4% Tax Assessment Forms
It’s important to note that if you buy a house in South Carolina and that house will become your primary residence (meaning you plan to live there), and you fail to file the 4% tax assessment form with your county, you will be taxed at the 6% rate.
That means you will get a tax bill double or triple what it should be.
If you have a mortgage on your new property and you fail to file the 4% tax assessment form, your escrow account will not have enough money in it to pay the tax bill at the end of the year. Your mortgage company will pay the higher bill for you, but this will result in a higher mortgage payment for you the following year.
Avoid all that mess by completing the online form for your county (see links below) or downloading and delivering the appropriate form for your county to your county assessor's office. Note: Berkeley County now offers their form only online or filled out in-person.
These are the forms you need to file to receive the discounted 4% tax rate on your property in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester County:
- Berkeley County 4% Form - instructions
Berkeley County 4% Form - link (must create account in their system) - Charleston County 4% Form
- Dorchester County 4% Form
Please note: These links were accurate as of 9/8/23. You may want to call the county (see links to their sites above) to see if the forms have changed since that date.
If you have any questions about buying or selling real estate in South Carolina, please call or text me directly at 843-870-0890, schedule a call with me here, or fill out the form below.