Tax Information

Tax information

Tax information for Georgetown County provided by Auditors Office

Location: 129 Screven Street, Room 105
Telephone: 843-545-3021
Fax: 843-545-3284
Email: Auditor
Hours: 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (except for legal holidays)
Mailing address: P.O. Box 421270, Georgetown, SC 29442
Contact: Linda Mock, Auditor / Jessie G. Duncan, Deputy Auditor

Personal Property Taxes for homes, land, condos, business Real Estate in Georgetown County is taxed at either of two rates. 4% for Primary Residence and 6% for all other. Property taxes are paid in arrears. They are due at end of the year.

The tax assessor conducts a county wide assessment of property every 5 years and establishes your property’s value. This remains the value until the next assessment or until the property is sold. When sold the purchase price becomes the assessed value. (Point of Sale) until assessed in normal sequence. Your value, your tax rate and the district millage rate are all used in computing your property taxes. It is not a complicated formula and I have examples below.

Each county district will have different millage rates to accommodate services and costs. Here are the current rates for 2009.
This link will show you the current millage rates

http://www.georgetowncountysc.org/docs/millagerates2009.pdf

Taxes are based on this formula Assessed Value x Tax Rate x Millage Rate

Example $500,000 x 6% x 187 mills (for Pawleys Litchfield District) is $5,616

Example $500,000 x 4% x 88.3 mills(187.2-98.9 school operating) is $1,766

Please remember if the home is your permanent residence (4%) you receive a much lower Millage Rate. Subtract school operating millage. Use only the School bond portion. See bottom of page. This is a significant savings! Some exemptions you should consider

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION - EXEMPTION FOR THE ELDERLY, DISABLED OR BLIND. The Homestead Exemption covers taxpayers sixty-five and over or those totally and permanently disabled or legally blind. If you are a resident of this State for at least one calendar year and has reached the age of sixty five on or before December 31, or has been classified as totally and permanently disabled, or is legally blind, you are qualified for an exemption of $50,000 of the fair market value of the dwelling place where you claim residency. Make application at the auditor’s office.

2. EXEMPTION FOR ALL RESIDENTS – If you qualify for a 4% ratio on your residence, you are eligible for property tax relief. Q: WHAT IS THIS SCHOOL TAX CREDIT SAVINGS?
A: 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 home owners). This credit does not appear on your vehicle, boat or other personal property notices.