§ 33-8-8 — Preemption of taxation of insurance companies by state; exceptions; collection of license fees by municipal corporations

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the State of Georgia preempts the field of imposing taxes, except taxes on real property and tangible personal property taxed ad valorem, upon insurance companies and their agents and other representatives, including, but not limited to, excise, privilege, franchise, income, license, permit, registration, and similar taxes and fees measured by premiums, income, or volume of transactions; and no county or unincorporated area of such county, city, municipality, district, school district, or other political subdivision or agency of this state shall impose, levy, charge, or require the same, except as provided in this chapter. (b) Municipal corporations are authorized, in conformity with the requirements of their charters, to impose and collect the following license fees upon insurance companies for the privilege of engaging in the business of insurance within said municipal corporation: (1) An annual license fee on each insurance company doing business within the municipal corporate limits not to exceed the following schedule: Population of Municipal Corporation Amount Under 1,000 ....................... $ 15.00 1,000 - 1,999 ........................ 25.00 2,000 - 4,999 ........................ 40.00 5,000 - 9,999 ........................ 50.00 10,000 - 24,999 ........................ 75.00 25,000 - 49,999 ........................ 100.00 50,000 and over ........................ 150.00 and an additional annual license fee in the same amount for each separate business location in excess of one operated and maintained by such company within the same municipality; and (2) An additional annual license fee of $10.00 or 35 percent of the schedule set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection, whichever amount is greater, on each insurance company for each separate business location not otherwise subject to a license fee under this Code section, which company is operated and maintained by a business organization which is engaged in the business of lending money or transacting sales involving term financing and which, in connection with the loans or sales involving term financing, offers, solicits, or takes applications for insurance through a licensed agent of the insurance company for insurance. (c) Within 45 days after the date of their enactment, each municipal corporation shall file with the Commissioner a certified copy of the pertinent parts of all ordinances and amendments thereto which impose any such license fee, and such filing shall be a condition to the validity and enforceability of such an ordinance. (d) Insurance agencies which are maintained and operated by a company may not be separately licensed by municipal corporations except under the provisions of this Code section; but nothing contained in this Code section shall prevent municipal corporations from separately imposing and collecting business licenses from independent insurance agencies or brokers doing an insurance business not otherwise taxed under this Code section. No such license may be imposed on such independent agents or brokers, which license is measured by the premiums of insurance companies. (e) Life insurance companies may deduct from premium taxes otherwise payable to this state under Code Section 33-8-4 , in addition to all credits and abatements allowed by law, the license fees imposed pursuant to this Code section and paid to any municipal corporation during the preceding calendar year. (f) As used in this Code section, the term "life insurance company" means a company which is authorized to transact only the class of insurance designated in Code Section 33-3-5 as class (1).