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Auditor

Show All Answers

1. I’m new to South Carolina. How do I register my vehicles? Where do I start?

Please bring your current registration from your previous state of residence if you have a lien on the vehicle. If you own the vehicle, bring the title with you. If the vehicle is leased, bring a copy of the lease and power of attorney from the leasing company with you.

Odometer Reading

Please make note of your odometer reading. We will check for high mileage credit.

Tax Notice

We will generate a tax notice for you to pay. You will then take the paid tax receipt to the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office along with your paperwork to receive a South Carolina license plate. Annually, you will receive a tax notice.

2. I’ve just purchased a vehicle. What do I need to do?

Dealership

If you purchased the vehicle through a dealer, you need to know if the dealer is securing a license plate for you from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). If they are, they will submit an affidavit of your purchase to the DMV and we will generate a tax notice from this information and mail a notice to you that is due within 120 days of your purchase.

DMV

If the dealer is not purchasing your plate, you will need to bring a copy of the bill of sale with the lien holder recorded on it or a title (if the vehicle has no lien) in order for the auditor to produce a tax notice. You would then take your tax receipt along with the other required documents (including proof of vehicle insurance) to complete the registration process and secure a plate at the DMV.

Transfers

If you are transferring license plates from one vehicle you own to the new vehicle, bring in the registration for the vehicle to which the plate was transferred.

3. I have moved from one county to another in South Carolina. What should I do?

When moving from county to county in the state of South Carolina, you should make sure that you change your address on your driver’s licenses and the registration of every vehicle you own. Keep in mind that we receive Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) records a few months in advance to prepare vehicle renewals on a monthly basis; so you might receive a bill from your previous county. If you do, bring in the bill from the previous county before the end of the month of expiration to have a tax notice prepared. If you do not receive a bill from the previous county, bring in your last registration card and we can produce a bill for you. Then you will need to take the paid tax receipt to DMV to receive your decal.

Vehicle Values

Vehicle values will be obtained through valuations provided by the state. Visit the Department of Revenue website for more information.

Owner Change of Name / Address

Please do not ask us to change the owner’s name or address. You may access the DMV website, to do so.

4. How can I get my taxes lowered?

• First, do you live in Georgetown County and are you getting 4% on your real property? If not, then you may want to talk to the assessor’s office by calling 843-545-3014.
• Secondly, you may be eligible for Homestead Exemption on your real property, based on age (65 or older) on December 31 of the previous year, length of residency in the state (one full calendar year), and ownership of your home (must own your home, fee simple title). Please call our office to inquire about trusts and whether you would qualify. You may also qualify if you are totally and permanently disabled. We would need a T-2, T-16 form from the Social Security Administration to apply.
• If you are a 100% service-connected disabled veteran, you may be eligible for reductions or exemptions on your vehicle taxes or possibly real property. You may want to contact Veterans Administration for documentation.
• If you have applied to and received an exemption from the South Carolina Department of Revenue, you may be exempt from taxes on real property, vehicles or both. the Department of Revenue notifies this office of all exemptions.

5. Can’t I get a reduction on my boat, camper or RV taxes?

Both the Georgetown County Council and the state legislature have given a way in which you may get a tax reduction provided the following:

• For the 4% tax ratio, the boat, camper/RV must be in an individual name. One other qualifying boat shall be considered secondary residence and receive 6%. For these purposes, an individual, sole proprietorship, partnership and "S" corporation including a limited liability company taxes as sole proprietorship, partnership or "S" corporation would qualify.
• It has a head, bed and galley.
• You are taking the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) interest deduction on the boat, camper, or RV (you can take the deduction on your primary home and one other second home, or boat if you are treating that as a second home).
• Your boat was in Georgetown County on December 31 of the previous year.
• You have applied for this reduced ratio.

If you believe you qualify on all of the requirements mentioned, we will send you an application for the reduced tax ratio. You can apply for 6% as a second home or 4% if you live on the boat/camper and have asked the assessor for legal residence in Georgetown County if you live aboard.

