2013 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 12 - Taxation
CHAPTER 37 - ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY TAXES

ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

• SECTION 12-37-10. Definitions.
• SECTION 12-37-30. All taxes shall be levied on uniform assessment.
• SECTION 12-37-40. Municipal authorities may copy assessments from county auditor's books.
• SECTION 12-37-90. Assessors to be full time; responsibilities and duties.
• SECTION 12-37-100. Assessor shall endorse deeds.
• SECTION 12-37-110. Auditors, assessors, and appraisers shall attend educational courses.
• SECTION 12-37-120. Rounding of assessed value of property.
• SECTION 12-37-135. Countywide business registration; fee.

ARTICLE 3. PROPERTY TAX; EXEMPTIONS

• SECTION 12-37-210. Property which is taxable.
• SECTION 12-37-220. General exemption from taxes.
• SECTION 12-37-222. Leased equipment used by charitable, not-for-profit or governmental hospital deemed for tax purposes to be owned by hospital.
• SECTION 12-37-223. Repealed by 2000 Act No. 283, Section 4(C), eff May 19, 2000.
• SECTION 12-37-223A. Repealed by 2006 Act No. 388, Pt I, Section 4.B, eff June 10, 2006.
• SECTION 12-37-224. Motor homes or trailers for recreational travel; boats or watercraft with certain features.
• SECTION 12-37-225. Consideration of federal or state income tax credits for low income housing with respect to valuation of real property for property tax purposes.
• SECTION 12-37-230. Payments of services rendered in lieu of taxes by nonprofit housing corporations exempt under Section 12-37-220.
• SECTION 12-37-235. Fees for fire protection for property exempt under Section 12-37-220.
• SECTION 12-37-240. Payments in lieu of taxes by nonprofit housing corporations exempt under act of General Assembly.
• SECTION 12-37-245. Homestead exemption allowance increased.
• SECTION 12-37-250. Homestead exemption for taxpayers sixty-five and over or those totally and permanently disabled or legally blind.
• SECTION 12-37-251. Calculation of rollback millage; equivalent millage.
• SECTION 12-37-252. Classification and assessment of property qualifying for exemption under Section 12-37-250.
• SECTION 12-37-255. Homestead exemption to continue; county auditor to be informed of change affecting eligibility.
• SECTION 12-37-260. Exemption for holders of life estate; application of Section 12-37-250.
• SECTION 12-37-265. Criteria for qualification of life estates for homestead tax exemption.
• SECTION 12-37-266. Homestead exemption for dwellings held in trust; application of Section 12-37-250.
• SECTION 12-37-270. Reimbursement for tax loss in counties allowing homestead exemption.
• SECTION 12-37-275. Date for submission for requests for reimbursement.
• SECTION 12-37-280. Reimbursement of localities for tax loss due to homestead exemption.
• SECTION 12-37-285. Incorporated municipalities may provide for homestead exemptions from municipal ad valorem taxes on real property.
• SECTION 12-37-290. General homestead exemption.
• SECTION 12-37-295. Payment of taxes not condition to qualify for exemption.
• SECTION 12-37-450. Business inventory tax exemption; reimbursement of counties and municipalities.

