 months or less.

Investment Tax Credit: Invest for the best return. 

If your company has been operating in Georgia for at least three years, we also offer an alternative to the jobs tax credit allows qualifying operations to earn investment tax credits for upgrades or expansions, from to 1 percent to 8 percent of qualified capital investments of $50,000 or more. Rates are variable, and credits can be used to offset up to 50% of your company’s Georgia corporate income tax liability, with any unused credit carried forward for up to 10 years.

Port Tax Credit Bonus: Go deeper, earn bigger.

Georgia’s deep-water ports are a fast connection to global markets—and to a valuable tax credit bonus! If your company qualifies for the jobs tax credit, and your operation has increased your port shipping by at least 10% over the previous (or a base) year, then the Port Tax Credit Bonus may provide an additional $1,250 per job tax credit which can be applied toward Georgia corporate tax liability. Qualified companies can use the credit to offset up to 50% of corporate income tax liability, and the credit may carried forward for up to 10 years, as long as the company’s port traffic remains above the qualifying threshold.

Retraining Tax Credit: up to $500 credit per full-time employee.

In an ever-changing global market, it pays to employ an agile workforce—in more ways than one in Jefferson County, thanks to our retraining tax credit of up to $500 per full-time employee. Manufacturing and telecommunications operations operating for at least three years in the state are eligible for tax credit of 50% of direct training expenses, with up to $500 credit per full-time employee per training program, with an annual maximum credit of $1,250 per employee. All the components you need to keep your team up to speed—from instructor and teaching materials cost to employee wages during the retraining and even qualified travel expenses—are applicable toward the credit.

Sales tax use and exemptions: Running smarter, faster.

Sales tax use and exemptions are available for products and services, including:

• Purchase of manufacturing equipment
• Servicing of industrial equipment
• Cost of electricity, gas and water used the manufacturing process.