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S 835 Session 125 (2023-2024) S 835 General Bill, By Fanning
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS by enacting THE "COMPREHENSIVE TAX REFORM ACT"; by AMENDing SECTIONS 12-36-60, 12-36-70, 12-36-90, 12-36-110, AND 12-36-130, ALL RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR PURPOSES OF THE SALES TAX, SO AS TO INCLUDE THE SALES OF SERVICES; BY ADDING SECTION 12-36-160 SO AS TO DEFINE "SERVICES"; by amending section 12-36-140, relating to the definition of "storage", so as to remove COOPERATIVE direct mail promotional advertising materials; by AMENDing SECTION 12-36-910, RELATING TO THE FIVE PERCENT STATE SALES TAX RATE, SO AS TO REDUCE THE SALES TAX RATE; by adding section 12-36-915 so as to specify the manner in which to calculate the reduction in the sales and use tax rate; by amending SECTION 12-36-920, RELATING TO THE STATE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX, SO AS TO REDUCe THE RATE; by AMENDing SECTION 12-36-940, RELATING TO AMOUNTS THAT MAY BE ADDED TO SALES PRICES TO ACCOUNT FOR TAX, SO AS to AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS; by REPEALing ARTICLE 11 OF CHAPTER 36, TITLE 12 RELATING TO THE ADDITIONAL ONE PERCENT SALES AND USE TAX; by amending SECTIONS 12-36-1310 AND 12-36-1320, BOTH RELATING TO THE USE TAX, SO AS TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE BY REDUCING THE RATE; by amending SECTION 12-36-1710, RELATING TO THE CASUAL EXCISE TAX, SO AS TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE BY REDUCING THE RATE; by amending section 12-36-2110, relating to items subject to a maximum sales tax, so as to remove certain items; by amending SECTION 12-36-2120, RELATING TO SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO REMOVE THE EXEMPTION ON CERTAIN ITEMS; by amending SECTION 12-36-2530, RELATING TO TAXES ON ITEMS DELIVERED OUT OF STATE, SO AS TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE; by amending SECTIONS 12-36-2620, 12-36-2630, AND 12-36-2640, ALL RELATING TO THE CREDITING OF CERTAIN TAXES, SO AS TO CREDIT SUCH TAXES IN THE SAME PROPORTION AS THEY WERE CREDITED BEFORE THE RATE REDUCTION; by REPEALing SECTION 12-36-2646 RELATING TO THE TAX EXCLUSION FOR INDIVIDUALS AT LEAST EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE; BY ADDING SECTION 11-11-270 SO AS TO CREATE THE "TAX REFORM RESERVE FUND" AND TO SPECIFY ITS PURPOSE; BY ADDING ARTICLE 11 TO CHAPTER 10, TITLE 4 SO AS TO PROPORTIONALLY REDUCE LOCAL SALES AND USE TAXES IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE STATE SALES AND USE TAX; by adding section 58-9-60 so as to provide a maximum tax that may be imposed on telecommunications services; by amending section 6-1-320, relating to the limitation on millage increases, so as to allow the limitation to be exceeded upon a positive majority vote of the governing body of the jurisdiction; by amending section 12-37-251, relating to millages, so as to require a reimbursement to the trust fund for tax relief for the first one hundred thousand dollars of value on an owner-occupied residence; by amending section 11-11-150, relating to budgetary reimbursements, so as to make a conforming change; by amending section 12-37-220, relating to property tax exemptions, so as to remove the school operating exemption on owner-occupied homes; and by amending section 12-6-510, relating to the personal income tax, so as to reduce the top marginal rate based on certain revenue collections.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "Comprehensive Tax Reform Act".
SECTION 2. Section 12-36-60 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
Section 12-36-60. "Tangible personal property" means personal property which may be seen, weighed, measured, felt, touched, or which is in any other manner perceptible to the senses. It also includes all services, and intangibles, including communications, laundry and related services, furnishing of accommodations and sales of electricity, the sale or use of which is subject to tax under this chapter and does not include stocks, notes, bonds, mortgages, or other evidences of debt. Tangible personal property does not include the transmission of computer database information by a cooperative service when the database information has been assembled by and for the exclusive use of the members of the cooperative service.
