Personal Finance

2019 Tax Returns: What You Should Know In Georgia

Here's a reminder of what's new in your tax return for 2019 and what exactly is due on April 15, 2020.

You have until April 15, 2020, to file your taxes for 2019.
You have until April 15, 2020, to file your taxes for 2019. (Photo Credit: Shutterstock)

Congress passed major tax legislation in December 2017, and while the majority of these changes were effective for the 2018 tax year, a few changes will be new in 2020 for your 2019 tax filings.

Here are a few of the most important changes for your tax year 2019 filings in Georgia.

Standard Deduction

Find out what's happening in Across Georgiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Standard deduction is a dollar amount that reduces the amount of income on which you are taxed and varies according to your filing status. The standard deduction for each filing status for the 2019 tax year has changed slightly from 2018, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

  • Single: $12,200 — Up from $12,000 for 2018.
  • Married filing jointly or qualifying widow: $24,400 — Up from $24,000 for 2018.
  • Married filing separately: $12,200 — Up from $12,000 for 2018.
  • Head of household: $18,350 — Up from $18,000 for 2018.

Health Care

Find out what's happening in Across Georgiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Tax year 2019 will be the first time that form 1040 will not have the “full-year healthcare coverage” or exempt box; and Form 8965, Health Coverage Exemptions, will no longer be used.

Reminder On New Tax Brackets

The bill passed by the President Donald Trump administration in 2017 kept the seven tax brackets but lowered the number of the tax rates. Additionally, it also changed the income thresholds at which the rates apply.

These new rates went into effect for the 2018 tax year, but here’s a reminder for the 2019 tax year:

Tax Bracket And Thresholds For Single Filers In 2019 Tax Year

Tax Rate — Taxable Income Bracket

10 percent — $0 to $9,525
12 percent — $9,526 to $38,700
22 percent — $38,701 to $82,500
24 percent — $82,501 to $157,500
32 percent — $157,501 to $200,000
35 percent — $416,701 to $418,400
37 percent — More than $500,000

Tax Brackets And Thresholds For Married Couples Filing Jointly in 2019 Tax Year

Tax Rate — Taxable Income Bracket

10 percent — $0 to $19,050
12 percent — $19,051 to $77,400
22 percent — $77,401 to $165,000
24 percent — $165,001 to $315,000
32 percent — $315,001 to $400,000
35 percent — $400,001 to $600,000
37 percent — More than $600,001

It’s a date most people don’t need to be reminded of, but April 15 is the last day you can file your return for the 2019 tax year — that is, of course, unless you’ve applied for an extension.

Here are the three major components of your tax filings that are due on April 15:

  1. Individual tax returns are due for tax year 2019.
  2. Individual tax return extension forms are due for tax year 2019.
  3. If you haven’t already funded your retirement account for 2019, you need to do so by April 15, 2020.

Georgia Tax Revenues

Georgia’s net tax collections for January totaled nearly $2.36 billion, for an increase of $100.8 million, or 4.5 percent, compared to January 2019, when net tax collections totaled $2.25 billion. Year-to-date net tax collections totaled roughly $14.21 billion, for an increase of $133 million, or 0.9 percent, compared to the previous fiscal year, when net tax revenues totaled $14.07 billion.

State officials said individual income tax collections increased by a total of $56 million, or 4.3 percent, compared to last year when income tax collections totaled $1.3 billion.
The following notable components within individual income tax combine for the net increase:

  • Individual income tax refunds issued (net of voided checks) were up $18.5 million, or 34.1 percent
  • Individual withholding payments for the month increased by $43.8 million, or 4.2 percent
  • Individual income tax return payments were up $12.3 million, or 91.7 percent, over FY 2019
  • All other individual tax categories, including estimated tax payments, were up a combined $18.4 million,


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here