Homeowners asked for proofResidents must show they're eligible for 4% tax By Dave Munday (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
More informationCall the Dorchester County Assessor's Office at 563-0162 or 832-0162. The deadline for returning the application is Sept. 1. The address is 201 Johnson St., St. George, SC 29477. ST. GEORGE — Thousands of Dorchester County residents are getting letters saying they have to prove they live in their homes or pay more in property taxes. It's a problem that residents of Berkeley and Charleston counties don't have to deal with. Dorchester County is sending out the letters to satisfy state requirements for getting school money, Assessor Wayne Welch said Monday. State auditors looked over the county's records and needed more information to prove that homeowners who were claiming the 4 percent tax rate actually lived in those houses, he said. A number of homeowners were claiming several houses as their primary residences, for instance, he said. Homeowners pay a 4 percent tax rate on the house in which they live. Those who own a house but don't live in it, such as landlords, are supposed to pay the 6 percent commercial rate. The state is concerned because it gives counties sales-tax money for schools based on owner-occupied residential properties, thanks to a change in state law last year. The Dorchester County Assessor's Office has been sending letters asking property owners who want the 4 percent tax rate to send a copy of their driver's licenses and car registrations. Those documents will help establish where people live, Welch said. "The state is demanding more proof of residency," he said. "We're not trying to make this a hardship on anyone." Welch said some people who don't own cars have complained. They can show other papers instead to prove their residency, he said, if they call the assessor's office. Charleston County is under the same demands from the state but has the information on file, so the county doesn't need to send out letters asking for it, Assessor Toy Glennon said. Berkeley County also has enough information on file to satisfy the state, Deputy Assessor Wilson Baggett said. Dorchester County is sending out several thousand letters this month, Welch said, and those affected should receive notification. The deadline for returning the completed application is Sept. 1. If someone does receive a tax bill that they believe is in error, they can challenge that at the assessor's office after the bill is received. The efforts come during a county-mandated hiring freeze and a push to cut expenses. "Yes, this is putting a hardship on the staff," Welch said. Reach Dave Munday at 745-5862 or dmunday@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 32 comment(s)
Posted by hardatwork on June 24, 2008 at 5:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I live here, just stop by on Sunday afternoon I will be home with the family. You can see for yourself.
What did Dorchester County do with the records? Paperwork had to obtained to have the 4% assesment.
Posted by gococks1985 on June 24, 2008 at 6:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Car registration...wow, they really are trying to make more money for the county. The only reason they want that is to make sure you are paying property taxes on your vehicle to the right county as well.
Posted by MeanMom on June 24, 2008 at 7 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Most likely, we will soon read a story about how County leaders and friends and relatives of the employees in the Tax Assessor's office have received multiple breaks on their property taxes for all their investment properties. Then, the County Council will approve ANOTHER audit that will itemize the thousands of dollars that have NOT been collected through the years. It's how the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Posted by hadenough on June 24, 2008 at 7:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe now we can get the folks with out of state plates to help pay for their kids schools.
Posted by CaptPete on June 24, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Your primary house should be where you have your car reg, and where you are reg to vote ect. You get all the breaks with this house. The rest of your houses get treated with the higher non homestead tax rate.
Posted by Native_Ink on June 24, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good idea, Hadenough.
They should just look in driveways for cars with Ohio plates. *Knock knock* "Uh sir, you realize you live in South Carolina now, don't you? You use our roads and schools, how about paying your share of the taxes too? And by the way, take down that Ohio State flag you have flying in front of your house. It's just embarasing."
Posted by Siri on June 24, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"A number of homeowners were claiming several houses as their primary residences, for instance, he said."
"Homeowners pay a 4 percent tax rate on the house in which they live. Those who own a house but don't live in it, such as landlords, are supposed to pay the 6 percent commercial rate."
??Several houses as their PRIMARY residence??? Sounds like someone trying not to pay their share of taxes to me.
I could be wrong, maybe the other houses were sold and the new owners never change the tax bill.
Posted by cpanther515 on June 24, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
2nd paragraph:
"It's a problem that residents of Berkeley and Charleston counties don't have to deal with."
I just moved to Charleston from out of state and have to provide copies of my car registration along with the form to apply for the 4% property tax.
The reporter needs to do a little research before making such a statement.
Posted by pompusmaximus on June 24, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"anchor babies" haha
Posted by ginj on June 24, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have lived in Dorchester County for over 40 years and it seems every year for the past 5-6 years I have had to prove I live in my home and should only be charged the 4% rate. I would like to know if the State paid Dorchester county it's share of the 1% sales tax increase obtained through the Property Tax legislation removing the School Operations Fee from tax bills, even though they raised the millage to offset the loss of those dollars? My anticipated 2007 property tax savings of $1,000 was reduced down to $90. Thanks County Council. Being retired on a fixed income and ineligible for Homestead Exemption, I could have used that money more than you.
Posted by Smart_Enough_2_Know_Better on June 24, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
cpanther- the article was referring to the fact that residents of Berkeley and Charleston don't have to deal with it because those counties kept their proof.
Too bad there isn't an IQ requirement before we let you move here from out of state. Or maybe just tax you at a higher rate- it's not like you'd ever figure it out.
Posted by dorchestertoday on June 24, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
why are we always the laughing stock of the tri-county? how many more things go wrong before they decide to fire the ambulance chasing county administrator?
Posted by justjerry on June 24, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
FYI - If I remember correctly active duty members of the armed services are not required to change their license and registration when moving to another state even if they establish residency (purchase a home) there. I agree with Early, I have a rental property in Berkeley County that I pay almost $4k per year for even though all of the comparables are at around $1300.