SECTION 3. Section 12-36-70(1) of the S.C. Code is amended by adding a subitem to read:
(g) selling services;
SECTION 4. Section 12-36-90(1) of the S.C. Code is amended by adding a subitem to read:
(d) the proceeds from the sale of services
SECTION 5. Section 12-36-110(1)(f) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
(f) Reserved sales of services;
SECTION 6. Section 12-36-130(1) of the S.C. Code is amended by adding a subitem to read:
(e) any services that are the basis of the sale.
SECTION 7. Article 1, Chapter 36, Title 12 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
Section 12-36-160. (A) "Services" include the follow activities listed under the North American Industry Classification System Codes, NAICS, published by the Office of Management and Budget of the federal government: (1) 23-Construction: 236118 Residential remodelers; 237110 Water and sewer line and related structures construction; 237120 Oil and gas pipeline and related structures construction; 237130 Power and communication line and related structures construction; 237210 Land subdivision; 237310 Highway, street, and bridge construction; 237990 Other heavy and civil engineering construction; 238110 Poured concrete foundation and structure contractors; 238120 Structural steel and precast concrete contractors; 238140 Masonry contractors; 238150 Glass and glazing contractors; 238160 Roofing contractors; 238170 Siding contractors; 238210 Electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors; 238220 Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors; 238290 Other building equipment contractors; 238310 Drywall and insulation contractors; 238320 Painting and wall covering contractors; 238340 Tile and terrazzo contractors; 238350 Finish carpentry contractors; 238390 Other building finishing contractors; 238910 Site preparation contractors; 238990 All other specialty trade contractors. (2) 48-49-Transportation and warehousing: 481211 Nonscheduled chartered passenger air transportation; 485310 Taxi service; 485320 Limousine service; 485510 Charter bus industry; 485999 All other transit and ground passenger transportation; 487210 Scenic and sightseeing transportation, water; 488190 Other support activities for air transportation; 488210 Support activities for rail transportation; 488320 Marine cargo handling; 488330 Navigational services to shipping; 488410 Motor vehicle towing; 488490 Other support activities for road transportation; 488510 Freight transportation arrangement; 492110 Couriers and express delivery services; 492210 Local messengers and local delivery; 493110 General warehousing and storage; 493120 Refrigerated warehousing and storage; 493130 Farm product warehousing and storage; 493190 Other warehousing and storage. (3) 51-Information: 511110 Newspaper publishers; 511120 Periodical publishers; 511130 Book publishers; 511140 Directory and mailing list publishers; 511199 All other publishers; 511210 Software publishers; 512191 Teleproduction and other postproduction services; 515112 Radio stations; 515120 Television broadcasting; 517410 Satellite telecommunications; 517911 Telecommunications resellers; 517919 All other telecommunications; 518210 Data processing, hosting, and related services; 519130 Internet publishing and broadcasting and web search portals. (4) 52-Finance and insurance: 522220 Sales financing; 522291 Consumer lending; 522292 Real estate credit; 522298 All other nondepository credit intermediation; 522310 Mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers; 522320 Financial transactions processing, reserve, and clearinghouse activities; 522390 Other activities related to credit intermediation; 523110 Investment banking and securities dealing; 523120 Securities brokerage; 523920 Portfolio management; 523930 Investment advice; 523991 Trust, fiduciary, and custody activities. (5) 53-Real estate and rental and leasing: 531311 Residential property managers; 531312 Nonresidential property managers; 531320 Offices of real estate appraisers; 531390 Other activities related to real estate; 532111 Passenger car rental; 532112 Passenger car leasing; 532120 Truck, utility trailer, and RV (recreational vehicle) rental and leasing; 532210 Consumer electronics and appliances rental; 532220 Formal wear and costume rental; 532230 Video tape and disc rental; 532291 Home health equipment rental; 532292 Recreational goods rental; 532299 All other consumer goods rental; 532310 General rental centers; 532411 Commercial air, rail, and water transportation equipment rental and leasing; 532412 Construction, mining, forestry machinery and equipment rental and leasing; 533110 Lessors of nonfinancial intangible assets (except copyrighted works), and 531130 Lessors of miniwarehouses and self-storage units. (6) 54-Professional, scientific, and technical services: 541110 Offices of lawyers; 541191 Title abstract and settlement offices; 541199 All other legal services; 541211 Offices of certified public accountants; 541213 Tax preparation services; 541214 Payroll services; 541219 Other accounting services; 541310 Architectural services; 541320 Landscape architectural services; 541330 Engineering services; 541340 Drafting services; 541370 Surveying and mapping (except geophysical) services; 541380 Testing laboratories; 541410 Interior design services; 541420 Industrial design services; 541430 Graphic design services; 541490 Other specialized design services; 541511 Custom computer programming services; 541512 Computer systems design services; 541513 Computer facilities management services; 541519 Other computer related services; 541611 Administrative management and general management consulting services; 541612 Human resources consulting services; 541613 Marketing consulting services; 541614 Process, physical distribution, and logistics consulting services; 541618 Other management consulting services; 541620 Environmental consulting services; 541690 Other scientific and technical consulting services; 541711 Research and development in biotechnology; 541712 Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences (except biotechnology); 541720 Research and development in the social sciences and humanities; 541810 Advertising agencies; 541820 Public relations agencies; 541840 Media representatives; 541850 Outdoor advertising; 541860 Direct mail advertising; 541890 Other services related to advertising; 541910 Marketing research and public opinion polling; 541921 Photography studios, portrait; 541922 Commercial photography; 541930 Translation and interpretation services; 541940 Veterinary services; 541990 All other professional, scientific, and technical services. (7) 56-Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services: 561110 Office administrative services; 561210 Facilities support services; 561311 Employment placement agencies; 561312 Executive search services; 561320 Temporary help services; 561330 Professional employer organizations; 561410 Document preparation services; 561421 Telephone answering services; 561422 Telemarketing bureaus and other contact centers; 561431 Private mail centers; 561439 Other business service centers (including copy shops); 561440 Collection agencies; 561491 Repossession services; 561492 Court reporting and stenotype services; 561510 Travel agencies; 561520 Tour operators; 561591 Convention and visitors bureaus; 561599 All other travel arrangement and reservation services; 561611 Investigation services; 561612 Security guards and patrol services; 561613 Armored car services; 561621 Security systems services (except locksmiths); 561622 Locksmiths; 561710 Exterminating and pest control services; 561720 Janitorial services; 561730 Landscaping services; 561740 Carpet and upholstery cleaning services; 561790 Other services to buildings and dwellings; 561920 Convention and trade show organizers; 562111 Solid waste collection; 562112 Hazardous waste collection; 562119 Other waste collection. (8) 61-Educational services: 611420 Computer training; 611430 Professional and management development training; 611511 Cosmetology and barber schools; 611519 Other technical and trade schools; 611610 Fine arts schools; 611620 Sports and recreation instruction; 611630 Language schools; 611691 Exam preparation and tutoring; 611692 Automobile driving schools; 611699 All other miscellaneous schools and instruction; 611710 Educational support services. (9) 62-Health care and social assistance: 621111 Offices of physicians (except mental health specialists); 621112 Offices of physicians, mental health specialists; 621210 Offices of dentists; 621310 Offices of chiropractors; 621320 Offices of optometrists; 621330 Offices of mental health practitioners (except physicians); 621340 Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists; 621391 Offices of podiatrists; 621399 Offices of all other miscellaneous health practitioners; 621410 Family planning centers; 621420 Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers; 621493 Freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers; 621498 All other outpatient care centers; 621511 Medical laboratories; 621512 Diagnostic imaging centers; 621610 Home health care services; 621910 Ambulance services; 622110 General medical and surgical hospitals; 622210 Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals; 622310 Specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals; 623220 Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities; 623990 Other residential care facilities; 624110 Child and youth services; 624190 Other individual and family services; 624310 Vocational rehabilitation services; 624410 Child day care services. (10) 71-Arts,
Entertainment, and Recreation: 711310 Promoters of performing arts, sports,
and similar events with facilities; 711320 Promoters of performing arts,
sports, and similar events without facilities; 711410 Agents and managers for
artists, athletes (11) 81-Other services (except public administration): 811111 General automotive repair; 811112 Automotive exhaust system repair; 811113 Automotive transmission repair; 811118 Other automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance; 811121 Automotive body, paint, and interior repair and maintenance; 811122 Automotive glass replacement shops; 811191 Automotive oil change and lubrication shops; 811192 Car washes; 811198 All other automotive repair and maintenance; 811211 Consumer electronics repair and maintenance; 811212 Computer and office machine repair and maintenance; 811213 Communication equipment repair and maintenance; 811219 Other electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance; 811310 Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance; 811411 Home and garden equipment repair and maintenance; 811412 Appliance repair and maintenance; 811420 Reupholstery and furniture repair; 811430 Footwear and leather goods repair; 811490 Other personal and household goods repair and maintenance; 812111 Barber shops; 812112 Beauty salons; 812113 Nail salons; 812191 Diet and weight reducing centers; 812199 Other personal care services; 812210 Funeral homes and funeral services; 812220 Cemeteries and crematories; 812310 Coin-operated laundries and drycleaners; 812331 Linen supply; 812332 Industrial launderers; 812910 Pet care (except veterinary) services; 812930 Parking lots and garages; 812990 All other personal services; 813211 Grantmaking foundations; 813212 Voluntary health organizations; 813219 Other grantmaking and giving services; 813311 Human rights organizations; 813312 Environment, conservation and wildlife organizations; 813319 Other social advocacy organizations; 813410 Civic and social organizations; 813910 Business associations; 813920 Professional organizations; 813990 Other similar organizations (except business, professional, labor, and political organizations). (12) 11 - Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting: 115210 Support activities for animal production. (B) "Services" do not include: (1) services rendered by an employee to his employer; and (2) the portion of services rendered for which Medicare reimburses the provider.
