July Sales Tax Overview
Georgia’s July gross sales and use collections grew +6.9% YoY, the highest growth in collections in 2020. Only 4 industries posted negative growth this month: accommodation (-48.33%), home furnishings (-14.06%), utilities (-7.47%), and wholesale (-7.38%). The top 3 industries that experienced the most sales tax growth YoY this month are other retail (+33.83%), auto (+23.86%), and construction (+18.18%).
The table below shows how the 5 largest sales tax-generating counties, which contributed 40.58% of all sales tax in July, performed.
| County | 2020 | 2019 | % Change |
| Fulton | $21,450,063.79 | $23,907,785.26 | -10.28% |
| Gwinnett | $15,406,918.21 | $14,248,276.59 | 8.13% |
| Cobb | $13,500,909.92 | $13,355,945.77 | 1.09% |
| Dekalb | $10,989,488.35 | $10,388,547.10 | 5.78% |
| Chatham | $ 6,849,859.83 | $ 7,097,679.83 | -3.49% |
The next table shows Georgia’s top 5 and bottom 5 counties in terms of sales tax growth (loss). The 10 counties account for 13.39% of Georgia’s total sales tax revenue generation in July 2020 (Fulton county accounts for 12.76%).
| County | 2020 | 2019 | % Change |
| Warren | $ 83,605.78 | $ 44,032.18 | 89.87% |
| Taylor | $ 97,927.01 | $ 65,200.17 | 50.19% |
| Lee | $ 361,314.20 | $ 244,095.04 | 48.02% |
| Irwin | $ 68,418.89 | $ 48,806.44 | 40.18% |
| Atkinson | $ 67,404.38 | $ 48,501.48 | 38.97% |
| Fulton | $21,450,063.79 | $23,907,785.26 | -10.28% |
| Twiggs | $ 51,476.63 | $ 59,326.99 | -13.23% |
| Taliaferro | $ 15,577.96 | $ 20,984.09 | -25.76% |
| Berrien | $ 83,640.27 | $ 114,738.86 | -27.10% |
| Heard | $ 231,775.14 | $ 365,913.69 | -36.66% |
Source: Georgia Department of Revenue Sales Tax Commodity Report
Other Tax Collection Revenue
Individual Income Tax: July net collections, adjusted to remove due date shifted tax revenues related to FY 2020, increased by 20.2% (+$196.2 million) with a total sum of ~$1.17 billion.
Corporate Income Tax: July net collection, adjusted to remove due date shifted tax revenues related to FY 2020, increased by 15480% (+$77.4 million) from $0.5 in 2019 to $77.9 in 2020. The large jump is due to:
- Corporate refunds issued down by 81.9% (-$41.8 million)
- Corporate income estimated tax payments up by 197.7% (+$46 million)
- Corporate income tax return payments down by 86.2% (-$16 million)
- All other corporate tax categories up a combined $5.6 million
Motor Fuel Taxes: July collections decreased by 0.5% (-$0.7 million) totaling to $151.2 million.
Motor Vehicle – Tag & Title Fees: July collections increased by 3.7% (+$1.2 million) from $32.7 million in 2019 to $33.9 million in 2020. Title ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) declined by -24.6% (-$19 million) from $77.5 million in 2019 to $58.5 million in 2020
Source: Georgia Department of Revenue Press Releases
Georgia Select Policy Changes
On July 1st, several Georgia bills were enacted including:
- House Bill 346: Bars landlords from engaging in retaliatory actions against tenants who report them for certain code violations or failure to make certain repairs.
- Senate Bill 18: Allows physicians to provide health care to a patient through a direct agreement without being subject to insurance regulations.
- Senate Bill 184: Requires state employee health insurance plans to pay for services provided by federally qualified health centers at no less than the same rates as Medicare.
To see the complete list, click here.
July Sales Tax Report Graphs
July showed an increase of 55,466 employed residents over the month, bringing the total to 4,611,315. This number has decreased by 318,574 over the year.
From week ending 3/21/2020 through 8/1/2020, the sectors with the most regular UI initial claims processed included Accommodation and Food Services, 802,990, Health Care and Social Assistance, 398,353, Retail Trade, 368,039, Administrative and Support Services, 281,998, and Manufacturing, 261,601.
During July, the last COVID-19 restrictions were lifted for music venues and conventions. Additionally, popular attractions/museums opened their doors which allowed a majority of Georgia businesses to be open.
Chart Source: Georgia Department of Revenue Sales Tax Commodity Report
July Georgia Sales Tax Report: Good And Bad News
Good News
Unemployment rate is trending down: 12.6% in April to 7.6% in June
Fitch Rates Georgia’s $1.139B GO Bonds ‘AAA’; Outlook Stable
Purple Mattresses invests $21 Million in Georgia facility
Employ Georgia posted more than 98,101 statewide job listings during the month of July.
Bad News
State Asks For $1.1B Federal Loan To Cover Shrinking Unemployment Fund
As of 8/4/2020, the trust fund balance was $504,184,661, down $2.043 billion, or 80 percent, from the 3/24/2020 balance of $2,547,476,454.
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