Cut your property taxes!

Courtesy Charleston County Auditor's Office

Do you own and reside in your home?

• If you are over 65 years of age, or certified totally and permanently disabled or blind, you may qualify for the Homestead Exemption. Up to the first $50,000 of your home's appraised value could be totally exempt from taxes. Check out the Homestead FAQs or call (843) 958-4220 for further information.
• Want to save one third of your total tax bill? Be sure to contact the Assessor's office at (843) 958-4100 to apply for the four percent Primary Residence assessment ratio if your property is not already classified as QR-Qualified Residential. Also, apply for the four percent agricultural farmland use assessment at the Assessor's Office. The difference between your property being taxed at the non-residential rate of six percent and the four percent assessment amounts to one third of your total taxes!
• Homeowners who have qualified for the four percent Primary Residence assessment are automatically eligible for state Property Tax Relief of up to $336. No application is necessary.
• If you are a military veteran who is totally disabled from a service-related cause, the surviving spouse of a military person who was killed in the line of duty or totally disabled from a service-related cause, you may be qualified for exemption from property taxes on a house and up to one acre of land on which the house is located. Application should be made through the S.C. Department of Revenue (DOR). There is a local DOR Service Center at 3 Southpark Center, Suite 202, next to Citadel Mall (Phone: 843-852-3600).
• If you are a paraplegic or hemiplegic, or their surviving spouse, you may be qualified for exemption from property taxes on a house and up to one acre of land on which the house is located. Application should be made through the S.C. Department of Revenue. There is a local DOR Service Center at 3 Southpark Center, Suite 202, next to Citadel Mall (Phone: 843-852-3600).

Do you own a motor vehicle?

• If you are over 64 years of age, the cost of your motor vehicle license decal fee can be reduced. Apply in person at a S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or mail a copy of your paid tax receipt and your decal fee to: Division of Motor Vehicles, P.O. Box 1498, Columbia, S.C. 29216.
• Do you drive, on average, over 15,000 miles annually? If so, you may qualify for the high-mileage discount. During the renewal month of your vehicle tax bill, but before you make your tax payment, file the Motor Vehicle High-Mileage Discount Appeal form at the Auditor's office. You can either fax, mail or drop the completed form by any of our offices.
• If you sell your motor vehicle you can transfer your license tag to your new car and not be billed for the new vehicle until your next renewal. If you decide that you would rather turn-in your license tag at the Auditor's office to receive a tax refund for any remaining unused months, bring the bill of sale for the sold vehicle and the license tag and registration to any of our offices.
• If you move to another state you can also receive a refund of your taxes for the unused months. Mail or bring your S.C. (Charleston County) license tag, your S.C. registration card and proof of registration in the new state to any of the Auditor's offices.
• If you were a POW, a Medal of Honor recipient or a veteran who has received a service-connected total disability, you may qualify for an exemption from property tax on up to two motor vehicles. Application should be made through the S.C. Department of Revenue. There is a DOR Service Center at 3 Southpark Center, Suite 202, next to Citadel Mall (Phone: 843-852-3600).
• If you are required to use a wheelchair you may qualify for an exemption from property tax on up to two motor vehicles. Application should be made through the S.C. Department of Revenue. There is a DOR Service Center at 3 Southpark Center, Suite 202, next to Citadel Mall (Phone: 843-852-3600).
• If you are the legal guardian of a minor child who is blind or who is required to use a wheelchair you may qualify for an exemption on one personal motor vehicle if it is used to transport the minor. Application should be made through the S.C. Department of Revenue. There is a DOR Service Center at 3 Southpark Center, Suite 202, next to Citadel Mall (Phone: 843-852-3600).