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

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Note to Gov. Brian Kemp: your state’s residents are getting restless.

But be patient, everyone. The state Department of Revenue (DOR) said Friday that most of qualified Georgians’ surplus tax refunds will be issued by mid August.

Folks have been venting their frustration on social media over the slow pace of Kemp’s refunds. Some posts simply show residents going about their daily routines while wondering when the checks will arrive ...

That’s OK, TikTok user @ktshomeschoolmama. The governor said Friday, “In less than a month, we’ve returned over $488 million” to taxpayers.

But in the same post, in which Kemp was touting his commitment that “taxpayer money ultimately belongs to hardworking Georgians, not the government,” he revealed, “By the time we’re done, we’ll return $1.2 BILLION to the people of our state.”

Kemp’s math indicates less than half of the state’s taxpayers have so far gotten their rebates. (Warning: the following link contains profanity):

A DOR spokesperson said the current rate of refunds “is consistent with the pace of previous years.

“We anticipate that for those who filed their 2024 return timely, the vast majority of refunds will be issued by the second week of August,” the department said.

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

The Georgia Department of Revenue said its issuing the checks in 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.”

This year is 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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