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  • This is the main menu for CharlestonCounty.org. Please use the right side menu to access the department or section menus. The right side menu will change depending on where you are in the website.

  • Mary Tinkler Charleston County Tresurer
  • Treasurer Mary Tinkler
  • View Homepage >> View Bio >>
Charleston County, SC
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  • This menu is for Charleston County Treasurer's Office. Use the left side menu to access the main menu for CharlestonCounty.org.

Mary Tinkler

Treasurer

Mary Tinkler

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Frequently Asked Questions

General

Why did the Treasurer raise my taxes?

The Treasurer does not determine property tax amounts. The amount of tax money needed is decided by each of the area's taxing authorities. The Assessor's Office determines appraisal values for real property while the Auditor calculates the tax.

Why did the Treasurer send my bill to the wrong address?

The Treasurer does not maintain property or owner records. The Assessor and Auditor maintain these records and are dependent on taxpayers to notify their offices of changes in address.

Where does the Treasurer invest funds, and what are the constraints on investment of County monies?

Sections 12-45-220 and 6-5-10 of the S.C. Code of Laws limit the Treasurer as to where public funds may be invested. These code sections allow investment: a) in obligations of the United States and its agencies within the United States that are fully guaranteed by the federal government; b) in bonds or certificates of indebtedness of the State of South Carolina and its agencies; c) in shares of any building and loan association insured by an agency of the United States; and d) with banking institutions of South Carolina.

Tax Payments

How can I make my payment?

Checks or money orders made payable to Charleston County Treasurer can be mailed to:

Charleston County Treasurer, P.O. Box 878, Charleston, SC 29402-0878

The Treasurer's Office does accept cash, checks and money orders and credit card payments at all Treasurer's office locations. You can also pay online with your Visa, MasterCard, AMEX or Discover by clicking here. There is a surcharge involved with paying by credit card online.

If I mail my payment, how do I receive a paid receipt?

After your payment is processed, we will mail your receipt to the mailing address listed on the tax bill. If you filled out the change of address information attached to the remittance, we will send the receipt to the new address indicated on the form.

Can I make a partial payment of my tax bill?

No. South Carolina state law does not allow the Treasurer to accept partial payments for individual tax bills.

Motor Vehicle Taxes

When are the taxes due on my motor vehicle?

Taxes on motor vehicles and recreational vehicles must be paid before your license plate tags can be renewed. These taxes are due by the last day of the month in which your tag expires.

How do I receive my renewal sticker for my vehicle?

If you pay your vehicle taxes on time, you will receive your registration renewal sticker in the mail (usually within 10 days of payment). Please make sure that your address is correct and that your insurance certification is provided when required. The registration renewal fee charged by the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) appears on your tax bill every other year. If you pay your vehicle taxes after the expiration of your license tag, you will need to go to a local DMV office to show your paid tax receipt. Then, a new sticker will be issued to you in person. If this occurs in a year when you were charged a renewal fee on your tax bill, the DMV will charge you a late renewal fee at that time.

Didn't I pay the taxes when I bought my vehicle?

When you purchase a vehicle from a dealership, their personnel are allowed to pick up your registration and license tags without paying the local property taxes. The tax you paid to the dealership at the time of purchase was the South Carolina state sales tax.

Why can't I search the Tax System records by license tag number or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)?

The state of South Carolina has a stalking law which prohibits a search by tag or VIN number. Therefore, no one can find out your name or address simply by recording your vehicle information and accessing this site.

Real Estate and Personal Property Tax

When is the last day to pay my current taxes without penalty?

Taxes on real and other personal property (not motor vehicles) are due by January 15 of the following year without penalty. For example, a real estate property tax bill dated October 2000 is payable by January 15, 2001, without penalty. The penalty structure on real estate and other personal property (not motor vehicles for 2007 tax bills) is as follows:

- 3 percent penalty due if paid after January 15

- additional 7 percent due, or 10 percent total, if paid after February 1

- additional 5 percent due, or 15 percent total, if paid after March 17, and the bill is sent to the Delinquent Tax Department.

I refinanced my home mortgage, and the mortgage code on my tax bill does not reflect the current information. How can I correct the information, and how do I have my tax bill paid from the current mortgage escrow account?

We receive mortgage information from several different companies prior to the mailing of real estate property tax bills. Therefore, the code listed on the tax bill is the latest information provided to us. Please forward a copy of the tax bill to your current mortgage holder so that your taxes can be paid from your current escrow account.

Online Payments

What forms of payment are accepted?

At this time, you can pay with a valid VISA or MasterCard credit or debit card. Pursuant to Visa guidelines, if you choose to pay with your Visa debit card you will be assessed a flat fee which can vary based upon the tax amount due. Contact your credit card provider for further details .

What types of accounts can be paid online?

Real Estate, Mobile Homes, Personal Property and Motor Vehicle accounts can be paid online. However, if there is a delinquent tax amount due on the property, the account cannot be paid online.

What is the cutoff time for payments?

Payments may be entered up until 10:00 p.m. The system is shut down overnight for batch processing and is available the following morning at 8:00 a.m. Refer to the main Tax Web Site page for scheduled system availability.

What date will my payment be posted?

The payment will be dated on the day of your transaction. Payment transactions entered Monday - Thursday will be reflected on tax bill information the next day; payment transactions entered Friday - Sunday will be reflected on tax bill information on Monday.

When will the funds be drafted from my account?

The funds will be drafted from your account on the day of your transaction.

How many accounts can be paid in each transaction?

Currently, only one tax bill at a time. When the confirmation screen appears for your completed transaction, you can choose to return to the main payment screen to select and pay another tax bill.

Will I get a receipt for my payment?

After your payment is posted, you will get a confirmation page for your records. Print the confirmation page as instructed. You also will receive a confirmation by e-mail. This is one reason your e-mail address is required for the online payment. A regular tax payment receipt will be mailed to you within three business days of the transaction.

Will the Department of Motor Vehicles still mail me my renewal sticker and registration?

Yes, the notification of your payment will be sent to the DMV just as if you paid by mail or in the office.

Do I have to complete and mail my insurance verification slip if I pay online?

No. Part of the online payment process requires you to specify your insurance carrier name for registration renewal.

Can I go to the DMV with my printed Confirmation Page and pick up my renewal sticker and registration?

At this time the answer is no. However that may change in the future.

Is there a charge to the taxpayer for this service?

There is a charge to the taxpayer for this service. The surcharge will be displayed before the transaction is completed so that you may opt out if you so choose.

What if I have a problem with my transaction after I have entered my credit card number?

It will be noted on your confirmation page that a problem occurred. Additionally, the Treasurer's Office and the Webmaster will receive an e-mail describing the nature of the problem. The Treasurer's Office will see that your payment processing is completed and notify you.

Am I paying through a secure site?

Yes. Charleston County's secure payment server was certified as using the strongest available 128-bit encryption through a national service called VeriSign. Each payment transaction is authenticated and verified by this national service through a security check.


Municipalities

City of Charleston
City of Folly Beach
City of North Charleston
City of Isle of Palms
Town of Awendaw
Town of Hollywood
Town of James Island
Town of Kiawah Island
Town of Lincolnville
Town of McClellanville
Town of Meggett
Town of Mount Pleasant
Town of Ravenel
Town of Rockville
Town of Seabrook Island
Town of Sullivan's Island

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