I would hate to be a renter nowadays, after you have already paid your share of local option sales tax you also have to pay, indirectly, for the extra taxes on real property that is not a primary residence for the owner. Top that off with the fact that you need to have better than perfect credit to purchase anything residential right now and you are really screwed!
Posted by disco on June 24, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Native Ink - Alot of those Ohio plates are from people who are serving in the military protecting your freedom for sounding ignorant on a message board.
Posted by hadenough on June 24, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
disco
Excluding the military folks, there are still way too many folks with Ohio, NJ and FL plates living in our area without paying their share of property tax, I usually look for a DOD decal and the age of the driver to determine if they are a military member and I see way to many questionable folks.
Posted by disco on June 24, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hadenough - actually there is not a requirement to have a decal on your car anymore, so now how are you going to distinguish - the haircut? You guys have way too much time on your hands.
Posted by OverHere on June 24, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dorchester County has done a horrible job organizing, managing and properly maintaining records for primary residence status, but due to the large scope and huge amount of money the county is missing, the county can not simply eat its problem - the burden of proof must be put on the taxpayers to once again prove their residency.
Posted by hadenough on June 24, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Disco
You are not the only one out there that knows about the military, I usually look for the 65 year old driving with ohio plates during rush hour to determine the tax cheat, or the guy with the beard( oh wait he may have a shaving profile) any more stupid excuses?
Posted by drp7773 on June 24, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As long as you keep the same bunch of cronies in all the offices that their families have been running for the last what 50 years things will never change, between the meyers, salisburies, Knights, and the list goes on and on. It's who you know not what you know and with most of the revenue coming in from the Summerville area yet the decisions and offices are mostly in St George why would you think it would get any better. They have been able to make the rules, and they run the offices any way they want with nobody looking over their shoulders. They should have an outside audit for all the offices and clean up all the wrong doings and get this house in order. Just because you see the same last names on the ballots year after year does not make them the best candidates. Voters need to stand up and look at the records, what they stand for and how the offices have been run before making a decision. Change can be good sometimes!!!!!!!!!
Posted by realdealsummerville on June 24, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is this a shock to anyone? Sheriff, Auditor, now this. I hope that some day we get officials who can actually stop this stuff. Now we just have a lot of folks making excuses.
Posted by disco on June 24, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hadenough - then you go ahead and police all of the dorchester county residences with all the time you have on your hands and make your determination by stereotyping people. And if you know so much about the military people, you should have known you no longer have to have a decal on your car to prove you are military. Good luck in your witch hunt...
Posted by hadenough on June 24, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Disco
Your do nothing and status quo attitude is what has gotten us into this situation in the first place if everyone took the problem of cheating on your taxes seriously we wouldnt have folks shouldering the load for low lifes, and try taking your no decal having hooptie up to FT Meade APG or FT Detrick MD and see if you can get on.
Posted by realdealsummerville on June 24, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Since Dorchester County has so many problems, and every real audit is turing up things, why don't they audit every department. I have heard about things going on all over the place but everyone is afraid that it will be called political or a witch hunt. How about just do your job.
Posted by LadyTarHeel on June 24, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have North Carolina tags and live in Dorchester county. I am a full-time student though. Not everyone with out of state tags is trying to stiff the government and not pay.
Posted by luvmydogs59 on June 24, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When I first moved here, I had not yet changed the plates on my car before I bought my home. I did not cheat the property tax system because of my plates...I just took my sale papers and deed to my home to the assessor's office as proof that I live there and got my taxes taken care of. Then right after that I got my plates changed and paid my property taxes on my car. So not everyone that has an out of state plate on their car is trying to cheat the system. There are a few bad apples out there, but all in all, most folks are honest IMO.
Posted by disco on June 24, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LadyTarHeel - you just proved a point....thank you. For some reason, in the state of SC if you have out of state tags you are targeted. People automatically think you are trying to buck the system.
Also hadenough, I was just at Ft. Meade and I didn't have a decal and they allowed me on, so I'm not sure what you are talking about. Now, get hunting....
Posted by Floger76 on June 24, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In reading these posts, I'm wondering if some even read the article. The county is doing this to verify residency status. Some people are cheating the system, and hopefully this will catch them. But just because they have an out of state tag, does not make them a cheat. You don't know if they are military, or if they are even claiming the home as a primary residence. They could be from Ohio, have this as a second home, and paying taxes at 6%. And if you believe that this is a problem that is only going on in Dorchester county, then I would love to show you a bridge that I have for sale.
Posted by moonpie on June 24, 2008 at 7:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dITTO cOLD bEER!
Spend some time too making sure our illegals pay their fair share. Most of them rent anyway but how about their employers paying them cash under the table?? The state and county sees none of that money.
Posted by DanniD on June 24, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hadenough said "hooptie".....I haven't heard that in such long time....hahahahaha
Posted by hadenough on June 25, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Disco
"Also hadenough, I was just at Ft. Meade and I didn't have a decal and they allowed me on" sure you did tough guy, I could have mentioned FT Osama Bin laden and you would have said you just came from there, go back to handing out towels at the base gym.
Posted by disco on June 25, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hadenough - i had to go up there to check out the NSA. Now go back to hunting. Just make sure you don't go on my property to check out my car tags!
Posted by disco on June 25, 2008 at 8:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hadenough - btw, the gym has stopped handing out towels for over a year now. Some military bases are doing that to save money, but since you are so in the know, you should already know that...