Moving from Georgia to Sun City Center

Georgia Income Tax: What You're Already Not Paying

Georgia has a flat income tax rate (moving toward 5.39% as of 2024, with further reductions planned). But Georgia exempts a significant amount of retirement income:

A Georgia retiree who is 65+ drawing $60,000/year in combined pension and IRA income pays little or no Georgia income tax thanks to the $65,000 exclusion. Moving to Florida produces minimal incremental income tax savings in that scenario. However, a retiree with significant investment income — dividends, capital gains, rental income — still pays Georgia tax on those sources. Florida eliminates it.

Georgia Property Taxes vs. Hillsborough County

Georgia property taxes are moderate, with meaningful senior exemptions available in most counties. Metro Atlanta counties (Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb, Cherokee) have effective rates that typically run 0.9–1.4%.

The Real Reasons Georgia Retirees Move to Sun City Center

Georgia retirees who move to Sun City Center aren't usually doing it primarily for the income tax savings. The drivers are usually:

• Community depth: Georgia has 55+ communities, but nothing with the scale, activity programming, and self-contained community feel of Sun City Center. The 8,500-home SCC proper with 200+ clubs, or Kings Point with its density of social programming, offers something that doesn't exist in Georgia at this scale.
• Waterfront access without the risk: Sun City Center is inland enough to be well protected from storm surge while being close enough to both Tampa Bay and Gulf beaches. Georgia coastal options (Savannah, Brunswick area, Sea Island) carry higher storm surge exposure and flood insurance costs.
• Investment income savings: Georgia retirees with substantial investment portfolios — particularly those who've accumulated well above the $65,000 exclusion limit — do save meaningfully on investment income taxes in Florida.
• The Atlanta connection: Tampa International has direct service to Atlanta Hartsfield. Georgia transplants can fly home for family events in under 2 hours.
• Healthcare access: Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa is a world-class facility. Some Georgia retirees cite access to Moffitt or Tampa General's cardiac center as a factor.

Atlanta-Area Equity

Metro Atlanta home values have appreciated sharply — particularly in the northern suburbs (Cherokee, Forsyth, Gwinnett). Georgia retirees are often in a solid equity position, though generally below Northeast coastal sellers.

• North Atlanta suburbs seller ($300,000–$500,000 equity): Strong cash purchase position across most Sun City Center communities. Southshore Falls, Kings Point east side, SCC single-family, or entry Valencia Lakes all accessible.
• Savannah / Augusta / Macon seller ($150,000–$280,000 equity): Focus on entry-level options. Kings Point west side, smaller SCC homes, or a small mortgage for more flexibility.