Across the state, I keep hearing the same thing from Georgians. Workers want to know after a hard day or an extra shift that they get to keep what they earn. Our citizens want jobs that stay here for the long term, not talent leaving the state because someone across the border offers more tax incentives. I believe we can make Georgia a magnet for opportunity while protecting the services on which families rely.
Georgia has momentum. Under Gov. Brian Kemp’s leadership, we cut rates and returned surplus dollars to families through targeted relief. I led those efforts in the State Senate because they put money back into people’s pockets. It’s time to take the next step; small incremental cuts are not enough. At 5.19% today, the income tax rate is still a drag on growth and a brake on hiring decisions for businesses weighing whether to expand in our state.
Every dollar matters for families sitting around kitchen tables across our state. Folks are facing higher prices from years of Bidenflation on groceries, housing, and more. When we take money out of their paychecks through the state income tax, that makes it harder for them to get ahead. How do we build a system that rewards hard work, not punishes it?
That’s why I created the Senate Special Committee on Eliminating Georgia’s Income Tax. The committee has spoken with tax experts, economists, and everyday Georgians who are just looking to pay grocery bills, get college savings started, and build a life in their Georgia hometown.
The committee has found a clear case for action. Getting rid of the income tax creates a powerful incentive for job creation. Companies evaluate the total cost of doing business when they decide where to invest. A predictable, low tax environment multiplies the returns on capital and labor. It encourages firms to open facilities here, to raise wages, and to hire more Georgians. Economic development professionals across the country cite state tax structures as a headline factor in site selection. If we want to compete with our neighbors, we must be willing to match their ambition.
We must also deliver relief to families. Middle class households breathe easier when they can plan without the uncertainty of a paycheck haircut every month. That extra money circulates at local businesses, supports small merchants, and strengthens communities. Action on the income tax will reward families and encourage more home buying, more small business creation, and more confidence among the people who work and live in Georgia.
Cutting the income tax will sharpen our competitive edge for talent. A state budget expert from Texas told the committee that Georgia was fighting with one hand behind its back in the battle for jobs. Young professionals and working families have options. They move to places that make it easier to build careers and raise children. We have the riverfronts, the campuses, the airports, and the Georgia culture. What we need now is a tax policy that helps keep graduates and skilled workers here rather than losing them to states with friendlier tax codes.
We can look to these other states to guide our path. Our greatest competitors in Florida, Tennessee, and Texas already have no income tax. North Carolina, Mississippi, Iowa, and other states are moving closer and closer to zero, leaving Georgia behind — not by raising sales, gas, or food taxes, but by phasing down the income tax through smart, revenue-based triggers that incentivize growth. I am calling for a practical, phased approach that protects core services while unlocking the potential of our workforce. The committee will soon release its recommendations, and I encourage the legislature to move quickly to implement the income tax relief that so many Georgians support.
Local property taxes have gotten out of control. Eliminating the state income tax without addressing property tax burdens would be incomplete. We need a dual approach that phases out the income tax while enacting reforms that control property tax growth and bring much-needed transparency. School boards and counties shouldn’t get a free ride on rising home values and should be transparent and responsible when they raise taxes on hardworking homeowners. During the last two sessions, I have led efforts to limit the rise in property taxes. In 2026, I’ll again be leading the fight to work with both sides of the aisle to ensure meaningful and lasting relief for Georgia homeowners.
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There is plenty of work to do on these efforts, from expanding homestead exemptions to transparency on local taxation. But rising property taxes are not an excuse to do nothing on income taxes. Doing both gives families the relief they need and ensures that local governments can plan responsibly and fairly.
Georgia is a place where people still believe the next generation can do better than the last. If we are serious about building a future in which every Georgian can thrive, then we must act with urgency. I am ready to lead on that effort, and I invite my colleagues and fellow citizens to join me.
Burt Jones is lieutenant governor of Georgia.