Waynesboro, GA Property Tax: Rates & How to Save (2026)
Waynesboro, GA property taxes: $1,171/year median. See rates, how to appeal in Burke County, and check your savings.
Key Takeaways
Median home value: $161,500 in Waynesboro.Median annual tax bill: $1,171.Tax rate: Burke County's combined rate is 1.950%.Appeals filed with: Burke County Board of Assessors (not the city).Appeal deadline: 45 days from your assessment notice date.
Waynesboro is the Burke County seat east of Augusta, where home values run slightly above the county median at around $161,500. This guide helps you determine whether your assessment is in line with recent comparable sales and explains the steps to appeal if it isn't.
Property Tax Rates in Waynesboro
Waynesboro property taxes are assessed and collected by Burke County. Georgia assesses all property at 40% of fair market value.
Here is how the tax math works for the median Waynesboro home:
Fair Market Value (county assessment): $161,500
Assessed Value ($161,500 x 0.40): $64,600
Tax Rate (Burke County combined rate): 1.950%
Annual Tax Bill ($64,600 x 1.950%): $1,259
The Census Bureau reports a median annual tax bill of $1,171 for Waynesboro, which reflects all levies including county, school, and city taxes.
How Waynesboro Compares
Waynesboro: $161,500
Burke County: $151,600
Georgia (statewide): $170,200
Homes in Waynesboro are valued 6% above the Burke County median. The median annual tax bill in Waynesboro ($1,171) is 18% below Georgia's statewide median of $1,439. Home values in Burke County range from about $59,705 (25th percentile) to $268,055 (75th percentile), so your appeal savings depend heavily on where your home falls in that range.
How to Appeal Your Waynesboro Property Tax
Property tax appeals in Waynesboro are handled by the Burke County Board of Assessors. You have 45 days from the date of the assessment notice to file using the PT-311A form.
Based on a combined tax rate of 1.950%. Your actual rate may vary by tax district.
A 10% reduction on the median Waynesboro home ($161,500 down by $16,150) would save approximately $126 per year - or $378 over three years with the 299c freeze.
The median annual property tax bill in Waynesboro is $1,171, based on Census ACS 2024 data. Using Burke County's millage rate of 1.950%, the computed tax on the median home ($161,500) is approximately $1,259.
Who do I contact to appeal my Waynesboro property tax?
Appeals are filed with the Burke County Board of Assessors, not at the city level. File a PT-311A form within 45 days of your assessment notice.
How is my Waynesboro property tax bill calculated?
Georgia taxes property at 40% of fair market value. For Waynesboro's median home ($161,500), the assessed value is $64,600. Multiply by Burke County's millage rate of 1.950% to get your annual bill. Many Waynesboro homeowners find that assessed values have climbed faster than actual sale prices. Comparing your value to 3-5 recent sales of similar homes is the quickest way to spot an overassessment.
Is it worth appealing a small overvaluation in Waynesboro?
Yes. Even a $78 per year overcharge (from a $10,000 overvaluation at Burke County's 1.950% rate) adds up to $234 over three years with the 299c freeze. The appeal is free to file and there is no risk of your assessment increasing.
Can I appeal if I just bought my Waynesboro home?
Yes. If you paid less than the county's assessed fair market value, your purchase price is strong evidence of overassessment. If you paid more, the county may eventually reassess upward -- but they cannot do so just because you appealed. Either way, you should compare your assessed value to what similar nearby homes actually sold for.
Can my property tax go up if I appeal?
No. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-311) protects you: the county cannot raise your assessed value above what they originally set just because you filed an appeal. The Board of Equalization only rules on the disputed value. Worst case, your appeal is denied and you keep your current assessment -- your taxes will not increase as a result of appealing.