SECTION 8. Section 12-36-90(2)(e) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
(e) a motor vehicle operated with a dealer, transporter, or manufacturer, or education license plate and used in accordance with the provisions of Section 56-3-2320 or 56-3-2330 Reserved;
SECTION 9. Section 12-36-130 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
Section 12-36-130. "Sales price" means the total amount for which tangible personal property is sold, without any deduction for the cost of the property sold, the cost of the materials used, labor, installation, or service cost, interest paid, losses, or any other expenses. (1) The term includes: (a) any services or transportation costs that are a part of the sale, whether paid in money or otherwise; (b) any manufacturers or importers excise tax imposed by the United States; and (c) the proceeds from the sale of property sold on consignment by the taxpayer, including property sold through a marketplace by a marketplace facilitator. (2) The term does not include: (a) a cash discount allowed and taken on the sale; (b) an amount charged for property, which is returned by the purchaser, and the full amount is refunded in cash or by credit; (c) the value allowed for secondhand property transferred to the vendor in partial payment; and (d) the amount of any tax imposed by the United States with respect to retail sales, whether imposed upon the retailer or consumer, except for manufacturers or importers excise taxes. For purposes of the sale of an "audiovisual master" as defined in Section 12-36-2120(55), sales price is the total amount for which the audiovisual master is sold, including charges for any services that go into its fabrication, manufacture, or delivery that are a part of the sale valued in money whether paid in money, or otherwise, and includes any amount for which credit is given to the purchaser by the seller without any deduction from it on account of the cost of the property sold, the cost of materials used, labor or service costs, interest charged, losses, or any other expenses whatsoever. The term "sales price" as defined in this section, also does not include the sales price, not including tax, of property on sales which are actually charged off as bad debts or uncollectible accounts for state income tax purposes. A taxpayer who pays the tax on the unpaid balance of an account which has been found to be worthless and is actually charged off for state income tax purposes may take a deduction for the sales price charged off as a bad debt or uncollectible account on a return filed pursuant to this chapter, except that if an amount charged off is later paid in whole or in part to the taxpayer, the amount paid must be included in the first return filed after the collection and the tax paid. The deduction allowed by this paragraph must be taken within one year of the month the amount was determined to be a bad debt or uncollectible account.
SECTION 10. Section 12-36-140(C)(3) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
(3) for the purpose of being distributed as (i) cooperative direct mail promotional advertising materials, or (ii) promotional maps, brochures, pamphlets, or discount coupons by nonprofit chambers of commerce or convention and visitor bureaus who are exempt from income taxation pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c) by means of interstate carrier, a mailing house, or a United States Post Office to residents of this State from locations both inside and outside the State. For purposes of this item, "cooperative direct mail promotional advertising materials" means discount coupons, advertising leaflets, and similar printed advertising, including any accompanying envelopes and labels which are distributed with promotional advertising materials of more than one business in a single package to potential customers, at no charge to the potential customer, of the businesses paying for the delivery of the material.
