ATL Standard

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp plans to keep his promise to taxpayers in the Peach State and return more than $1 billion in state income tax refunds through tax rebates.

Kemp is seeking approval to pay $1.6 billion in state income tax refunds from the Georgia House of Representatives as several lawmakers look to help the Republican governor fulfill his promise to constituents, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.

"It is an opportunity for the state of Georgia to return tax money to the taxpayers of Georgia," said Rep. Josh Bonner, a Fayetteville Republican who is one of Kemp’s floor leaders, according to FOX 5.

In February, the House Ways and Means Committee voted unanimously to pass House Bill 1302 to the full House for more debate, Fox 5 reported. The bill would ensure refunds against a taxpayer’s 2020 tax liability, and that no one could get back more money than they paid in taxes that year.

Single filers would be eligible to receive a rebate of $250, while single adults who head a household with dependents would receive $375, and married couples filing jointly would receive $500, according to FOX 5.

"Certainly, we’d like to start delivering those checks right upon signature, but it will be a process," Bonner said.

Georgia posted a $3.7 billion surplus in the budget year that ended June 30, Fox 5 reported. That would max out the state’s rainy-day fund and leave more than $2 billion in additional undesignated surplus.

If passed, the bill would dictate that the tax refunds come out of that money, which would still leave the state with more than $700 million in the bank, according to Fox 5.

Georgia lawmakers plan to use at least part of that money to increase wages for state and university employees, as well as teachers, Fox 5 reported.