EVANS, GA (WFXG) -
Making
a trip to the tag office usually takes a couple minutes.
"I
was in and out in 20 minutes and there had to have been at least 40-50 people,"
said Kelly Stitzel.
But
it looks like the wait time will be stretched.
"We're
looking at waiting on three to four people per hour per registrar," said Columbia
County Tax Commissioner Kay Allen.
Compare
those numbers to their current rate of helping seven to eight people an hour.
Allen
says people can expect to wait longer starting March 1, because it will take
time to switch people from the birthday tax program to the new program.
If you
bought a vehicle in Georgia since January 1, 2012, you now have the option of
paying extra money up front to get your vehicle added to a new tax system
where you won't have to pay the birthday tax.
"For
us to calculate if you're going to be able to come into the program for free or
if it's going to cost you to get into the program, you're going to need to
provide for us a bill of sale, your contract, your driver's license, insurance
information," Allen, said.
Right
now, Georgia car owners pay an annual 7% sales tax every year for the birthday tax.
Under the new system, people will pay a 6.5% sales tax which will increase to 7%
in two years.
"I like it, it's a balance," Stitzel, said.
But
it's going to put a greater strain on the office and Allen says they're
considering hiring more staff and changing their schedules so they'll be
available to help people with their tag fees.
"We're
concerned, but we're asking people to just put on their sweet smile and
pleasant attitude when they come because it's going to be different than it
ever has before around here," she said.
People
who bought cars before January 1, 2012 will continue to pay the birthday tax
every year for another 10 years, until all vehicles become a part of the new
system.
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