6. Why is this tax bill so high on my business?

Each April, businesses are to file a business personal property return with either the state or the county, depending on your business type. You may have received an estimated bill from either this office or the South Carolina Department of Revenue. If you are in the service industry and did not file a Business Personal Property return with us or if you have a retail sales license and did not file with state Department of Revenue, you were taxed based on an estimated assessed value. You will have to file an amended return in order to get the tax bill reduced.

7. What is this information about making tax installment payments?

As the flyer in your tax notice states, you can make advance payments toward your real estate taxes if you are eligible. The taxes covered by this would only be for land, buildings or mobile homes. Business, vehicles, boat/motor or taxes paid through an escrow account are not eligible. Those wanting to participate will make five advance payments based on the previous year’s taxes paid. If you need additional information, the Treasurer’s Office can assist. Call the Treasurer’s Office at 843-545-3098.

8. Can I get a reduction on my vehicle taxes?

Contact the Auditor’s Office

You can apply for high mileage on your vehicle by completing the Vehicle High Mileage (PDF) and emailing it or faxing the specific odometer reading to us along with your tax notice. We will then compare with our state Department of Revenue guidelines and determine if you qualify and reply by fax, email, or when you come into our office. Please note that you must apply for the high mileage before paying your vehicle tax. The Auditor’s Office reserves the right to check any odometer reading to verify.

9. What is this school tax credit savings?

The state legislature passed property tax reform measures which include giving all permanent 4% homeowners credit on all of the school operating taxes, meaning that you are not paying any of the school district’s operating taxes, only the school bonds. In most cases, taxpayers will see a reduction in their notices. It depends on the value of the property and the tax district in which you live. This credit is not applied on the tax bills of business or personal property, or 6% property owners (land, second homeowners). This credit does not appear on your vehicle, boat or other personal property notices.

10. What is this stormwater fee that’s on my bill?

This fee was approved by County Council to meet federal guideline requirements for addressing stormwater issues and has been placed on the tax notices of some property owners in the county (excluding Georgetown City, Town of Andrews, and the Town of Pawleys Island). If you have any other questions about the fee on your bill, please call the Stormwater Engineering Department at 843-545-3524.

11. Isn’t there a cap on the millage?

There is a cap based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) and a population growth figure, effective the 2007 tax year. The taxing entities are to stay within these caps.

12. What about the 15% cap on real estate?

The assessor’s office would be better prepared to answer your questions on that question about values versus taxes. You can call the assessor’s office at 843-545-3014.

13. Why is a household fee listed?

The household fee covers the cost of disposal and solid waste at the Georgetown County Landfill. Each residential household is charged $44 per year, which is paid in advance via your taxes, in lieu of charging a "tipping" or disposal fee each time your trash is disposed of at the landfill. If you need more information, contact the county’s Environmental Services Office.

14. I pay a solid waste fee to my homeowner's association (HOA). Do I still have to pay the county household fee?

The Household Fee is charged to all residential properties. It covers the services the County provides, such as recycling convenience centers and the landfill. If your HOA elects to provide additional services to your community, such as curbside service or a dumpster in your community or complex, this is an additional service provided by your HOA and is distinct from the Household Fee.

15. What is the landfill fee on my tax notice?

The landfill fee covers the cost of disposal of solid waste at the Georgetown County Landfill for non-residential properties. For more information, please contact the county’s Environmental Services Division.

16. What is this commercial landfill fee - my business is in the city?

This fee is charged to commercial garbage generators in the City of Georgetown, and Towns of Andrews and Pawleys Island at a rate of $22 per can per pickup. The fee covers the cost of disposal of solid waste at the Georgetown County Landfill, in lieu of charging a "tipping" or disposal fee each time commercial garbage is picked up by municipal haulers and disposed of at the landfill. If commercial businesses pay private haulers to pick up commercial waste, the private hauler pays the tipping fee and generally includes this in their pricing. For more information, the county’s Environmental Services Division.

17. What if I want to appeal the assessed value of my real property?

Contact the Assessor who would have the applicable forms.

18. What if I want to appeal the assessed value of my personal property?

Please pick up and fill out an appeal form from the auditor’s office.