Collection Rates are Up
We are approaching the final months of the tax year, which are often the most challenging for our property owners and our team. I was very encouraged when I reported last months numbers to you and once again, at 96.7%, our collection rate is higher as of July 31, 2020 than it has been in almost a decade. We also have fewer delinquent real property accounts than in previous years and I wanted to express my continued thanks to everyone who has paid their taxes. If you want to view our collections data, take a minute to visit our our website.
Next Steps in the Delinquency Process
Although the County buildings are currently closed to the public, the delinquency process continues to move forward. The next step is the
levying of delinquent properties, which began on August 5, 2020. This is the process in which a Notice of Levy sign is affixed to a property as notification to the owner that the property taxes have not been paid.
Normally, we only post properties when the property owner did not sign and return the Certified Delinquent Tax Notice . Unfortunately, the United States Postal Services has altered their delivery policy due to the Coronavirus pandemic which could result in a USPS employee signing in lieu of the property owner. This is not permitted under South Carolina State Law and as a result, all delinquent properties were posted to ensure the statutory guidelines are followed.
Upcoming Important Dates
A few upcoming dates that are important to note:
- September 1, 2020 - A penalty of $25.00 will be added to unpaid properties and personal checks will no longer be accepted for delinquent properties.
- September 8, 2020 - Bidder registration will open for anyone wishing to participate in the tax sale.
- September 13, 2020 - Delinquent properties will be advertised in the newspapers for three consecutive weeks.
- October 5, 2020 - Delinquent properties will be auctioned at the tax sale.
If you or someone you know has not paid their taxes yet, please remember you can pay by check with no additional fees
online, by phone or
by mail. To prevent a property from being auctioned, taxes must be paid by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 2, 2020. No payments will be accepted for delinquent properties on the day of the auction.
For more information about the delinquency process, the tax sale or the Treasurer's Office, you may visit
our website or our team is happy to assist you at 843-255-2600. For frequent updates and information, don't forget to like us on
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