One of the biggest benefits to owning property along the Grand Strand is our low property taxes. Property tax bills are paid in arrears in Horry County and released every fall, due by the end of the year. We have two tax rates: the primary tax rate (4%) and the secondary and income producing property tax rate (6%). Because these rates are calculated using the millage rate, the difference between the two rates is often triple. With so many properties in Horry and Georgetown county being secondary properties, the tax rate automatically defaults to the 6% rate when a property changes hands.

If you have purchased a property in the past year that you intend to be your primary property, you can file for the residency exemption and have your tax bill lowered to the 4% rate. This is a process of updating your drivers license, auto registration, voters registration (if applicable) and submitting your most recent redacted income tax returns to the auditors office. You should also be on the lookout for a personal property tax bill (a PT100). The PT100 is sent out in February by the assessors office to account for items provided to a tenant within the property that will depreciate in value. As a primary resident, you can mark the box on the PT100 indicating that you are using the property as a primary residence and you will not receive this notice again. If you fail to complete and return the PT100, you will receive a personal property tax bill each year. If you own a secondary or income producing property, you will completed the PT100 each year to calculate the personal property taxes owed.

Once you have established the legal residency exemption, check to see if you are eligible for other exemptions including the Homestead Exemption if over 65 or 100% disabled, or a disabled Military exemption. Below are links to help you understand how the tax bill is calculated. Tax bills are public record and often times we reach out to our clients to let them know if they are being taxed incorrectly and the steps they can take to correct this. Even if you end up needing to pay the tax to avoid penalty, if you qualify for an exemption you can request a refund or abatement if applicable.  

Keep in mind, anytime there is a change in ownership the property can and will be reassessed and if your reassessment is more than 10% of the appraised value of the home you can contest the assessment. The county reassesses property every 5 years, and 2024 was a reassessment year. If you have not made any significant changes to your property like adding additional square footage, a pool, or a shed, you may not see any changes this year. Also keep in mind there is a cap on how much a property's value can increase year over year when not changing hands. 

Horry County has added a tool that estimates your taxes. You can always use that tool to verify if your tax notice matches the county estimator. 

Click here for the link to the Tax Estimator

Other resources:

Your PIN (Property Identification Number) will be on your tax bill, and you can also find it on the GIS and Land Records.

Horry County GIS or Horry County Land Records

For more information on real property tax bills, visit Tax Payer Services

And, if you are questioning the value calculated, visit Questioning Values

Lastly, while we are here to help and want to be a resource for all of your real estate needs… we can provide direction and ideas but ultimately, you’ll need to contact the Assessor's Office. We look forward to helping you maximize your savings and enjoy living along the Grand Strand!

Horry County Assessors Office Contact Info

Georgetown County Assessors Office Contact Info