On Monday, December 7, 2020, Beaufort County Council approved the request of the Beaufort County Treasurer's Office to accept prepayments for the 2020 real and personal property taxes in the calendar year 2020. Taxpayers will be able to make a prepayment beginning on December 18, 2020. The Beaufort County Auditor is still in the process of recalculating and finalizing the 2020 tax accounts and bills. Due to the unanticipated length of time taken, distribution of the annual tax bills has been delayed and taxpayers have been unable to pay their taxes. To reduce the impact this delay would have on taxpayers, the County has requested permission from the South Carolina Department of Revenue to extend the due date. Once the Auditor’s Office has completed the process for the annual tax bill, all property owners will receive their bills in the mail. This is a requirement of South Carolina State Law and provides taxpayers with their bills for recordkeeping purposes.

Should you prepay your taxes?
Prepaying is optional. Beaufort County taxpayers may choose to pay now or wait until after the Auditor’s Office has finished recalculating their bills. The following is provided to assist in determining whether to prepay this year’s taxes.

• If one of the below items applies to you, or something similar, you do not need to pay before the calendar year-end and will have an extended time to pay without penalty.
  • You plan to take a Standard Tax Deduction on your Federal Income Tax Return,
  • You are enrolled in the County Installment Plan,
  • Your taxes are paid through your mortgage escrow account
  • You plan to pay taxes in 2021.
• If none of the above apply, you may want to consider prepaying your 2020 annual tax bill.

Taxpayers wishing to prepay their 2020 annual taxes should use myBeaufortCounty.com, the County’s online tax payment system. There are no additional fees when paying by check.

• Visit myBeaufortCounty.com where taxpayers can login, create an account, or proceed as a guest.
• Search for tax bills using your Parcel Identification Number (PIN), Alternate Identification Number (AIN), or by your last name and mailing zip code.
• Pay the amount due.
• A receipt will be provided immediately.
• While there, sign up for e-billing and manage all bills in one convenient location.
• Lastly, wait for a refund or follow up bill with the residual amount due.
• A convenience fee of 2.5% is charged for the use of a credit card and will appear as a separate line item on your banking or credit card statement.

If a taxpayer chooses to mail a payment, the Treasurer’s Office must wait to process the payment and send a receipt until after the Auditor’s Office has completed their process. Despite the processing delay, the postmark date will be honored as the effective date of the payment. For more payment information or to contact our office, please visit www.BeaufortCountyTreasurer.com or call the Treasurer’s Office at 843-255-2600.