Q: What is considered Personal Property?
A: Personal Property includes motor vehicle, watercraft, aircraft, and business
personal property furniture, fixtures, and equipment.

Q: How are personal property taxes calculated?
A: Step 1: Obtain fair market value of the property. Example $20,000
Step 2: Multiply the fair market value by tax ratio. The ratio as of January 2006 is
7.5% and drops .75% each year until it reaches a floor of 6%. The tax ratio for
motorcycles, watercraft, and aircraft ratio is 10.5%.

Example: $20,000 x .075= 1,500

Round up to the nearest tenth.

Step 3: The result of the calculation is the “assessed value.” In the example in
step 2, the assessed value is 1,500. Multiply the assessed value by your millage
rate. The millage rate is based on the area in the county in which you reside.

Example: 1,500 x .2825 (mills) = $423.75 Total Taxes Due

Q: How can I get an estimate on my property taxes?
A: Contact the Auditor’s Office and provide the year, make and Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN of your vehicle to the clerk. We will provide an
ESTIMATE of the property taxes.

Q: What if I do not agree with the fair market value of my vehicle?
A: If you feel the fair market value shown on your tax notice is not accurate, you may
appeal the value to the county auditor’s office. Many times the fair market value
may be adjusted if the vehicle has excessive mileage, body damage or some
other problem that would reduce the FMV of the vehicle. Pursuant to SC Code of
Law, the auditor must use the value provided by the Dept of Revenue on your initial
tax notice as this is the value the Dept. Of Revenue has established as Fair Market
Value for your vehicle make, model etc…However, when asked to review a value,
we use other sources such as NADA, Kelly and Edmunds.com to determine the
fair market value considering any conditions we are aware of. We use dealer’s
retail value and not private party or trade-in value.

Q: Do I have to apply for the high mileage adjustment or fair market value each year?
A: You must reapply each year. There is no way the auditors office to know how the
mileage has changed from one year to the next, nor are we made aware of any
additional damage etc…that may reduce the value of your vehicle.

Q: What if I am in the military?
A: If you are an active duty military member with a legal residence of a different
state (not SC), then you are exempt from personal property taxes. You need to
bring a copy of your most current Leave and Earning Statement (LES).

Q: What do I need to bring to register a vehicle?
A: A new resident of SC needs to bring the vehicles title or registration card. If you
have recently purchased a car, we need a bill of sale or title.

Q: I recently bought a car from a dealership and I have received a bill in the mail
for taxes. Didn’t I pay the dealer for this?
A: No. You paid the dealership for the sales tax, not property tax. Your property tax
is due about 120 days (4 months) after the date of purchase.

Q: I recently paid the taxes for a vehicle that I have now sold. How do I get a
refund for my taxes?
A: In order to process a refund we need a copy of the Form 5051(tag turn-in
receipt) and a copy of a bill of sale or title.

Q: I recently paid the taxes for a vehicle and now I am moving out of state. How
do I get a refund for my taxes?
A: You must mail your SC tag back to DMV. DMV should send a receipt to you
acknowledging they received the tag. Mail a copy of the tag turn-in receipt from the
DMV along with a copy of your new state’s registration card and we will process a
refund for the unused portion of Property Taxes.

Q: How do I change my address on my vehicle registration card?
A: If you need to change your address on your vehicle registration you do it though
the DMV.