Auditor

• Assembles information regarding real and personal property ownership for the purpose of establishing a fair market value, computation of the assessed value and application of the taxing millage rate to produce revenue to be collected by the Horry County Treasurer/Tax Collector.
• Prepares and list all taxable personal property on the County's tax roll:
• • Cars/Trucks
  • Big Trucks/Utility Trailers
  • Campers/RV's/Motor Homes
  • Motorcycles
  • Watercrafts/Motors
  • Pontoon Boats/House Boats
  • Commercial Boats
  • Documented Vessels
  • Aircraft
  • Furniture/Fixtures & Equipment
  • Commercial Signs
  • Exemptions (Blue Cards) Military/SCDOR
• Enters assessed values of all real property under the jurisdiction of the County Assessor on the tax roll.
• Enters all assessments certified by the South Carolina Department of Revenue:
• • Manufacturing Real & Personal
  • Industrial Real & Personal
  • Utilities/Railroads
• Authorizes all additions, discoveries, omissions, and abatements to the tax roll.
• Ascertains personal property listed in manuals furnished by the South Carolina Department of Revenue is taxed in accordance with such manuals, guidelines, rules and regulations.
• Applies penalties to taxes and assessments which remain unpaid as of statutorily defined due dates.
• Administers the Homestead Exemption Program on the local level and determines eligibility for county residents.
• Receives tax returns such as: campers/trailers/business personal property/aircraft/ documented vessels on personal property not otherwise listed.
• Determines necessary revenues needed annually to satisfy bonded debt payments and sets levies for all political subdivisions except municipalities.
• Administers proper application of property tax exemptions certified by the DOR and also those authorized by provisions of the Soldiers & Sailors Relief Act for active duty military personnel.

The Horry County Auditor's Office is responsible for the collection and processing of Personal Property Returns (Form PT-100). If you owned a property in Horry County on December 31st of the prior year and this was not your legal residence, you are required to complete and submit a Personal Property Return. You may complete the form online by choosing the correct link below. 

You may complete the Personal Property Return for the current tax year by clicking HERE.
To complete a Personal Property Return (PR-26) for a prior year (2020 or 2019) please click HERE.

1. December 31 of the prior year is the assessment date for the current tax year. Failure to file the Survey by April 30 of the current year may result in an estimated value plus 10% penalty. If sold, please attach a copy of your Bill of Sale or other document showing date of sale, and purchaser's name and address. If sold after December 31 prior, you may still be subject to property taxes this year.
2. Horry County Council has passed an ordinance adopting a state-allowed local option to reduce all watercraft taxes by 42.75%. Under this ordinance, 42.75% of the fair market value of a watercraft (and motor, if taxed separately) will be exempted from tax. The assessment rate will remain at 10.5% as set by state statute. The ordinance, which went into effect beginning with tax year 2008, has the same net effect as using a 6% assessment rate.
3. Please sign and return the survey with post-mark on or before April 30 to avoid a potential 10% penalty, and please complete the Survey in its entirety so that your vessel may be added to or exempted from the official tax roll of Horry County. An incomplete filing may result in an estimated value being used for the vessel described.
4. The Watercraft Survey is required if any of the following criteria apply to you:
   • Your official documentation/registration shows an Horry County mailing address,
   • Your official documentation/registration shows an Horry County hailing port,
   • Your boat was docked in Horry County for a minimum of 180 days during the prior year,
   • You are a legal resident of Horry County,
   • Your name/address have been included on a report from a local marina.
5. South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 12-37-710 states, "Every person of full age and of sound mind shall annually list for taxation the following personal property, to wit:
   • All the tangible personal property in the State owned or controlled by him;
   • All the tangible property owned by him or by any other resident of this State and under his control which may be temporarily out of the State but is intended to be brought into the State;
   • (3) All tangible personal property owned or controlled by him which may have been sent out of the State for sale and not yet sold."
6. In cases where a taxable vessel has been sold after the December 31 assessment date, taxes are not automatically prorated by Horry County. The December 31 (prior) owner will be billed for the tax. Section 12-37-735 provides for the proration of property taxes, but only if the transferor (seller) and transferee (buyer) agree and both sign a proration form available at our office and immediately pay each pro-rated share.
7. South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 12-54-40 states: A person who willfully attempts to evade or defeat any tax or property assessment, in addition to other penalties provided by law, is guilty of a FELONY and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than ten thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, together with the cost of prosecution. The assessment may be estimated from the best available information and then amended when more sufficient information becomes available. ENFORCEMENT FOR NON-COMPLIANCE (PENALTIES AND PROSECUTION) WILL BE STRENGHTENED BY OUR OFFICE, ALONG WITH OTHER COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES.
8. South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 12-37-900 states that personal property owned on December 31 shall be listed for taxation with the County Auditor between January 1 and April 30 of the following year regardless of whether the property was sold after the December 31 assessment date.
   An Attorney General's opinion on this section states, (for example) "The owner of personal property on December 31, 1979 is required to make a return to the county auditor listing all property owned by him on that date notwithstanding the fact that some property is sold by him in January 1980…a (taxpayer) is liable for the ad valorem tax on all tangible personal property possessed and used by him as of December 31 next preceding the taxable year."
9. If you have any questions regarding the information listed in this section, please contact:
   Horry County Auditor's Office
   1201 21st Avenue North
   Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577  
   Phone: (843) 915-5054