ARTICLE 5. LIABILITY FOR TAXES; RETURNS

• SECTION 12-37-610. Persons liable for taxes and assessments on real property.
• SECTION 12-37-620. Certain leasehold estates taxed until end of term; lease or contract must be recorded and contain certain information; sale of property for taxes.
• SECTION 12-37-670. Listing new structures for taxation; due date of additional property taxes.
• SECTION 12-37-680. Repealed by 2006 Act No. 388, Pt V, Section 2B, eff June 10, 2006.
• SECTION 12-37-710. Return and assessment of personal property.
• SECTION 12-37-712. Access to marina records and premises.
• SECTION 12-37-714. Boats with situs in State; boat or motor under contract for repairs.
• SECTION 12-37-715. Frequency of ad valorem taxation on personal property.
• SECTION 12-37-717. Surcharge on heavy equipment rental contract.
• SECTION 12-37-720. Persons who shall return property of ward, minor child having no guardian, wife, lessee, absent, unknown or deceased person, corporation, partnership or other firm, and property held in trust or by receiver or public officer.
• SECTION 12-37-730. Persons liable for taxes on personal property held in trust or charge.
• SECTION 12-37-735. Transfer of personal property titled by state or federal agencies; proration of taxes; exceptions.
• SECTION 12-37-740. Property of others shall be listed and assessed separately; responsibility for payment; retention of proceeds sufficient to pay taxes.
• SECTION 12-37-750. Omitted or false returns; notice to taxpayer; assessment and collection of omitted taxes.
• SECTION 12-37-760. Auditor shall make return of personal property when individual does not; examination under oath; investigation.
• SECTION 12-37-780. Procedure in case of suspected evasion or false return of personal property; notice to taxpayer; examination under oath.
• SECTION 12-37-800. Penalty for failure to list real or personal property; penalty for making false return, understating tax liability, or disregarding rules.
• SECTION 12-37-810. Penalty where taxpayer makes wilful false return; unintentional mistake.
• SECTION 12-37-820. Payment of expenses of examination.
• SECTION 12-37-830. Allowable expenses.
• SECTION 12-37-840. Assessment as a part of collection; auditor may secure full return.
• SECTION 12-37-850. Courts shall not interfere with action of auditor; payment under protest as sole remedy of taxpayer.
• SECTION 12-37-890. Place where property shall be returned for taxation.
• SECTION 12-37-900. Personal property tax returns; exception for certain manufacturers.
• SECTION 12-37-905. Required date for filing property tax returns.
• SECTION 12-37-930. Valuation of property; depreciation allowances for manufacturer's machinery and equipment; department may permit adjustment in allowance.
• SECTION 12-37-935. Maximum percentage depreciation; trust fund for tax relief.
• SECTION 12-37-940. Valuation of certain kinds of personal property.
• SECTION 12-37-950. Valuation of certain leasehold estates as real estate.
• SECTION 12-37-970. Assessment and return of merchants' inventories, machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures, commercial boats, and manufacturers' real and personal property to Department of Revenue.
• SECTION 12-37-975. Filing of amended return.

ARTICLE 7. PERSONAL PROPERTY IN TRANSIT

• SECTION 12-37-1110. "Personal property in transit" defined; such property acquires no situs for tax purposes; liberal construction of "no situs" status.
• SECTION 12-37-1120. "In transit" property; records to be kept by warehouses; inspection of records; computations; claiming "no situs" status.
• SECTION 12-37-1130. Penalties for false statements.
• SECTION 12-37-1140. Penalties for evasion of assessment or levy of taxes.

ARTICLE 9. MANUFACTURERS, PAWNBROKERS, MINES AND MINING CLAIMS

• SECTION 12-37-1310. "Manufacturer" defined.

ARTICLE 13. RAILROADS

• SECTION 12-37-1610. Returns of railroad companies to Department of Revenue.
• SECTION 12-37-1630. Valuation and allocation.
• SECTION 12-37-1640. Form of return and oath.
• SECTION 12-37-1650. Returns to be made by receivers.
• SECTION 12-37-1660. Power of department to question officers, agents and receivers, and to examine books and papers.
• SECTION 12-37-1670. Railroad officer, receiver or agent who refuses to answer questions of or submit books to department; penalties.
• SECTION 12-37-1680. Proceedings in case of failure to file return.

ARTICLE 15. TELEGRAPH, TELEPHONE, EXPRESS AND SLEEPING CAR COMPANIES AND PRIVATE CAR LINES

• SECTION 12-37-1940. Statements of telegraph and telephone companies.
• SECTION 12-37-1990. Form of returns when no principal office is in State; examination of agents.
• SECTION 12-37-2000. Department shall examine statements and may require other data.
• SECTION 12-37-2010. Auditors may require agents to report length of lines in each township; addition to value.
• SECTION 12-37-2020. Actions for taxes in case of failure or refusal to pay; penalty.

ARTICLE 16. PRIVATE CAR LINE COMPANIES

• SECTION 12-37-2110. Definitions.
• SECTION 12-37-2120. Filing of report required.
• SECTION 12-37-2130. Annual valuation of private cars of private car companies.
• SECTION 12-37-2140. Method of valuation.
• SECTION 12-37-2150. Tax levy against assessed value.
• SECTION 12-37-2160. Disposition of proceeds.
• SECTION 12-37-2170. Penalty for failure to file return or to pay tax.
• SECTION 12-37-2190. Effect of other ad valorem taxes.

