Making the most of property assessors offices in South Carolina will require the office to assess the market value of a property. This value is then multiplied by the tax rate to determine the actual tax that the owner must pay on the property each year. Property tax rates may be set by organizations such as cities, counties or school districts.

South Carolina property assessors offices use several factors such as location and size to determine the value of a property. This assessment is usually accurate and requires a property value appeal only on rare occasions. There are three things you need to do when evaluating the property value as determined by the assessor’s office:

1. Obtain the information the property assessors offices in South Carolina use to make the assessment. You should already know the size and location of the property, but the assessor also will be able to provide the value of other properties in your area.
2. Get a professional appraisal so you may compare it to the property value by the South Carolina property assessments.
3. Appeal the assessor’s valuation of your property if needed. South Carolina assessors have a specific procedure for accomplishing this.
   

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Learn more about the laws regarding South Carolina property assessments

Each state has laws that provide guidelines on the way that property values are assessed. There also may be laws that specify what property tax information is publicly available.

I recommend: The South Carolina Department of Revenue offers an extensive guide to the property tax laws in South Carolina. Carolina Living offers a summary of tax laws and the property tax rates for selected cities in South Carolina.

Find out how professional appraisers determine South Carolina property values

Appraisers may use different methods to estimate the value of your property. You will want to ensure the professional appraiser considers the same factors as the property assessor.

I recommend: Thomas Watts & Associates provides a FAQ on property appraisals. Susan Druschel & Associates offers an overview of its property appraisal process.

Learn how your county performs a South Carolina property assessment

Many counties have online resources available to help you with your property tax assessment. You should be able to locate this information on your county's website, in addition to other information regarding property taxes.

I recommend: The Horry County Tax Assessor provides extensive resources on the property assessment process in that county. The Pickens County Assessor's Office offers a FAQ on property taxes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check with your South Carolina property assessor to see if you qualify for any exemptions on your property assessment. Exemptions may be recognized for disabled veterans, senior citizens or non-profit organizations. File any appeals to your current tax assessment before the tax deadline. It will be more difficult to obtain a favorable ruling on an appeal after the deadline.

Property assessors offices - South Carolina assessors help business owners get the right tax appraisals for their business property. South Carolina property assessment means fair and reasonable taxes on any type of personal or business property.

A South Carolina property assessor makes documentation available to both mortgage companies and tax departments for appropriate tax levees against property values. When property values rise or fall, a thorough assessment means freeing up cash for expansion or a decrease in your tax bill.

South Carolina property assessors receive certification from the state of South Carolina, so working with qualified and certified property assessors is important for accurate and fair reporting. South Carolina property assessor’s offices work with only the best in the areas of property valuation.

Most South Carolina property assessment happens yearly for tax purposes. South Carolina land value, like most states, changes some each year, so it’s important to know your rights to fair assessment through property assessors in South Carolina. Property assessors offices - South Carolina will:

1. Give accurate property valuations for South Carolina property values.

2. Provide assessment for use in determining summer and winter taxes.

3. Offer opportunities for property improvements due to increased South Carolina land value.

4. Give leads on investment properties in revitalization areas.

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Work with South Carolina property assessors certified through the State of South Carolina Assessors

The state of South Carolina Assessors Board has training programs available that lead to certification in property assessment. Using a certified property assessor guarantees high standards and accuracy.

I recommend: Visit the State of South Carolina assessor webpage for information about the property assessor’s certification process. Check out RealEstateExpress.com for certification requirements in the State of South Carolina.

Pull South Carolina property records for South Carolina land values comparisons and taxation records

Public property records help property owners determine if their rate of property tax in fair and reasonable compared to that of their neighbors or other business owners. Property tax records are available through the tax assessor's office in your city.

I recommend: Visit Public Record Finder for information on obtaining or viewing public property tax documents for your community. Skipease is a fast and easy website with access to public tax documents for every state.

Use tax assessment records for insight into changes in South Carolina land values and market trends

When property values are down, it may be time to expand your holdings. As a business owner it's important to think about expansion when assessments say you could get more for your money. Contact your local tax assessor's office for information on property taxes for parcels considered for expansion purposes.

I recommend: Realestateabc.com and Electronic Appraiser help property owners determine the value of their property and make comparisons to others in their area.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Request a detailed copy of your South Carolina property assessments each year from property assessors offices in South Carolina. If you feel your report is inaccurate or unfair in any way, file and appeal with the State of South Carolina Assessors Board.
• •  File any appeals to your current property taxes before your tax deadline. Once the deadline is past, it's not as easy to get a favorable ruling on an appeal.

Property assessors in South Carolina, also known as appraisers, are licensed experts who assess the fair market value of real property in order to determine the local property taxes the owners pay each year based upon the applicable formula for the state of South Carolina and county of residence. Typically an individual assessor specializes in assessing the value of either residential or commercial property. Those working as South Carolina property assessors evaluate properties based upon other buildings in that area and keep relevant public records.