How do I qualify for a high mileage discount?

You must bring your actual mileage into one of our offices in the month in which your taxes are due. We will look up your information and give you a discount if you qualify.

How old must I be to qualify for Homestead Exemption?

You must be 65 years of age on or before December 31 preceding the tax year in which you wish to claim the exemption. You must be a legal resident of South Carolina at least one year on or before December 31 of the year prior to the exemption.

When I purchased my car, the dealership told me they would take care of the taxes and tags. Why am I getting a tax bill?

The dealership was referring to the SALES TAX and the license plate. You are receiving the personal property tax bill for your vehicle, they are not the same.

I am a new resident to Horry County, how do I get my vehicles registered here?

You will need to go to the Auditor’s office where they will generate a tax bill for your vehicle. You will then go to the Treasurer’s office to pay. Finally, you will go to the Department of Motor Vehicle to get your tag and registration.

How do I change my mailing address on my vehicles/real estate taxes?

For vehicles, you will contact the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicle then the Auditor’s office will get that correction from the DMV for the next billing cycle. For real estate, you will contact the Assessor’s office. Both of these can be done online at their websites.

How long does it take to get my decal from the DMV if I paid online or by mail?

The SC DMV says to allow 3-10 business days after receiving/posting payment. After 10 business days, you can take an original tax receipt, issued from the Treasurer’s office, to the DMV to get decal.

What is a Dealer Affidavit Notice?

When a dealership gets a new tag for a taxpayer the customer pays the dealership for Sales Tax to get the tag and registration but the Property Tax isn’t included in the purchase price. Dealer Affidavit’s need to be paid within 120 days to avoid suspension of driver’s license.

I no longer own this vehicle, why did I receive a tax bill for it?

As long as it is a regular renewal and the license plates have been turned in to the DMV, then the bill will drop out of the system after 120 days. The DMV will charge a penalty per day on any vehicle without insurance on it and the tag has not been turned in. If the tag was transferred, you will need to go to the Auditor’s office to have the bill cancelled and a new bill created on the new vehicle. The Auditor’s office will need a new registration on a new car. If this occurs the decal will have to be picked up at the DMV.

Where do I get my tag/sticker and registration for my vehicle?

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicle. You will need your original paid tax receipt.

How can I pay my taxes?

You can go online to www.horrycounty.org, by phone 1-866-830-3582, by mail or at any of our locations. Delinquent taxes or dealer charges cannot be paid online or by phone.

