You must have owned the property as of January 1. Qualifications: • Must be an un-remarried surviving spouse and a resident of Georgia.• Copy of Death Certificate. Applications are accepted in person year-round. If applying online, current year exemptions must be applied for between January 1 and April 1. Property address- property address where applicant(s) is applying for exemption. Property owners who occupy their homes as their principal place of residence on January 1 may be eligible for an exemption. Local governments that are opting out of the floating homestead exemption must pass a resolution and hold three public hearings. The "Save Our Homes Act" takes effect Jan. 1. It's a floating homestead exemption that will limit property tax hikes to counter inflation.