Skip to main content

Delinquent Tax

WHEN

Friday, December 5, 2025

WHERE

Colleton Civic Center

494 Hampton St.
Walterboro, SC 29488 United States + Google Map

MORE

  • For Tax Sale Property Listings please click here. (advertised 3 consecutive weeks prior to the tax sale beginning November. 13, 2025)
  • Bidder registration is currently closed and will reopen by November 13, 2025.  
  • Once registration is completed, visit the Colleton County Delinquent Tax Office located at 118 Benson St., Walterboro, SC. prior to December 5, 2025 to pick up your bidder card.  It is encouraged that bidders pick up their bidder's card before the December 5, 2025 at 118 Benson St., Walterboro, SC. If you have not registered or picked up your bidder card before the day of the sale, registration can be accomplished at 9:00 am on December, 2025 at the Colleton Civic Center located at 494 Hampton St., Walterboro, SC.  A copy of a valid, government issued, photo ID will be required to register and pick up your bidder card.  

 

THE PURCHASER OF PROPERTY AT A TAX SALE ACQUIRES THE TITLE WITHOUT WARRANTY AND BUYS AT THEIR OWN RISK. THE COUNTY IS NOT LIABLE FOR THE QUALITY OR QUANTITY OF THE PROPERTY SOLD.

  • Receive and process payments for delinquent taxes.  
  • Issue mobile home decals and moving permits.
  • Perform duties related to Tax Sales, such as handling certified mail, posting properties, checking mortgages, title searches, and assisting sale bidders, issuing tax deeds, etc.
  • It is our responsibility to see that all people are treated with respect, and to do what is required to collect taxes.
  • Contact the Delinquent Tax office for the status of FLC properties.

Tax Sale

Friday, December 6, 2024

If you should happen to lose your decal or the window that the decal was in was replaced, there is no need to purchase another decal. The receipt of your purchase is on file and remains on file until home is sold or changes name.

If you are looking to purchase property at a delinquent tax sale, you cannot just come in and pay the delinquent tax on the property to become the owner.  All that does is pay the tax for the owner. You will have to wait and see if this property goes up for sale and then be the highest bidder for that property, wait a year and a day to see if the property is redeemed.  If it is not,  you will be issued a tax deed to the property.

The tax on a property follows the property not an individual. It is advised strongly that you check to see if there are any taxes due on land or mobile home before purchasing so you and the buyer can determine who will pay taxes. Taxes are not prorated on Mobile Homes.

If you are the owner moving your home within your county, we will need proof of identification (picture ID only). If it’s your home and you are moving it out of the county, we will need ID and the tax due up to the present year will have to be paid. If you are not the owner of the home and you are moving it in or out of the county, then you will need to bring in a written statement from the owner providng permission for you to move the home. The cost of the moving permit is $1.00.

If you have purchased a new home from a dealer’s lot you will need to bring with you a Form 400 and the Bill of Sale. If you are buying a home from an individual, you will need to pay any tax that is due up to the present year, a copy of the title signed over to you or in your name, or a Form 400 and Bill of Sale. The cost of the Decal is $5.00.

When your property is sold at tax sale, you have one year and a day to redem (buy back) your property. During that redemption period, your redemption amount increases quarterly by 3% of the amount bid for the property.  The redemption amount cannot exceed the tax sale bid.  For example:  If your delinquent tax due is $300 and the accepted tax sale bid is $5,000, for the first three months your redemption amount is 3% of $5,000 or $150 plus the original $300 tax for a total of $450.  If the property is not redeemed during that first three month period, the redemption amount increases to 6% of $5,000 or $300 pluse the original $300 tax for a total of $600.  In the third quarter the rate increases to 9% and the fourth quarter to 12%.  If the quarterly percentage rate plus the original tax amount exceeds the accepted tax sale bid, the redemption amount will be the tax sale bid amount.  So the most you will pay to redeem your property is the amount of that accepted tax sale bid. 

The only time we can request that the Auditor remove a penalty is when there is direct evidence that there has been an error on the part of the county.

March 15th of each year is the final date to pay taxes before they become delinquent. If this day falls on a holiday or weekend, then the final date will be the first business day following the 15th.

Can't find the answer your looking for? Ask a Question

Larry Lightsey, Director llightsey@colletoncounty.org
Roxie Mack, Deputy Tax Collector rmack@colletoncounty.org
Lachelle Lewis, Clerk llewis@colletoncounty.org
Last updated: