S*1251(Rat #0546, Act #0443)  General Bill, By Giese and Wilson
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 12-45-75, so as to authorize the governing body of a county by ordinance to
 allow installment payments of all non-escrowed ad valorem taxes on real
 property located in the county and to authorize the governing body of a county
 by ordinance to provide a discount on all ad valorem taxes on real property
 located in the county which are paid in advance of the due date.-amended title

   03/10/94  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-4
   03/10/94  Senate Referred to Committee on Finance SJ-4
   03/24/94  Senate Recalled from Committee on Finance SJ-2
   03/30/94  Senate Read second time SJ-33
   03/30/94  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-33
   03/31/94  Senate Amended SJ-17
   03/31/94  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-17
   04/05/94  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-55
   04/05/94  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-56
   04/21/94  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Ways
                     and Means HJ-13
   05/16/94  House  Amended HJ-20
   05/16/94  House  Debate adjourned until Tuesday, May 17, 1994 HJ-30
   05/17/94  House  Read second time HJ-393
   05/18/94  House  Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments
   05/24/94  Senate Concurred in House amendment and enrolled SJ-44
   06/02/94         Ratified R 546
   06/16/94         Signed By Governor
   06/16/94         Effective date 06/16/94
   06/23/94         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 12-45-75, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY BY ORDINANCE TO ALLOW INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS OF ALL NONESCROWED AD VALOREM TAXES ON REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE COUNTY AND TO AUTHORIZE THE GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY BY ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE A DISCOUNT ON ALL AD VALOREM TAXES ON REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE COUNTY WHICH ARE PAID IN ADVANCE OF THE DUE DATE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Installments, discounts authorized

SECTION 1. Chapter 45, Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 12-45-75. (A) The governing body of a county may by ordinance allow a taxpayer to elect to pay all ad valorem taxes on real property located in the county in installments. No installment election is allowed for taxes paid through an escrow account.

The ordinance must specify the installment due dates and it may provide for installments due and payable before January fifteenth, but the final installment due date must be January fifteenth. The ordinance may provide for a service charge of not more than two dollars on installment payments. For purposes of payment and collection, these service charges are deemed property taxes. The ordinance may not provide penalties for late installments.

(B) The governing body of a county may by ordinance provide a discount on all ad valorem taxes on real property located in the county paid in advance of the January fifteenth due date. The ordinance may provide a range of discounts that vary according to the length of the prepayment period."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 16th day of June, 1994.