To qualify for the Georgia Rural Physician’s Credit (Tax Credit 207), a physician must meet specific eligibility requirements established by the Georgia Department of Revenue. This credit is designed to encourage qualified physicians to practice medicine in designated rural areas of Georgia.
Eligibility Requirements
Residency and Practice Location: The physician must practice in a qualifying rural county in Georgia. The physician must reside in the rural county where they practice or in a county contiguous to the rural county where they practice, as required under Georgia law.
Practice Type: The physician must be licensed to practice medicine in Georgia and engaged in an eligible medical specialty. Qualifying specialties generally include:
- Family practice
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Pediatrics
- Internal medicine
- General surgery
Start Date: The physician must meet Georgia’s rural physician practice start-date requirements. The physician’s eligibility date and other required information must be provided according to the instructions for Form IND-CR 207.
Hospital Affiliation: A qualifying rural physician generally must primarily admit patients to a qualifying rural hospital. A qualifying rural hospital is generally an acute-care hospital located in a rural county with fewer than 100 beds.
How the Credit Works
The Georgia Rural Physician’s Credit is a non-refundable income tax credit of up to $5,000 per qualifying rural physician. The credit cannot exceed the taxpayer’s Georgia income tax liability.
- Complete Form IND-CR 207 – Rural Physicians Credit (Tax Credit 207).
- Attach Form IND-CR 207 to the Georgia individual income tax return (Form 500 or Form 500X, if applicable).
- Claim the allowable credit amount according to the current Form IND-CR instructions and Georgia individual income tax return instructions.
- The credit may generally be claimed for up to five years if the physician continues to meet all eligibility requirements.
Important Notes
- Only a taxpayer or spouse who meets the definition of a qualifying rural physician may claim the credit.
- The credit is not available for physicians practicing only in non-rural or urban counties that do not meet Georgia’s rural county requirements.
- The physician must maintain documentation supporting eligibility, including medical license information, practice location, residency information, hospital affiliation, and applicable start-date records.
- The credit is non-refundable and cannot be claimed for more than the period allowed under Georgia law.
Source:
Georgia Form IND-CR - Rural Physicians Credit (IND-CR 207)
Georgia Form 500 Instructions - Rural Physicians Credit
Disclaimer: Always verify eligibility and requirements with the Georgia Department of Revenue’s official forms and instructions. Tax laws and eligibility criteria may change. For complex situations, consult a CPA or tax professional.