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1. What items require the payment of personal property tax?

In South Carolina, personal property encompasses:

• Aircraft
• Motor vehicles
• Recreational vehicles
• Watercraft (including boats, motors, and personal recreational vehicles like wave runners and jet skis, etc.)

Personal property tax also applies to equipment, furniture, fixtures and machinery primarily used by businesses.

2. When are personal property taxes due?

With the exception of motor vehicles, personal property taxes must be paid by January 15 of the following year, unless that day falls on a county holiday or weekend.

Personal property taxes on motor vehicles and recreational vehicles are due throughout the year on a staggered monthly schedule and must be paid before your license plates can be renewed.

3. How is the value of personal watercraft/aircraft determined?

Values of personal property are kept current through annual updates by the SC Department of Revenue and the SC Department of Natural Resources.

4. I sold the personal property you have billed me for. What do I do with this bill?

If you owned the property on December 31, preceding the current tax year, you are responsible for the taxes for that entire year; for example, if you owned a boat on December 31, 2010, you are responsible for paying the taxes by January 15, 2012. Personal property is taxed in arrears (except for motor vehicles).

If you purchase personal property on or after January 1, you will not have to pay county taxes on it until January of the following year.

This information does not apply to motor vehicles.

5. Can I appeal the value on my boat or airplane?

Yes, you have until the taxes are due to appeal in writing to the Auditor’s office. It is important that you contact SC Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and call the Auditor’s office when you receive a tax bill, if after December 31st of the previous year, you have junked, abandoned, destroyed, or sold the water craft. If the property taxes are unpaid, the taxes follow the watercraft and become the responsibility of the new owner, if you try to sell the watercraft.

Someone from the Auditor’s office will review your personal property appeal or discuss other status of the watercraft.

The appeal of the value of the boat or airplane does not extend the due date of the taxes.

6. If I own a business or residential rental property, how are taxes determined on associated personal property?

Owners of businesses using equipment, furniture, fixtures or machinery are required to file an annual personal property tax return with the Williamsburg County Auditor. If you have a business and do not file the form PT-100 with the SC. Department of Revenue, then you are required to file with the County Auditor.

7. When are business-related personal property tax returns due?

• Returns must be filed by April 30 of each year or on or before the last day of the fourth month after the close of the accounting period regularly employed by the taxpayer, for income tax purposes.
• Currently, there are no provisions in the law to allow for an extension of filing returns.
• As with other forms of personal property (except motor vehicles), taxes are levied in arrears.
• If you owned the property on December 31 of the tax year, you are responsible for the taxes for that entire year.
• If you purchase personal property on or after January 1, you will not have to pay property taxes on it until January of the following year.

8. What happens if I don't file my business-related personal property tax return on time?

The Auditor is required by law to estimate all accounts in which a return was not filed.

Estimates may be higher than the original filed amount.

9. Are all boats & motors taxable?

Boats or outboard motors with a fair market value of $500 or less are not taxable.

10. Are boat trailers taxable?

No, not in South Carolina.

11. I want to buy a watercraft, what are the steps to do so for property tax purposes?

First, take the title numbers and check with the county in which the owner lives to make sure all back taxes are paid. If the taxes are unpaid, in accordance with SC. law, the taxes follow the watercraft and become the responsibility of the new owner.

Section 50-23-295

1. A certificate of title to watercraft or an outboard motor may not be transferred if the department has notice that property taxes for property tax years beginning after 1999, are owed on the watercraft or outboard motor. 
2. A person who knowingly sells a watercraft for which he owes unpaid and outstanding property taxes, or on which he knows there is a property tax lien, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars and imprisoned not more than thirty days.