I sold my property this year, why did I receive a tax notice?

If you had any ownership of that property on January 1st of that year, it is required to send a tax notice to the previous owner(s) and the new owner. IF you paid your portion in closing, the new owner will be responsible for the tax bill.

My mortgage company is responsible for paying my taxes, why am I receiving a bill?

A copy of your real estate tax notice is always mailed to both, you AND your mortgage company.

I purchased my property last year, why is the tax notice in the previous owner’s name?

It takes a full year for the taxes to transfer into the new homeowner’s name. You may contact the assessor’s office to verify that you are on file as the new homeowner.

I just received my real estate tax notice and I want to pay it in installments. How do I sign up?

The installment program allows you to pay advanced payments on your real estate taxes (based on your prior year’s tax amount), therefore, your current tax notice must be paid in full. Once the taxes are paid in full, you may sign up for installments for NEXT year’s taxes by January 15th .

I do not rent my house but I am receiving personal property taxes, what do I do?

There is a form (PT-100) that needs to be completed and turned into the Auditor’s Office. You will need to contact their office at 843-915-5054.

Do I get a senior discount on vehicles?

The senior discount is on the registration portion through the SCDMV, not the tax portion. It is usually automatically picked up by the DMV, if it is not, the customer can go to DMV to request their discount.

How do I change my address on my SC Department of Revenue (DOR) tax notice?

You must change your address with the DOR and the Auditor’s office will get that correction for your next billing.

How long takes to get legal residence?

You will apply for your legal residence through the Assessor’s office and they will make the modification from the 6% to 4%. Sometimes it will take over 90 days for the corrections according to the number of applications they have received.

Why can’t I pay my bill with two different credit/debit cards?

Our computer system is not capable of doing that. You can pay with cash and credit/debit card, check and credit/debit card, or any other combination of payment using only one credit/debit transaction.

How do I apply for Homestead Exemption credit if I am 65 years old or older?

You will need to contact the Homestead Exemption office at (843)915-5051. You can also apply on line @ horrycounty.org

How do I change my address for my real estate notices?

In order to update your mailing address concerning real estate tax notices you must do so through the assessor’s website at https://www.horrycounty.org/Departments/Assessor
For more information you may contact the assessor’s department at (843) 915-5040.

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Questions regarding vehicle or camper billing contact - The Auditor’s Office at (843)915-5050.

Questions regarding the billing of boats and motors contact - The Auditor’s Office at (843)915-5055 or (843)915-5050.

Questions regarding out of state license plates contact - The Auditor’s Office at (843)915-5052.

Questions regarding personal property taxes (Furniture/Fixture/Appliance/Equipment) contact - The Auditor’s Office at (843)915-5054.

Questions regarding Real Estate tax billing contact- The Assessor’s office at (843)915-5040.

Questions regarding vehicle tags/stickers/registration contact- The SCDMV at (803)896-5000.

Questions regarding personal property tax, Furniture/Fixture/Appliance/Equipment, with the SC Department of Revenue contact – The SCDOR at (803)898-5000

Ad Valorem

According to value

Fair Market Value (FMV)

the amount the property might bring on the open market between a buyer and seller of which neither being under duress to buy or sell

Assessment Ratio

• Legal Residence: 4%
• Commercial Fishing: 5%
• All Other: 6%
• Airplanes: 4%
• Trucking: 10.5%
• Vehicles, RV's, Watercraft: 6%
• MFG. & Industrial Real/Personal: 10.5%

Assessed Value

The product of fair market value multiplied by the assessment ratio.

Millage (M)

The rate of taxation expressed in whole numbers. Varies according to municipality/location within the county.

• The Auditor's Office is always on the look out for people who live here and do not register their vehicles. This is a major project for us in addition to our daily work of serving the taxpayers of Horry County.
• We have a new computer program which helps us discover documented vessels in our area which need to be added to our tax rolls.
• We also spend a good deal of time discovering business personal property which needs to be taxed.