While on-the-job training is usually available, state and federal regulations are in place for someone to work in property assessor’s offices in South Carolina. There are a number of ways to obtain the necessary property assessor’s offices – South Carolina education and training. Some of these education strategies include:

1. Gain additional South Carolina property assessment training through seminars and workshops.

2. Stay apprised of changes and strategies for determining property values in South Carolina through publications.

3. An appraiser’s license is a requirement for working in property assessor’s offices – South Carolina.

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Attend training seminars for those working in property assessment in South Carolina

Local training seminars, workshops and conferences can provide the information and techniques you need to continue to produce accurate and concise assessments of property values. Some South Carolina property assessors offices require their employees to attend training or seminars throughout their employment. It is also a great way to pad your resume when searching out a new assessor job.

I recommend: Register for the South Carolina Professional Appraisers Coalition (SCPAC) annual conference to discuss current market trends and other relevant appraisal and assessor topics. Attend seminars in South Carolina offered by the Appraisal Institute. Check the course calendar for workshops in South Carolina provided by the International Association of Assessing Officers.

Find articles and manuals relevant to current South Carolina property assessments

The South Carolina property assessors office that you work for may provide you with a manual for your position. However, it would be beneficial to obtain additional manuals and articles from state and federal organizations that can increase your ability to perform your job successfully. Typically, these publications will apply current market trends and property tax formulas to the basics, giving you the ability to produce more accurate assessment results.

I recommend: Read the South Carolina Code of Laws regarding property tax assessment on the South Carolina Legislature Online. Access the South Carolina Association of Assessing Officials newsletter.

Acquire the necessary licensing and certification for assessing South Carolina property values

In order to become a South Carolina property assessor, you must obtain a real estate appraiser's license. It is a requirement for all states that their licensing and certification requirements for assessors and appraisers conform to those requirements established by the Appraisal Qualifications Board. Typically, the requirements to obtain an assessors license include specific training classes, on-the-job training time and the passing of specified exams.

I recommend: Find contact information and news headlines for the South Carolina Real Estate Appraisers Board, which regulates appraisal licensing, on the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation website. Obtain your appraisal license through the Real Estate School of South Carolina.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As of 2008, the federal government established the requirement that anyone applying for an appraisers license, such as South Carolina property assessors, must have a bachelor's degree or the equivalent in credit hours. Typically, a related field of study such as economics, finance or real estate is an appropriate major.

Property assessments determine how much property owners, whether on a personal or business level, owe in property taxes each year. Assessments determine the value of specific property and then determine a tax amount based upon a formulated tax rate system. County assessor's offices are responsible for assessing property values and determining these tax rates.

Whether you want to work for a South Carolina assessor's office or simply want to better understand the assessment process for personal or business application, there are a few key terms you should know.

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Fair market value

Fair market value is the amount a willing buyer would pay for a given property. Assessor's offices determine fair market value of a property by compiling several factors, including what similar properties sell for, property amenities, property size and condition. The market value of real property in South Carolina is currently assessed at four percent.

I recommend: Visit Creative Real Estate Online for more information on fair market value. Access the Lexington County Assessor website for more terms commonly used by South Carolina assessor's offices.

Assessment

Assessment is the valuation of a property based upon fair market value for that property. A South Carolina assessor's office conducts property assessments once a year on residential and commercial properties in order to determine property taxes for that year.

I recommend: Read Title 12, Chapter 37 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, provided by South Carolina Legislature Online, for more information on the assessment process.

Property tax

Property tax is placed on residential and commercial real property (and sometimes personal property) in order to obtain revenue for local municipalities, typically paid on an annual basis.

I recommend: The South Carolina Department of Revenue and The Center for Carolina Living provide quite a bit of information on property taxes.

Reassessment

Reassessment is a process put into place by the South Carolina government to re-evaluate all of the property in a specific SC location, to double-check assessments and determine a new tax base. As time passes, the gaps between the values for real property in comparison to other properties, such as personal property, increase. Reassessment brings these values back into alignment.

I recommend: Oconee County explains reassessment in greater detail.

Appeal

The South Carolina assessor's office entitles property owners to an appeal if they disagree with the assessed value of their property. The property owner must meet a number of requirements in order for an appeal to meet approval, including the filing of several state and local government forms.

I recommend: Follow the appeals process laid out on the Georgetown County Assessor and Spartanburg County Government websites.

Homestead Exemption

The Homestead Exemption is a tax credit for individuals over the age of 65 or who are permanently disabled or legally blind. An assessor subtracts $50,000 from the fair market value of a qualifying individual's property before determining taxes.

I recommend: Visit the Charleston County Auditor for more information. The Greenville County Auditor provides qualification requirements and details regarding the Homestead Exemption application process.