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Auditor
Sally M. Mouzon
Room 101 Courthouse - First Floor
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7 Kingstree, SC 29556
Phone: (843) 355-9321 Ext. 543 Fax: (843) 355-9306
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The Auditor’s office is responsible for the taxation of vehicles (cars, trucks, motorcycles, campers, motor homes), watercrafts, aircrafts, merchant’s furniture, fixtures, and equipment, and manufacturer’s real and personal property.
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LICENSE TAG FOR VEHICLE
S.C. license plates must be purchased within 45 days from the date of purchase or within thirty days of moving into the State. This office does follow up on information received on people who live here and do not register their vehicle(s).
Forty-five day temporary license tags can be purchased from this office if the buyer or seller lives within the County.
A paid receipt is required by SCDMV. To obtain this, you will need to provide the Auditor’s office with: (1) Proof of ownership-the transfer of title (SC title dated prior to June 1989, must be signed over on the back and accompanied by a Bill of Sale).
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MISCELANEOUS VEHICLE INFORMATION
In South Carolina, vehicle taxes are paid a year ahead.
When tags are purchased through a dealer, sales tax and license tag fees are paid. You still receive a personal property tax bill for your vehicle.
You must bring your actual mileage into our office in the month in which your taxes are due to see if your vehicle qualifies for a high mileage reduction. You must report your mileage each year to see if the vehicle qualifies for a reduction. This is State law.
If you would like to transfer a license plate, the car must be in the same name or you must obtain a new license plate. You do not need to come to the Auditor’s office for the transfer, but go to a SCDMV. If you transfer a plate and later decide to put the “first” vehicle back on the road within twelve months, you must transfer the tags back to that vehicle and pay taxes on the vehicle you have transferred the tags from.
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HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
The Auditor’s office also accepts and certifies homestead exemption applications. If you meet the following qualifications,
you may qualify for an exemption from taxation of the first $50,000 appraised value of your legal residence:
(1) Hold complete fee simple title or life estate to primary residence.
(2) As of December 31 preceding the tax year of the exemption,
you were a legal residence of SC for one year.
(3) As of December 31 preceding the tax year of the exemption,
you were 65 years of age, or were declared totally disabled by a state of federal agency having
authority to make such a declaration, or were legally
blind as certified by a licensed ophthalmologist with the
SC Commission for the Blind.
(4) You are 50 years of age and are the surviving spouse of a person otherwise
qualified for the exemption and you have acquired title or life estate to the homestead.
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MISCELANEOUS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION INFORMATION
Qualified applicants do not need to re-apply annually unless they move to a new home. However, any changes that may affect your
eligibility must be reported to the County Auditor’s office.
The changes are:
(1) Change in disability status
(2) Any change in ownership
(3) Rental of your home
(4) Remarriage of surviving spouse.
It is the responsibility of the personal representative or person in charge of the property receiving the exemption to report the death of an owner to the Auditor’s office. Large penalties will apply for failure to give notice.
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