Millions to receive new $500 direct payment this month: Check if you are eligible
Georgia had a budget surplus in 2025 and once again returning the extra money to residents as part of a over $1 billion one time special tax refund program.
Good news for Peach State residents! Thanks to the Georgia’s budget surplus, the state government will send a tax refund of up to $500. This fourth time in recent years state lawmaker have decided to send out one‑time special tax refunds.
It was made possible by the passage of House Bill 1000. The state began issuing payments on 4 May.
“Georgians know best how to spend their money, not the government,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “That’s why we’re committed to being good stewards of those dollars and putting more of them where they belong - in Georgians’ pockets.”
Who is eligible for the $500 refund in Georgia?
According to the state Department of Revenue, any Georgia citizen who was a full-year resident, part-year resident, or nonresident in 2024 and 2025 and filed their Georgia personal income tax return for 2024 and 2025 in a timely manner is eligible for a refund of up to $500.
To be eligible for the money, taxpayers must have filed their tax return for tax years 2024 and 2025 by the April 15, 2025, deadline or by October 15, 2025, if they received an extension.
Taxpayers can check if they will receive the one-time payment using the Georgia government’s Check Your Surplus Tax Refund tool. To use it, you must enter your tax year, Social Security Number (SSN) or Taxpayer Identification Number, and your federal Adjusted Gross Income.
Georgia tax refund amounts
The state tax agency clarifies that the refund amount will depend on the taxpayer’s tax liability for the fiscal year 2024. The amount is capped at:
- $250 for Single/Married Filing Separate
- $375 for Head of Household
- $500 for Married Filing Joint
The amount a Georgia taxpayer will receive depends on a filer’s tax liability and will not exceed the taxes owed for the applicable year.
Thanks to common-sense budgeting, over $1 billion is going back into taxpayers’ pockets!
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) May 4, 2026
Hardworking Georgia families will receive up to $500 refunds, for joint filers, because you know how to spend your money best, not the government!https://t.co/eDZ8ZwB0jp pic.twitter.com/OC2mFSRlTm
Eligible individuals do not need to claim the money, as the Department of Revenue will automatically determine their eligibility. Refunds will be sent based on the information provided on each taxpayer’s tax form. Therefore, refunds will be sent via direct deposit or by mail in the form of a check.
Who is not eligible?
Individuals who did not file a Georgia income tax return for tax year 2024 and a 2025 form by the April 15, 2025 or October 15 deadline are not eligible for the refund. Taxpayers with $0 in tax owed for the tax year 2024 are also ineligible for the refund.
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