2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 48 - REVENUE AND TAXATION (§§ 48-1-1 — 48-18-1) › Chapter 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 48-1-1 — 48-1-10) › Section 48-1-2 - Definitions

As used in this title, the term:
(1)
"Agency" means any department, commission, institution, office, or officer of this state.
(2)
"Aircraft" means any contrivance used or designed for navigation or flight through the air.
(3)
"Airline company" means any person who undertakes, directly or indirectly, to engage in the scheduled transportation by aircraft of persons or property for hire in intrastate, interstate, or international transportation.
(4)
"Commissioner" means the state revenue commissioner.
(5)
"Contraband article" means:
(A)
Any unauthorized, false, forged, altered, or counterfeit revenue stamp or marking, prima facie evidencing the payment of any tax imposed by the revenue laws of this state;
(B)
Any article, plate, die, stamp, machine, apparatus, paraphernalia, or other device or material designed for use, intended to be used, or used in the making of any unauthorized, false, forged, altered, or counterfeit revenue stamp or marking described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph; or
(C)
Any article or property to which any unauthorized, false, forged, altered, or counterfeit revenue stamp or marking prima facie evidencing the payment of any tax imposed by the revenue laws of this state is attached or affixed.
(6)
"Department" means the Department of Revenue.
(7)
"Deputy commissioner" means the deputy revenue commissioner.
(8)
"Domestic," when applied to any corporation or association (including, but not limited to, a partnership), means created, organized, or domiciled in this state.
(9)
"Fiduciary" means a guardian, trustee, executor, administrator, receiver, conservator, or any person, whether individual or corporate, acting in any fiduciary capacity for any person.
(10)
Reserved.
(11)
"Foreign," when applied to any corporation or association (including, but not limited to, a partnership), means created or organized outside this state.
(12)
"Individual" means a natural person.
(13)
"Intangible personal property" means the capital stock of all corporations; money, notes, bonds, accounts, or other credits, secured or unsecured; patent rights, copyrights, franchises, and any other classes and kinds of property defined by law as intangible personal property.
(14)
"Internal Revenue Code" or "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" means for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2023, the provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, provided for in federal law enacted on or before January 1, 2024, except that Section 108(i), Section 163(e)(5)(F), Section 168(b)(3)(I), Section 168(e)(3)(B)(vii), Section 168(e)(3)(E)(ix), Section 168(e)(8), Section 168(k), Section 168(m), Section 168(n), Section 179(d)(1)(B)(ii), Section 179(f), Section 199, Section 381(c)(20), Section 382(d)(3), Section 810(b)(4), Section 1400L, Section 1400N(d)(1), Section 1400N(f), Section 1400N(j), Section 1400N(k), and Section 1400N(o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be treated as if they were not in effect, and except that Section 168(e)(7), Section 172(b)(1)(F), and Section 172(i)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be treated as they were in effect before the 2008 enactment of federal Public Law 110-343, and except that Section 163(i)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be treated as it was in effect before the 2009 enactment of federal Public Law 111-5, and except that Section 13(e)(4) of 2009 federal Public Law 111-92 shall be treated as if it was not in effect, and except that Section 118, Section 163(j), Section 382(k)(1), and Section 174 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be treated as they were in effect before the 2017 enactment of federal Public Law 115-97; provided, however, that all provisions in federal Public Law 117-58 (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) that change or affect in any manner Section 118 shall be treated as if they were in effect, and except that all provisions in federal Public Law 116-136 (CARES Act) that change or affect in any manner Section 172 and Section 461(l) shall be treated as if they were not in effect, and except that all provisions in federal Public Law 117-2 (American Rescue Plan Act of 2021) that change or affect in any manner Section 461(l) shall be treated as if they were not in effect, and except that the limitations provided in Section 179(b)(1) shall be $250,000.00 for tax years beginning in 2010, shall be $250,000.00 for tax years beginning in 2011, shall be $250,000.00 for tax years beginning in 2012, shall be $250,000.00 for tax years beginning in 2013, and shall be $500,000.00 for tax years beginning in 2014, and except that the limitations provided in Section 179(b)(2) shall be $800,000.00 for tax years beginning in 2010, shall be $800,000.00 for tax years beginning in 2011, shall be $800,000.00 for tax years beginning in 2012, shall be $800,000.00 for tax years beginning in 2013, and shall be $2 million for tax years beginning in 2014, and provided that Section 1106 of federal Public Law 112-95 as amended by federal Public Law 113-243 shall be treated as if it is in effect, except the phrase "Code Section
48-2-35
(or, if later, November 15, 2015)" shall be substituted for the phrase "section 6511(a) of such Code (or, if later, April 15, 2015)," and notwithstanding any other provision in this title, no interest shall be refunded with respect to any claim for refund filed pursuant to Section 1106 of federal Public Law 112-95, and provided that subsection (b) of Section 3 of federal Public Law 114-292 shall be treated as if it is in effect, except the phrase "Code Section
48-2-35
" shall be substituted for the phrase "section 6511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986" and the phrase "such section" shall be substituted for the phrase "such subsection." In the event a reference is made in this title to the Internal Revenue Code or the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as it existed on a specific date prior to January 1, 2024, the term means the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as it existed on the prior date. Unless otherwise provided in this title, any term used in this title shall have the same meaning as when used in a comparable provision or context in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2023, provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which were as of January 1, 2024, enacted into law but not yet effective shall become effective for purposes of Georgia taxation on the same dates upon which they become effective for federal tax purposes.
