The Short Term Rental Application is the form the Henry County Tax Commissioner's Business & Occupational Tax Division uses for owners who want to rent a dwelling short term under Henry County Ordinance 3-3-Article VII. It is a license application, not a Henry County property tax return or bill. The same PDF holds the local emergency contact consent, the legal status and private employer affidavits, a gross receipts page and a hotel-motel occupancy tax return. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the form is published by the Tax Commissioner at henrycountytax.com.
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What is Short Term Rental Application – Henry County, GA?
The Short Term Rental Application is the Henry County Tax Commissioner's form that property owners complete to apply to operate a short-term rental under Henry County Ordinance 3-3-Article VII, together with the consent, affidavit and gross receipts pages bundled in the same PDF.
The application page asks for the business name and DBA, the owner's details, the rental address and parcel ID, the business type, the rental unit type (partial rental, additional dwelling unit or full house rental), the date first rented, the bedrooms and bathrooms with the square footage of each bedroom, and the number of vehicles allowed per ordinance. The owner then initials a series of acknowledgments and signs.
The packet continues with:
- the Short-Term Rental Local Emergency Contact Consent Form;
- the Legal Status Affidavit and the Private Employer Affidavit under O.C.G.A. § 36-60-6(d);
- the Gross Receipts Page, which the office uses to calculate the occupational tax;
- the Hotel – Motel Occupancy Tax Return, which the form says is paid online through a separate account.
The PDF also includes a Henry County Personal Property Guide. It explains that business personal property returns (PT-50P) go to the Tax Assessor, so they are not part of this application.
Who needs to file Short Term Rental Application – Henry County, GA?
Property owners who want to rent a dwelling in Henry County on a short-term basis use this application. The form covers three kinds of rental: a partial rental, an additional dwelling unit and a full house rental. The owner signs the application, and the business may be a sole proprietorship, an LLC, an INC or a partnership.
Other people the packet involves:
- Local emergency contact. This must be an individual other than the applicant who lives within 20 miles of the rental. The form says the contact cannot be the owner and cannot live in the home. That person signs the consent form and supplies a driver's license number and copy.
- Applicants proving legal status. The Legal Status Affidavit is for a U.S. citizen 18 or older, or a qualified alien or nonimmigrant 18 or older who is lawfully present; the second group attaches a copy of the Alien Registration Card.
- Owners in a subdivision. They submit a letter from the Homeowners Association allowing short term rental. If no HOA exists, signing the application acknowledges that no HOA is active.
- LLC or INC owners. The property owner must be listed on the LLC or INC.
The form does not describe anyone signing for the owner.
When to file Short Term Rental Application – Henry County, GA
Complete the application before you start renting: the acknowledgments state that you must have a Due Diligence meeting with the Building Department prior to renting the property. The form prints no separate application deadline. The Tax Commissioner takes applications by appointment only, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fees are assessed at the time of submission.
Dates that apply after approval:
- The Hotel/Motel excise tax must be submitted monthly, before the 20th of the month following collection. Missing it is noncompliance and the STR license can be suspended.
- If the emergency contact moves from a residence within 20 miles, the Henry County Occupational Tax Department must be notified immediately.
For the Gross Receipts Page, an established business reports receipts from October 1 of last year to September 30 of the current year. A business that was not operating during that period estimates the next 12 months from its business plan.
Documents you need
- Copy of the property owner's driver's license; the form asks for the license number and says to include a copy.
- Copies of the LLC or INC from the Georgia Secretary of State, if the business type is LLC or INC; the property owner must be listed on it.
- Letter from the Homeowners Association allowing short term rental, if the property is in a subdivision with an HOA.
- Copy of the brochure required by the ordinance.
- Signed affidavit from a Building Inspector, with a copy of the Building Inspector's state license.
- Local emergency contact's driver's license copy, attached to the Local Emergency Contact Consent Form.
- Copy of the Alien Registration Card, if you are a qualified alien or nonimmigrant and check box 2 on the Legal Status Affidavit.
- Completed Gross Receipts Page for the occupational tax calendar year.
- Legal Status/Private Employer Affidavit, with page 2 of the application notarized, as the agency's list of a complete application requires.
- ULDC requirements, for home-based rentals only, as listed by the agency.
How to fill out Short Term Rental Application – Henry County, GA
Enter the account and meeting details
At the top, fill in Account # and Date of Due Diligence Meeting if you have them. The form says fees are assessed at the time of submission.
Complete the owner information
Enter the Name of Business, DBA, Property Owner Name and Address, Name of Subdivision, Driver's License Number, Address of Short-Term Rental, Parcel ID, Additional STR's with the County, phone number and email address.
Check the business type
Check Sole Proprietorship, LLC, INC or Partnership. For an LLC or INC, include copies from the Georgia Secretary of State showing the property owner.
