Graduated tax abatements: Momentum for growth

Graduated tax abatements help operations start up strong and keep growing stronger. For qualified employers, abatements may apply to:

• Land acquisition
• Buildings
• Machinery and equipment

100% abatement of inventory taxes: Support at every stage

We provide end-to-end support to facilitate industrial productivity with 100% tax abatement for qualified industries on:

• Raw materials
• Work in process
• Finished goods

Inventory Tax Exemptions

Liberty County’s Board of Commissioners and voters have approved all four categories of exemptions on manufacturing, distribution centers, and e-commerce centers at 100%. The exemptions are:

• Inventory of goods in the process of being manufactured or produced including raw materials and partly finished goods;
• Inventory of finished goods manufactured or produced within this State held by the manufacturer or producer for a period not to exceed 12 months;
• Inventory of finished goods on January 1 that are stored in a warehouse, dock, or wharf which are destined for shipment outside this State for a period not to exceed 12 months;
• Stock in trade of a fulfillment center which on January 1 are stored in the fulfillment center.

Read more about the exemptions at dor.georgia.gov/freeport-exemption

Industrial Revenue Bonds: Flexibility to keep funds flowing

Liberty County’s ability to issue Industrial Revenue Bonds ensures low-interest financing for a variety of project needs.

JOB TAX CREDITS: MILITARY ZONE DESIGNATION

Nearly all industrial areas in Liberty County are in state-designated Military Zones, which can earn up to $17,500 in tax credits over five years for employers that create new jobs. The businesses need to be in a Census Tract that includes an LCDA-owned industrial park, but not necessarily in the park itself.

Here are the details:

• New and existing manufacturing, distribution, retail, and service businesses qualify
• Businesses need create only 2 full-time (at least 35 hours) jobs that pay at least $15.05 an hour and offer health insurance
• Tax credits of $17,500 per job (5 years x $3,500)
  As an example an industry creating 100 jobs would qualify for $1,750,000 over 5 years
• Credits may be applied to 100% of state corporate income tax liability
• Excess credits may be used to offset payroll withholding taxes
• Military Zones cover 105,600 acres in the county, including all industrial parks
• Zones also include Interstate-95/U.S. 84 Interchange 76

Click here for more on the Military Zone Job Tax Credit.

Quality Job Tax Credits: How we promote prosperity

Creating quality jobs earns your organization community respect plus substantial rewards. State-designed, the credits wages likely to attract longterm employees. Employers with at least 50 jobs that pay 150% of the county’s average wage ($844 in 2021) can earn:

• Tax credits against both Georgia income tax liability and payroll withholding tax, ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 per job per year, depending on average employee wages. Click here for more information on the credit.

Investment Tax Credit: Higher returns for operational investment

Once an enterprise puts down roots, we make it easier to flourish with investment tax credits ranging from 1% to 5% against Georgia income tax.

• Available to qualified manufacturers or telecommunications companies operating in Georgia for at least 3 years and making a minimum investment of at least $100,000 for operational needs such as land acquisition, buildings, and/or machinery and equipment.

Port tax credit: One more way port usage pays

For qualified companies, the port tax credit is a bonus to the Job or Investment tax credit, when import/export through a Georgia port increases by 10% over the previous or base year, providing up to:

• An additional $1,250 tax credit per job.

 QuickStart training: America’s #1 workforce training

For qualified employers, the Georgia Quick Start program works through collaboration with Savannah Technical College, to provide:

• Customized, job-specific training that helps companies build teams quickly and with confidence.

Click here to learn more about all state tax incentives for businesses.

Click here to view the 2024 state brochure on business incentives

Foreign Trade Zone advantages: Work faster, smarter

Local companies may become designated as sub-zones under Savannah’s #104 Foreign Trade Zone, which can yield advantages such as:

• Duty Deferral: Customs Duties are paid only if and when goods are transferred out of a Zone and into U.S. Customs territory.
• Duty Elimination: No duties are paid on merchandise exported from an FTZ.
• Duty Reduction: FTZ users may elect to pay duties at either the rate of the foreign inputs used, or the rate applied to the finished product – which is often lower.
• Inverted Tariff: Duty paid at the lower tariff rate of the imported component or finished product.
• Expedite Trade: Direct Delivery reduces transit times for receipt of merchandise. Weekly entry simplifies the customs-entry process.
• Tax Savings: Invetory may be exempt from local and state inventory taxes.

Click here for FTZ 104’s Fast Facts. Click here for FTZ 104’s Flyer

Work Opportunity Tax Credit: Veterans benefit employers

Fort Stewart draws veterans of all services to Liberty County for amenities provided on post. An estimated 23% of the county’s population is veterans (age 18-64), compared to 4.6% nationally. That creates the potential to offer participation in the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program.  In this program, participating companies are compensated by being able to reduce their federal income tax liability with a tax credit between $1,200 to $9,000 per qualified employee, depending on the target group.

Click here to learn more about all the benefits employers can earn for hiring qualified employees, including veterans.