ARTICLE 17. OTHER COMPANIES AND CORPORATIONS

• SECTION 12-37-2270. Failure to pay tax works a forfeiture.

ARTICLE 19. AIRCRAFT

• SECTION 12-37-2410. Definitions.
• SECTION 12-37-2420. Required tax returns.
• SECTION 12-37-2430. Valuation of aircraft.
• SECTION 12-37-2440. Ratios for valuation of aircraft.
• SECTION 12-37-2450. Tax levy.
• SECTION 12-37-2460. Disposition of tax proceeds.
• SECTION 12-37-2470. Penalty for failure to file return or to pay tax.
• SECTION 12-37-2490. Effect of other ad valorem taxes upon aircraft of airline companies.

ARTICLE 21. MOTOR VEHICLES

• SECTION 12-37-2610. Tax year for motor vehicles.
• SECTION 12-37-2615. Penalties for violation of Section 12-37-2610.
• SECTION 12-37-2620. Tax determined for twelve or twenty-four month period, depending on licensing period; proportionate reduction for shorter period.
• SECTION 12-37-2630. Property tax return to be filed prior to application for motor vehicle license.
• SECTION 12-37-2640. Auditor to determine assessed value of motor vehicle.
• SECTION 12-37-2645. Assessment ratio for determining assessed value of motor vehicle.
• SECTION 12-37-2650. Issuance of tax notices and paid receipts; delegation of collection of taxes.
• SECTION 12-37-2660. Listing of license registration applications to be furnished to county auditors.
• SECTION 12-37-2675. Transfer of vehicle license, tax levy prohibited until license expires.
• SECTION 12-37-2680. Determination of assessed value of vehicle.
• SECTION 12-37-2690. Assessment and collection of municipal taxes.
• SECTION 12-37-2710. Returns for personal property registered with state agencies.
• SECTION 12-37-2720. Exception as to motor vehicles held for sale by dealers.
• SECTION 12-37-2721. Exemptions from motor vehicle tax.
• SECTION 12-37-2722. Exemptions from the motor vehicle tax.
• SECTION 12-37-2723. Article inapplicable to vehicles operated on highway with manufacturer's plates.
• SECTION 12-37-2725. Cancellation of license plate and registration certificate upon transfer of vehicle title or upon owner of vehicle becoming legal resident of another state and registers vehicle in that state; refund or credit for property taxes paid by transferor.
• SECTION 12-37-2730. Penalties; summons.
• SECTION 12-37-2735. Personal Property Tax Relief Fund established.
• SECTION 12-37-2740. Suspension of driver's license and vehicle registration for failure to pay personal property tax on a vehicle.

ARTICLE 23. MOTOR CARRIERS

• SECTION 12-37-2810. Definitions.
• SECTION 12-37-2820. Assessment of motor vehicles.
• SECTION 12-37-2830. Determination of value based on ratio.
• SECTION 12-37-2840. Annual property tax returns; failure to remit taxes or file returns; assessments; appeals; penalties.
• SECTION 12-37-2842. Registration of vehicles or buses with Department; notification to Department of disposition of vehicles or buses.
• SECTION 12-37-2845. Repealed by 2000 Act No. 399, Section 3(T)(4), eff August 17, 2000.
• SECTION 12-37-2850. Assessment of taxes.
• SECTION 12-37-2860. One-time fees.
• SECTION 12-37-2870. Distribution formula.
• SECTION 12-37-2880. Ad valorem taxes.
• SECTION 12-37-2890. Suspension of driver's license for failure to pay motor carrier property tax; penalty for driving with suspended license; reinstatement.

ARTICLE 25. SOUTH CAROLINA REAL PROPERTY VALUATION REFORM ACT

• SECTION 12-37-3110. Citation of article.
• SECTION 12-37-3120. Interpretation with other laws.
• SECTION 12-37-3130. Definitions.
• SECTION 12-37-3135. ATI fair market value exemption from property tax; requirements.
• SECTION 12-37-3140. Determining fair market value.
• SECTION 12-37-3150. Determining when to appraise parcel of real property.
• SECTION 12-37-3160. Promulgation of regulations; circumstances constituting change in beneficial ownership; certification of details of property ownership; penalties for falsification.
• SECTION 12-37-3170. Effect on valuation of agricultural property.