Dorchester County Mailing Property Tax Bills
Dorchester County will begin mailing annual property tax bills on Friday, October 16, 2020.
If residents do not receive their property tax bill(s) by November 10 they are asked to contact the Assessor’s Office, at (843) 832-0162 or (843) 563-0162, to verify the mailing address on record. Property owners can also submit a request to change a mailing address online via the County website.
All property tax payments (except for personal property tax) are due by January 15, 2021, without penalties. After this date, penalties will begin to accrue and unpaid bills will be turned over to the Delinquent Tax Collector on March 16, 2021.
Property tax payments can be made online at DorchesterCountyTaxesOnline.com, in-person at both the St. George and Summerville Treasurer’s Offices, or by mail, using the return envelope, provided with the property tax bill.
The address on the return envelope is new. Previously all payments went to a processing center in Charlotte, NC. Beginning with the 2020 Tax Bills all by-mail payments will go to a processing center in Atlanta, GA.
Dorchester County Treasurer, Cindy Chitty said “Dorchester County recently awarded a contract with a new banking service. This transition allowed us to enhance our collection process. The center in Atlanta processes nearly 24/7 to ensure tax dollars are available as soon as possible to provide services to our residents.”
Changes to Tax Bills
Dorchester School District Two
Businesses and Property Owners in Dorchester School District Two (DD2) will see an increase of 5.5 mills in School District Debt Services. The increase was added to provide instructional resources for students and teachers. Dorchester County Council does not have oversight on DD2 Debt Millage. The decision to increase the debt millage was made by the Dorchester School District Two Board of Trustees. Additional Information from DD2
Fire Millage
The Town of St. George, Ridgeville, and Harleyville entered into new agreements with Dorchester County for fire service effective July 2020. These agreements allow the county to levy property taxes equivalent to 21.2 mills for fire service just as is done throughout unincorporated Dorchester County. The corresponding millage rates for these municipalities will be decreased by 21.2 mills on tax bills.
The Town of Reevesville entered into a contract for fire service with Dorchester County but previously charged a fire fee to its residents. This fee will be eliminated by the Town and taxpayers will see the 21.2 mills tax levy on their bills as well.
Tax Bill Example
Below is an example of what the 2020 Tax Notices will look like. Note: The color of the tax bill will vary based on the type of notice.
Homestead Exemption
Residents who are sixty-five years of age or older as of December 31 of the previous tax year, or 100% totally and permanently disabled or legally blind, qualify for the Homestead Exemption.
Residents can apply for the Homestead Exemption online via the County website or in-person at the St. George and Summerville Auditor’s Offices. Residents who have questions about the Homestead Exemption should contact the Auditor’s Office at (843) 832-0109 or (843) 563-0109.
Assessment Ratio and Appraised Values
Residents who have questions about the real property tax assessment ratio and/or appraisal values for real property should contact the Assessor’s Office at (843) 832-0162 or (843) 563-0162. For the convenience of the residents, 4% Legal Residence Exemption Applications can be submitted online via the County website.
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