(14.1)
"Internal Revenue Code" or "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" means for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2005, but before January 1, 2007, the provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, provided for in federal law enacted on or before January 1, 2006, except that Section 168(k) (but not excepting Section 168(k)(2)(A)(i), Section 168(k)(2)(D)(i), and Section 168(k)(2)(E)), Section 199, Section 1400L, Section 1400N(d)(1), Section 1400N(j), and Section 1400N(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be treated as if they were not in effect, and except that the following provisions shall be as amended by the federal Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (Pub. L. No. 109-432) as such federal act existed on December 20, 2006, and effective for purposes of Georgia taxation on the same dates upon which they became effective for federal tax purposes pursuant to said federal act: Sections 38, 41, 45A, 45N, 51, 51A, 61, 62, 106, 121, 143, 164, 168 (except 168(k) but not excepting 168(k)(2)(A)(i), 168 (k)(2)(D)(i), and 168(k)(2)(E)), 170, 179E, 198, 220, 222, 223, 263, 280C, 312, 355, 613A, 954, 1043, 1221, 1245, 1355, 1397E, 1400A, 1400B, 7623, and 7872. For such taxable years, provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which were as of January 1, 2006, enacted into law but not yet effective shall be effective for purposes of Georgia taxation on the same dates upon which they become effective for federal tax purposes. The provisions of this paragraph shall supersede and control over any provision of paragraph (14) of this Code section to the contrary.
(14.2)
"Internal Revenue Code" or "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" means for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006, but before January 1, 2008, the provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, provided for in federal law enacted on or before January 1, 2008, except that Section 168(k) (but not excepting Section 168(k)(2)(A)(i), Section 168(k)(2)(D)(i), and Section 168(k)(2)(E)), Section 199, Section 1400L, Section 1400N(d)(1), Section 1400N(j), and Section 1400N(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be treated as if they were not in effect. For such taxable years, provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which were as of January 1, 2008, enacted into law but not yet effective shall be effective for purposes of Georgia taxation on the same dates upon which they become effective for federal tax purposes. The provisions of this paragraph shall supersede and control over any provision of paragraph (14) of this Code section to the contrary.
(14.3)
"Internal Revenue Code" or "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" means for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007, but before January 1, 2009, the provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, provided for in federal law enacted on or before January 1, 2009, except that Section 168(b)(3)(I), Section 168(e)(3)(B)(vii), Section 168(e)(3)(E)(ix), Section 168(e)(8), Section 168(k) (but not excepting Section 168(k)(2)(A)(i), Section 168(k)(2)(D)(i), and Section 168(k)(2)(E)), Section 168(m), Section 168(n), Section 172(b)(1)(F), Section 172(b)(1)(J), Section 172(j), Section 199, Section 1400L, Section 1400N(d)(1), Section 1400N(f), Section 1400N(j), Section 1400N(k), and Section 1400N(o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be treated as if they were not in effect, and except that Section 168(e)(7), Section 172(i)(1), and Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be treated as they were in effect before the 2008 enactment of federal Public Law 110-343. For such taxable years, provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which were as of January 1, 2009, enacted into law but not yet effective shall be effective for purposes of Georgia taxation on the same dates upon which they become effective for federal tax purposes. The provisions of this paragraph shall supersede and control over any provision of paragraph (14) of this Code section to the contrary.
(15)
"Internal Revenue Service" or "IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Department of the Treasury.
(16)
"Member of the armed forces" means commissioned officers and personnel below the grade of commissioned officers in all regular and reserve components of the uniformed services subject to the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Defense. The term also includes the Coast Guard, but it does not include civilian employees of the armed forces.
(17)
"Municipality" means an incorporated municipality in this state.
(18)
"Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, cooperative, nonprofit membership corporation, joint venture, association, company, corporation, agency, syndicate, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, fiduciary, or other group or combination acting as a unit, body politic, or political subdivision, whether public, private, or quasi-public.
(19)
"Personal property" means all tangible personal property and all intangible personal property, as the terms are defined in this Code section.
(20)
"Personal representative" means the duly qualified and acting personal representative of the estate of a decedent or, if there is no duly qualified and acting representative, the person in possession of any property of the decedent.
(21)
"Public utility" means all railroad companies, street and suburban railroads, or sleeping car companies; persons or companies operating railroads, street railroads, suburban railroads, or sleeping cars in this state; all express companies including railroad companies doing express, telephone, or telegraph business (except small telephone companies or persons operating a telephone business, the value of whose capital stock or property is less than $5,000.00); all gas, electric light, electric power, hydroelectric power, steam heat, refrigerated air, dockage or cranage, canal, toll road, toll bridge, railroad equipment, and navigation companies; and any person or persons operating a gas, electric light, electric power, hydroelectric power, steam heat, refrigerated air, dockage or cranage, canal, toll road, toll bridge, railroad equipment, or navigation business, through their president, general manager, owner, or agent having control of the company's offices in this state.
(22)
"Tangible personal property" means personal property which may be seen, weighed, measured, felt, or touched or which is in any other manner perceptible to the senses. The term "tangible personal property" shall not include intangible personal property. This paragraph shall not apply to Chapter 8 of this title relating to sales and use taxation.
(23)
"Tax collector" means a county tax collector.
(24)
"Tax commissioner" means a county tax commissioner.
(25)
"Taxpayer" means any person required by law to file a return or to pay taxes.
(26)
"Tax receiver" means a county tax receiver.
Amended by 2024 Ga. Laws 408,§ 1, eff. 4/22/2024, app. to all taxable years beginning on or after 1/1/2023.
Amended by 2023 Ga. Laws 236,§ 2-1, eff. 5/2/2023, app. to all taxable years beginning on or after 1/1/2022.
Amended by 2023 Ga. Laws 235,§ 1, eff. 5/2/2023, app. to all taxable years beginning on or after 1/1/2022.
Amended by 2022 Ga. Laws 774,§ 1, eff. 5/2/2022, app. to all taxable years beginning on or after 1/1/2021.
Amended by 2021SP1 Ga. Laws 5,§ 1, eff. 12/8/2021.
Amended by 2021 Ga. Laws 3,§ 1, eff. 2/24/2021.
Amended by 2020 Ga. Laws 411,§ 1-1, eff. 6/30/2020.
Amended by 2019 Ga. Laws 266,§ 1, eff. 5/7/2019.
Amended by 2018 Ga. Laws 284,§ 1-1, eff. 3/2/2018.
Amended by 2017 Ga. Laws 10,§ 1, eff. 3/21/2017.
Amended by 2016 Ga. Laws 625,§ 48, eff. 5/3/2016.
Amended by 2016 Ga. Laws 313,§ 1, eff. 2/23/2016.
Amended by 2015 Ga. Laws 6,§ 1, eff. 3/6/2015.
Amended by 2014 Ga. Laws 526,§ 1, eff. 4/15/2014.
Amended by 2013 Ga. Laws 8,§ 1, eff. 3/5/2013.
Amended by 2012 Ga. Laws 664,§ 1, eff. 5/1/2012.
Amended by 2011 Ga. Laws 46,§ 1, eff. 4/27/2011.
Amended by 2010 Ga. Laws 627,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2010.
Amended by 2009 Ga. Laws 7,§ 2, eff. 4/8/2009.
Amended by 2009 Ga. Laws 7,§ 1, eff. 4/8/2009.
Amended by 2008 Ga. Laws 471,§ 48, eff. 5/12/2008.
Amended by 2008 Ga. Laws 391,§ 2, eff. 4/9/2008.
Amended by 2007 Ga. Laws 6,§ 2, eff. 4/17/2007.
Amended by 2007 Ga. Laws 6,§ 1, eff. 4/17/2007.
Amended by 2006 Ga. Laws 508,§ 1, eff. 4/19/2006.
Amended by 2005 Ga. Laws 31,§ 2, eff. 4/12/2005.
Amended by 2004 Ga. Laws 495, § 2, eff. 5/13/2004.
Amended by 2003 Ga. Laws 343, § 2, eff. 6/3/2003.
Amended by 2002 Ga. Laws 465, § 1, eff. 4/18/2002, and applicable for taxable years beginning on or after 1/1/2002.
Amended by 2001 Ga. Laws 377, § 1, eff. 4/28/2001.
See 2022 Ga. Laws 716, § 4-1.
See 2021SP1 Ga. Laws 5, § 2.
See 2021 Ga. Laws 3, § 2.
See 2020 Ga. Laws 411, § 4-1.
See 2019 Ga. Laws 266, § 4.
See 2019 Ga. Laws 266, § 3.
See 2018 Ga. Laws 284, § 3-1.
See 2015 Ga. Laws 6, § 2.
See 2014 Ga. Laws 526, § 3.
See 2013 Ga. Laws 8, § 7.
See 2012 Ga. Laws 664, § 5.
See 2011 Ga. Laws 46, § 10.
See 2009 Ga. Laws 7, § 3.
See 2008 Ga. Laws 391, § 4.
See 2006 Ga. Laws 508, § 6.
See 2003 Ga. Laws 343, § 47.
The amendment of this section by 2004 Ga. Laws 495 is applicable to all taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2004. .