If you or your client’s timberland was impacted by Hurricane Helene, the 2025 Georgia Timber Tax Credit can offer some financial relief. This refundable, transferable credit of up to $550 per acre will help landowners with timber salvage, cleanup, and reforestation efforts in 66 disaster-declared counties. Our new FAQ guide, authored by faculty at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, breaks down eligibility, application steps, and how to claim or transfer the credit.
📄 Download the full guide: 2025 Timber Tax Credit
📄 Step-by-steps instructions to submit the application: GTC Timber Tax Credit Guide 2025
2025 Timber Tax Credit Overview
Hurricane Helene (September 27th, 2024) caused unprecedented devastation across Georgia, with the timber industry among the hardest hit. Many forest landowners suffered significant timber losses. In response, Governor Kemp signed HB 223 into law on May 8th to provide tax and economic relief to affected timber and agricultural producers. The law also aims to reduce public fire hazards and insect infestations resulting from hurricane-damaged timber. Under the new law, eligible Georgia timber producers may qualify for a refundable state income tax credit to help offset losses from Hurricane Helene upon meeting certain replanting and/or restoration requirements.
The timber tax credit is refundable and transferable, subject to certain restrictions. You may use it in the following ways:
- Offset your current Georgia income tax liability. Apply the credit against your Georgia income taxes due for the current taxable year.
- Request a refund. If your allowed timber tax credit exceeds your state income tax liability, you may request a refund for the difference. This option is available only to the original taxpayer who incurred the timber loss.
- Sell or transfer the credit. The credit is also transferable. You can sell or transfer the credit to another Georgia taxpayer, subject to program rules.
- Carry forward unused credit. Any unused credit may be carried forward for up to 10 years until fully used, refunded, or transferred.
These options provide eligible taxpayers flexibility to utilize the credit in the way that best suits their financial and tax planning needs.
To qualify for the 2025 Georgia timber tax credit, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Suffered losses of timber in one or more of the 66 counties designated as disaster areas in the Governor’s October 29, 2024 Executive Order for Hurricane Helene.
- The damaged timber was grown as part of a trade or business or a transaction entered into for profit (i.e., not for personal use).
- Received preapproval for the tax credit from the Georgia Department of Revenue (GADOR).
- Certified to GADOR through GTC that you have completed the required replanting and/or restoration.
To receive the credit, follow these steps in a timely manner:
- Submit a preapproval application electronically through Georgia Tax Center (GTC) (https://gtc.dor.ga.gov/). If approved, you will receive a preapproval certificate.
- Complete the required replanting and/or restoration and report it on GTC.
- Claim the tax credit on your Georgia income tax returns by December 31, 2030.
