Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When do tax become delinquent?
A. March 15th of each year is the final date to pay taxes before it becomes delinquent, unless this day falls on a holiday or weekend.

Q. I did not receive a tax bill on my property; can I have the penalties taken off?
A.  The only time we can request that the Auditor remove a penalty is when there is direct evidence that there has been an error on the part of the county.

Q. When is the last day to pay delinquent tax before it’s sold?
A. To keep property from selling at tax sale all-delinquent tax will have to be paid before the 30th of November.

Q. What happens when property is sold for delinquent tax?
A. When your property is sold at tax sale you have a year and a day to redeem (means to buy back) your property. During the time after the sale up to the year of redemption, your redemption amount increases by 3% of the bid amount quarterly, but it will not increase more than the amount of what the tax was sold for.     Ex. If your taxes is sold for $300.00 and the bidder bid $5,000 to buy your property, for the first three (3) months you will have to pay 3% of the $5,000 (=$150) plus the tax amount of $300 (=$450), if property is not redeemed in 1st quarter (3%) then another 3% of bid amount is added to tax amount $(150), so the amount to redeem for 2nd quarter (6%) is (= $600) and so forth, but when the interest on the bid amount equals or is greater than the tax due, the amount to redeem will not go higher than the tax amount it was sold for, even if it is redeemed in the 4th quarter (12%).  So the most you will pay to redeem your property is equal the amount of tax due or opening bid amount by the Forfieted Land Commission.

Q. When is the Tax Sale and where is it held?
A. Tax Sale is held on the first Monday of December at 10:00am in the County Council Chambers Room located in the Colleton County Museum at: 109 Benson St., Walterboro SC  29488. A registration fee is required for all first time bidders without a bid number. If you have already registered it is advised that you pick up your bid number before the morning of the sale. Bid number can be picked up as early as a week prior to sale up to 9:00 am of the morning of the sale at the Delinquent Tax Office. Bid numbers can also be requested by mail, free of charge.

Q. Is the tax list available on the website?
A. The tax list is not available online. We do however advertise in the two (2) local papers  (The Press and Standard and The Community Dispatch) on or about the second week in November.

Q. What information do I need to purchase a Decal for my Mobile Home?
A. If you have purchased a new home from a dealer’s lot you will need to bring with you a Form 400 and a Bill of Sale to purchase Decal. If you are buying home from an individual you will need to pay tax that are due up to present year, a copy of title with it signed over to you already or with it in your name or a Form 400 and Bill of Sale. The cost of the Decal is $5.00

Q. What information do I need to get a moving permit?
A. If you are the owner moving your home within the county, we will need proof of identification (picture ID only). If it’s your home and you are moving it out of the county, we will need ID and the tax due up to the present year will have to be paid. If you are not the owner of the home and you are moving it in or out of the county then you will need to bring in a written statement from owner stating it’s okay for you to move home. The cost of the moving permit is $1.00.

Q.Why am I responsible to pay tax on property I just bought?
A. The tax on a property follows the property not an individual. It is advised strongly that you check to see if there are any taxes due or land or mobile home before purchasing so you and the buyer can determine who will pay taxes. Taxes are not prorated on Mobile Homes.  


For Your Information
If you should happened to lose your decal or the window that the decal was in was replaced, there is no need to purchase another decal. The receipt of your purchase is on file and remains on file until home is sold or changes name.

If you are looking to purchase property for delinquent tax you can not just come in and pay the delinquent tax on property to become the owner, all that does is pay the tax for the owner. You will have to wait and see if that property goes up for sale and then be the highest bidder for that property, wait a year and day to see if property redeems and if not you will be issued a tax deed to the property.