Describe the rental
Check Partial Rental, Additional Dwelling Unit or Full House Rental, then enter the date first rented, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the square footage of each bedroom (Bedroom # 1 to # 6) and the number of vehicles allowed per ordinance.
Initial the ordinance acknowledgments
Read each statement and initial it, covering the ordinances, the 300-foot notice, the HOA letter, the emergency contact rule, the Due Diligence meeting, the brochure and the Building Inspector's affidavit.
Sign and date the application
Enter the Date of Application and have the Property Owner sign.
Complete the emergency contact consent
Enter the contact's name, address, 24-hour phone number, email and driver's license number, attach the license copy, and have the contact sign and date the consent.
Check the legal status box
Mark box 1 for a U.S. citizen 18 or older, or box 2 for a qualified alien or nonimmigrant, attach the Alien Registration Card and enter its number.
Complete the private employer affidavit
Enter the business name, select 1(a) or 1(b) based on the number of employees on January 1, and add the E-Verify number and federal work authorization details if 1(a) applies. Sign before a notary.
Fill in the gross receipts page
Enter the date, account number, business name and address, the gross receipts for the period stated on the page, and the owner's signature and date.
Note the hotel-motel tax return
The Hotel – Motel Occupancy Tax Return in the packet is paid online through the separate account and PIN emailed after the certificate is issued.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that every initial, signature and attachment is in place. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble the package for your appointment or online application.
How to submit Short Term Rental Application – Henry County, GA
You can apply with the Henry County Tax Commissioner by appointment or online.
- By appointment: Henry County Tax Commissioner, 140 Henry Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253. Appointments run Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Online: the agency's Occupational Tax Forms page says you can apply online.
- Questions: call 770-288-8180, option 5.
The agency lists a complete application as: a copy of your driver's license, page 2 of the application notarized, the Gross Receipts form, the Legal Status/Private Employer Affidavit, the ULDC requirements (home-based only) and the application itself. Fees are assessed at the time of submission; call the office for the amount. After the certificate is issued, you receive an email with a separate account and PIN for the monthly hotel/motel excise tax payments, which are made online. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Renting the property before the Due Diligence meeting with the Building Department, which the acknowledgments require prior to renting.
- Naming the owner or someone who lives in the home as the local emergency contact, or someone living more than 20 miles from the rental.
- Leaving out copies of the LLC or INC from the Georgia Secretary of State, or filing for an LLC or INC on which the property owner is not listed.
- Omitting the driver's license copies for the owner and for the local emergency contact.
- Skipping the Homeowners Association letter when the property is in a subdivision with an HOA.
- Forgetting the Building Inspector's signed affidavit with a copy of the inspector's state license, or the brochure required by ordinance.
- Not notifying properties within 300 feet of the rental and giving each owner the local contact information.
- Missing the monthly Hotel/Motel excise tax before the 20th of the following month, which can lead to license suspension.
- Leaving initials blank on the acknowledgment lines or the application unsigned by the property owner.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Henry County Short Term Rental Application?
It is the Henry County Tax Commissioner's application for owners who want to operate a short-term rental under Henry County Ordinance 3-3-Article VII. The PDF also bundles the emergency contact consent, legal status and private employer affidavits, a gross receipts page and a hotel-motel tax return.
Is this a Henry County property tax form?
No. It is a short-term rental license application handled by the Tax Commissioner's Business & Occupational Tax Division. The packet's Personal Property Guide says business personal property returns (PT-50P) go to the Tax Assessor, who sets an April 1 filing deadline.
Who can be my local emergency contact for a short-term rental?
An individual other than you who lives within 20 miles of the rental. The form says the contact cannot be the owner or live in the home. The contact must be reachable 24 hours a day, have access to the property, sign the consent form and attach a driver's license copy.
What do I need to attach to the Short Term Rental Application?
Attach a copy of the owner's driver's license, the emergency contact's license copy, LLC or INC copies from the Georgia Secretary of State if applicable, an HOA letter if the property is in a subdivision, the ordinance brochure and a Building Inspector's signed affidavit with the inspector's state license.
Where do I submit the Henry County short-term rental application?
Applications are taken by appointment at the Henry County Tax Commissioner, 140 Henry Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The agency also says you can apply online. Call 770-288-8180, option 5.
Is there a fee to apply?
Yes. The form states that fees are assessed at the time of submission. It does not print an amount, so call the Tax Commissioner's office at 770-288-8180, option 5, to confirm the current fee before your appointment.
When is the hotel/motel excise tax due?
Submit it monthly before the 20th of the month following collection. Failure to do so is noncompliance and the STR license can be suspended. After the certificate is issued, an email gives you a separate account and PIN for the online payments.
Can I fill out the Short Term Rental Application online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not submit the application; you apply through the Henry County Tax Commissioner's appointment or online channels.
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