Marjorie Greene Hit With Investigation Over Georgia Tax Fraud

0
1493

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has been caught in apparent violation of Georgia tax law by an Atlanta-area media outlet. In short, Greene and her husband have claimed homestead tax exemptions on two different properties, but homestead exemptions are only allowed for the taxpayer’s primary residence — not two places. As summarized by WSB-TV from the Atlanta area, a “Channel 2 Action News investigation has found that Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and her husband have two active homestead exemptions, which is against Georgia law.”

The active homestead exemptions cover homes in north Fulton County — outside of the district that Greene represents in Congress — and Floyd County, which is in Greene’s district. Greene purchased the Floyd County home last year, and when applying for a homestead exemption on that second residence, Greene’s husband “left blank the line that asked if they had another active exemption on any property,” according to records obtained by WSB-TV, which is otherwise known as Channel 2 Action News. The outlet obtained the records via open records requests.

Fulton County authorities confirmed that Greene still had an active homestead exemption in their jurisdiction, although as of the time of the Channel 2 report, the tax filing deadline for 2020 hadn’t passed, so it’s unclear whether Greene may have obtained any tax benefits from the apparently illegally in place dual homestead exemptions. The Fulton County Board of Assessors told Channel 2 as follows:

‘The property owners filed for homestead exemption in Fulton County in May of 2019 and it became effective for the 2020 tax year. Per GA law, you can only have one homestead exemption. In this case, Fulton County will consult with Floyd County to confirm and determine in which county the exemption is not valid.’

Greene, meanwhile, issued an expectedly belligerent statement in response to an inquiry from Channel 2. As the Congresswoman put it, referring to the reporter handling the story:

‘Georgians care about their livelihoods and their family’s safety. Yet WSB is focused on paperwork, which is being taken care of. I’m a proud resident of the 14th district. Justin Gray needs to mind his own business instead of launching yet another pathetic attempt to smear me and my family.’

As Justin Gray at WSB-TV pointedly noted in response — “it’s more than a paperwork issue, it’s against Georgia law.” The Atlanta-area outlet adds that the “penalty for filing a false homestead exemption according to Georgia code is twice your tax bill.”