We're moving a 40-person software company to the Southeast. What incentives does Georgia offer, and who do I call?

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For a 40-person software-company relocation, Georgia can be attractive, but the incentive package depends heavily on where in the state you locate, how many of the 40 positions count as newly created Georgia jobs, salaries, capital investment, and whether your activity qualifies as R&D/technology for particular credits.

The main programs I’d put on your screening list are:

Georgia Job Tax Credit. Qualifying businesses can receive annual credits of $750–$3,500 per new job, depending on the county tier, with job-creation thresholds ranging from 2 jobs in Tier 1 to 25 jobs in Tier 4. Certain locations can get especially favorable treatment, including the ability to apply qualifying credits against withholding. A 40-job project is large enough to clear the numerical threshold in every county tier, assuming the other eligibility requirements are satisfied.

Department of Revenue

Quality Jobs Tax Credit. This generally starts at 50 new quality jobs, with qualifying jobs paying at least 110% of the county average wage. So a strictly 40-job move ordinarily won't reach the statewide threshold, although the statute has reduced thresholds for certain rural counties. If you're contemplating growing beyond 40 shortly after the move, this is worth modeling before you select a site.

Department of Revenue

R&D tax credit. Georgia continues to list a research tax credit for qualifying Georgia research expenses. For a software company doing actual product/software R&D, this is one I'd…

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Named: Georgia Department of Economic Development, Atlanta

Sources cited: dor.georgia.gov, georgiaquickstart.org, georgia.org

Claude

Georgia's package is real but front-loaded toward job count, and at 40 people you sit right below the most valuable threshold. That shapes everything.

The headline numbers

Quality Jobs Tax Credit is the best program and the one you'll probably miss. It requires at least 50 net new jobs within a 24-month period paying at or above 110% of the county average wage, and pays $2,500 to $5,000 per job per year for five years depending on how far above the county average you pay. It offsets 100% of Georgia income tax liability, and any excess can be taken against your quarterly or monthly withholding tax — which matters enormously if you're not throwing off much Georgia taxable income. A "new quality job" is one not already located in Georgia regardless of which employer it was with, so your 40 relocated positions count as new. You'd just need ten more within two years. The 50-job threshold drops to 10 in rural Tier 1 counties and 25 in Tier 2 counties, so rural siting changes the math completely.

Georgia | Economic Development Incentives & Financing Programs +4

Job Tax Credit is the fallback, and location within Georgia swings it by 5x. Tier 4 (most of metro Atlanta) pays $750 per net new job with a minimum of 25 jobs. Less Developed Census Tracts, Military Zones, and Opportunity Zones are treated as Tier 1 regardless of the county they sit in. Tier 1 treatment means up to $4,000 per job per year for five years, with a much lower job threshold. In Tier 1 and 2 the credit can…

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Named: Atlanta, Georgia Department of Economic Development, Metro Atlanta Chamber

Sources cited: blsstrategies.com, specialtytaxgroup.com, dca.georgia.gov, georgia.org, workforce.georgia.gov, metroatlantachamber.com, dor.georgia.gov

Gemini

Georgia offers a competitive suite of economic incentives for growing tech companies, along with direct assistance programs designed to ease your relocation.

Top Incentives for a 40-Person Software Company

Georgia Job Tax Credit: Provides tax credits ranging from $750 to $4,000 per year per job created and maintained for up to 5 years. Qualification thresholds depend on the county tier (as low as 2 to 25 new jobs).

Synergi Partners

Quality Jobs Tax Credit: If your software roles pay at least 110% of the target county's average wage, you can earn $2,500 to $5,000 per job per year for 5 years. The threshold is 50 new jobs statewide within 24 months, but drops to 10 new jobs if relocating to designated Tier 1 or rural areas.

www.blsstrategies.com

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R&D Tax Credit: A tax credit equal to 10% of qualified research expenses (software development often qualifies) exceeding a base amount, usable to offset up to 50% of your state corporate income tax. Excess credits can also offset state payroll withholding taxes.

www.blsstrategies.com

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Georgia Quick Start Program: A state-funded customized workforce training program provided at no cost to qualifying companies expanding or relocating to Georgia.

www.blsstrategies.com

Competitive Corporate Income Tax Rate: Georgia features a flat 5.19% corporate income tax rate and uses single-factor apportionment (taxing only in-state sales).

Georgia Power Economic Development

Who to Contact

Organization Role Contact Information

Georgia…

Trimmed here; the full answer is in the viewer.

Named: Georgia Department of Economic Development

Sources cited: georgia.org, dca.georgia.gov

Perplexity

Georgia can be a strong incentive state for a 40-person software company, but the value depends heavily on how many net-new Georgia jobs you will create, their wages, and the county/city you select. Your first call should be the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Global Commerce team at 404-962-4000; it provides no-cost relocation, site-selection, workforce, and incentive coordination.

georgia

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Most relevant incentives

Incentive Why it may fit a software company Key threshold / value

Employer’s Jobs Tax Credit Potential fit if your activities qualify as telecommunications or R&D; a pure software company should obtain a written eligibility determination before relying on it. County-tier-dependent credit: $750–$3,500 per new job annually, generally for five years. Required new-job counts range from 2 in Tier 1 counties to 25 in Tier 4 counties.

dor.georgia

Quality Jobs Tax Credit Often the most relevant statewide tax credit for a high-wage tech operation. Requires at least 50 new quality jobs that meet the Georgia criteria, including 30+ hour workweeks and pay of at least 110% of the county average wage. It can offset 100% of Georgia income-tax liability, with excess potentially applied to payroll withholding. A 40-person move alone likely does not meet this threshold unless you add at least 10 net-new qualifying jobs.

dor.georgia

R&D Tax Credit Relevant if your Georgia team performs qualifying research—e.g., eligible technical development activities—not merely…

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Named: Georgia Department of Economic Development, Atlanta

Sources cited: dor.georgia.gov, georgia.org, cantonga.gov, georgia.gov, hapeville.org, usajobs.gov, eastpointga.gov, sec.gov, jff.org, thehill.com, images.ajc.com, linkedin.com, web.gachamber.com, peachcountydevelopment.com, visitoconee.com