THE PURPOSE OF THE TAX SALE
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A tax sale is the forced collection of property tax for a specific tax year. Before a property is sold for taxes, three (3) tax notices are mailed. The last notice is mailed certified, restricted delivery, with returned receipt. Property may also be physically levied. A tax sale and a foreclosure sale are two separate actions; the Tax Collector’s office does not handle foreclosures.
WHEN
The Treasurer conducts the delinquent tax sale the first Monday in October. All sales begin at 10:00 a.m. and will last from a few hours up to two (2) days. The second day of the sale will also begin at 10:00 a.m.
ADVERTISING
- All real estate subject to sale must be advertised once per week for three (3) consecutive weeks prior to the Tax Sale date. All personal property subject to sale must be advertised once per week for two (2) consecutive weeks prior to the Tax Sale date.
- Ads will be published in newspapers of general circulation within Beaufort County and available online at this County website beginning in September.
CONDITIONS OF SALE
- The Tax Sale is an open auction. Properties are advertised and auctioned in alphabetical order according to the defaulting taxpayers’ last name or company name.
- The opening bid includes any delinquent taxes and taxes owed for the current tax year. If, in the event the property is not redeemed, it will be deeded over to the successful bidder.
- All bid payments and deed preparation fees must be made before the close of business on the day of the sale with guaranteed funds. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover debit/credit cards are accepted. A tax sale receipt will be issued to the bidder.
- A 2.75% transaction fee shall be collected on all credit card payments.
- A $3.95 transaction fee shall be collected on all debit card payments.
- Any successful bidder who does not pay for the bid is subject to a fine of $500.00 per property pursuant to S.C. 12-51-70.
ADD-ONS
Multiple properties owned by the same individual or company and slated for auction at the annual Tax Sale are listed and auctioned numerically by PIN (Property Identification Number). “Add-ons” occur when the successful bid amount for one property covers the amount of delinquent taxes, including assessments, penalties, and costs, owed for additional properties owned by the same individual or entity. The successful bidder purchases just the one property and the additional properties become add-ons and are actually skipped and not auctioned since the successful bid amount paid the delinquent taxes owed on them. The next property auctioned is determined once the bid amount does not fully pay the delinquent tax amount due for the next property listed numerically by PIN. Example: An individual or company owns five properties, all with delinquent taxes, and the 1st property is auctioned and sells for $50,000.00. If the $50,000.00 bid covers the delinquent taxes owed on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd properties listed numerically by PIN, the next property to be auctioned will be the 4th property listed. The successful bidder purchases only the 1st property listed, and the 2nd and 3rd properties become the “add-ons.”
Tax Sale Overages
The Beaufort County Delinquent Tax Collector creates an “overage” when the bid amount exceeds the delinquent taxes, assessments, penalties, costs, and current year’s taxes. If the property is conveyed to the successful bidder, the owner of record at the time of the end of the redemption period is entitled to the overage. For a current list of Tax Sale Overages, please access the “Tax Sale Overages” page on the Treasurer’s web site.
PROPERTY REDEMPTION
- Real property has a 12-month-plus-one-day redemption period. If a property is redeemed, the bidder will be notified by mail. At that time, the temporary tax sale receipt must be returned to the Treasurer’s office for a refund of the bid, deed preparation fees, and applicable interest. Interest is accrued by adding 3% of the bid per quarter. The interest shall not exceed the opening bid amount.
- In the event the temporary tax sale receipt is lost, there will be a $25.00 fee and 10 days’ waiting period before your check is issued.
- Mobile homes also have a 12-month-plus-one-day redemption period. However, before the mobile home can be redeemed, rent must be satisfied with the bidder. Rent is calculated on a daily basis by dividing the base delinquent tax amount by 365 days to determine the daily amount and then multiplying the daily amount by the number of days that have elapsed since the date of the applicable annual tax sale.
- Redemptions can be made by the defaulting taxpayer, a lien holder, or an agent for either one.
- No redemption period exists for all other forms of property (i.e. boats, furniture, planes). Once the property is sold at tax sale, a bill-of-sale is issued.
These will be issued at the tax auction for bidders to agree to and sign off on prior to receiving a bid number.
