Here’s why some in Georgia have already received their tax rebate check — and some haven’t

Editor’s note: The video above is from previous coverage.

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – For Georgians who are wondering why they haven’t received Gov. Brian Kemp’s highly touted special tax refunds yet, but others have, that’s because the state Department of Revenue is issuing them in small batches to avoid any technical snafus.

“The Department is issuing surplus refunds in batches, and the number of refunds issued per batch will increase week over week,” said Joe Snowden, the department’s director of external affairs and communications. “This gradual rollout allows us to carefully monitor the process and ensure there are no issues on the IT side with the deposits or checks. It’s a precautionary step to help avoid errors and make sure everything runs smoothly.”

On June 2, Kemp said eligible taxpayers would begin receiving their checks during the first week of the month.

This marks the third time Georgia has returned a portion of its revenue surplus to taxpayers, with previous refunds issued in 2022 and 2023.

Here’s who’s eligible …

• Taxpayers who have filed both 2023 and 2024 individual income tax returns, have paid into the system, and do not owe the state Department of Revenue. An individual filer’s refund amount will depend on their tax liability from the 2023 tax year and is capped at:
  • $250 for single filers and married individuals filing separately
  • $375 for head of household filers
  • $500 for married individuals filing jointly

… and here’s how to check your status.

Taxpayers can check their eligibility using the surplus tax refund eligibility tool, available through the Georgia Tax Center, by inputting their tax year, social security number or tax identification number, and federal adjusted gross income.

Kemp’s office said the measures were made possible by the passage of House Bill 112 during the 2025 legislative session and are a direct result of conservative budget practices and a strong state economy.

On July 1, Georgia’s income tax rate will fall from 5.39% to 5.19%.

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