Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) quickly became one of the most talked-about new members of Congress — in an entirely negative way. Now, add tax-dodger to a resume that almost reads like a rap sheet.
An Atlanta TV station has learned “Greene and her husband have two active homestead exemptions, which is against Georgia law. A homestead exemption is a big tax break any Georgia homeowner is entitled to for their primary residence. It is against the law to file for more than one.”
Reporter Justin Gray “pulled records showing that the Greenes are getting the tax break on two different homes in two different counties,” the station reported on Friday, May 14, 2021 (here). But when Gray asked her if she wished to comment, “Greene’s office told Gray to mind his own business” and called the allegation “a pathetic smear.”
First of all, if an elected official is a tax cheater, that’s very much the voters’ business; it may also be of interest to tax investigators and, ultimately, a prosecutor.
Second, if Gray made up the story, the records don’t exist, and the Greenes aren’t committing tax fraud, then, yes, it’s a pathetic smear. Or a reporter’s honest mistake (e.g., if they sold one of the homes when they bought the other; but that’s why reporters ask subjects of stories for comment).
But if they are, it’s caught red-handed.
Actually looking at the basic information about the homestead exemption whos it is a nice break, but not that big. It is immediately obvious that a couple can in fact claim two residences in two situations. One a second exemption is allowed if one is for a farm property. Second is a ruse folks with money probably use in Georgia all the time. One spouse claims one property as a tax payer and the other spouse claims the other property as their primary residence. And it is entirely possible the Greene’s have not even filed their taxes for 2020 2with the state so they may not have even claimed any exemption.
Georgia law is clear the exemption only applies to a residence “actually occupied” by the homeowner, and you can’t occupy more than one home at a time. Speculating about facts (e.g., whether the Greens have filed a tax return) is not a substitute for actual facts. If you don’t know something, don’t post it; and don’t base your arguments on facts you don’t know.