SECTION 11. Section 12-36-910(A) and (B) of the S.C. Code are amended to read:
(A) A sales tax, equal to five three percenta percentage of the gross proceeds of sales, is imposed upon every person engaged or continuing within this State in the business of selling tangible personal property at retail. The percentage shall equal the amount determined pursuant to Section 12-36-915. (B) The sales tax imposed by this article also applies to the: (1) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the business of providing or furnishing any laundering, dry cleaning, dyeing, or pressing service, but does not apply to the gross proceeds derived from coin-operated laundromats and dry cleaning machines; (2) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the sale of electricity; (3)(a) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the charges for the ways or means for the transmission of the voice or messages, including the charges for use of equipment furnished by the seller or supplier of the ways or means for the transmission of the voice or messages. Gross proceeds from the sale of prepaid wireless calling arrangements subject to tax at retail pursuant to item (5) of this subsection are not subject to tax pursuant to this item. Effective for bills rendered after August 1, 2002, charges for mobile telecommunications services subject to the tax under this item must be sourced in accordance with the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act as provided in Title 4 of the United States Code. The term "charges for mobile telecommunications services" is defined for purposes of this section the same as it is defined in the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act. All other definitions and provisions of the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act as provided in Title 4 of the United States Code are adopted. Telecommunications services are sourced in accordance with Section 12-36-1920; (b)(i) for purposes of this item, a "bundled transaction" means a transaction consisting of distinct and identifiable properties or services, which are sold for one nonitemized price but which are treated differently for tax purposes; (ii) for
bills rendered on or after January 1, 2004, that include telecommunications
services in a bundled transaction, if the nonitemized price is (4) fair market value of tangible personal property manufactured within this State, and used or consumed within this State by the manufacturer; (5) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the sale or recharge at retail for prepaid wireless calling arrangements; (a) "Prepaid wireless calling arrangements" means communication services that: (i) are used exclusively to purchase wireless telecommunications; (ii) are purchased in advance; (iii) allow the purchaser to originate telephone calls by using an access number, authorization code, or other means entered manually or electronically; and (iv) are sold in units or dollars which decline with use in a known amount; (b) All charges for prepaid wireless calling arrangements must be sourced to the: (i) location in this State where the over-the-counter sale took place; (ii) shipping address if the sale did not take place at the seller's location and an item is shipped; or (iii) either the billing address or location associated with the mobile telephone number if the sale did not take place at the seller's location and no item is shipped; (6) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the sale of services.
SECTION 12. Article 9, Chapter 36, Title 12 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
Section 12-36-915. (A)(1) Subject to item (2), for each year in which the provisions of this chapter that are contained in the Comprehensive Tax Reform Act are being phased-in, the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office shall determine the applicable sales and use tax rate. The applicable rate must be determined by imposing a rate that will create the same amount of sales and use tax as was created in the previous tax year. (2) Until the provisions of subsection (B) are fully met, the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office may not set the sales and use tax rate below four percent. (B) Once the sales and use tax rate equals four percent, any sales and use tax revenue that is projected to be created in excess of the amount created in the previous fiscal year must be allocated to provide an individual income tax reduction of the top marginal rate. The top marginal rate set forth in Section 12-6-510 must be reduced to the lowest amount possible, but not below five and one-half percent, to the extent that the excess sales and use tax revenue would completely offset the reduction in income tax collections. (C) If the affected provisions of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Act are not fully phased-in at the time the sales and use tax rate equals four percent and the top marginal income tax rate equals five and one-half percent, then the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs shall continue to reduce the sales and use tax rate in the same manner as specified in subsection (A). Upon the affected provisions of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Act being fully phased-in, the applicable percentage amount shall become permanent.
SECTION 13. A. Section 12-36-920(A) of the S.C. Code, before the first item, is amended to read:
(A) A sales tax equal to seven five percent is imposed on the gross proceeds derived from the rental or charges for any rooms, campground spaces, lodgings, or sleeping accommodations furnished to transients by any hotel, inn, tourist court, tourist camp, motel, campground, residence, or any place in which rooms, lodgings, or sleeping accommodations are furnished to transients for a consideration. This tax does not apply:
B. Section 12-36-920(B) of the S.C. Code, before the first item, is amended to read:
(B) A sales tax of five three percent is imposed on additional guest charges at any place where rooms, lodgings, or accommodations are furnished to transients for a consideration, unless otherwise taxed under this chapter. For purposes of this subsection, additional guest charges are limited to charges for:
SECTION 14. Section 12-36-940 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding a subsection to read:
(D) Notwithstanding subsection (A), beginning after 2023, the department shall prescribe amounts that may be added to the sales prices to reflect the adjusted state sales tax rate, contained in Section 12-36-910, as adjusted pursuant to Section 12-36-915, and former Section 12-36-1110.
SECTION 15. Article 11, Chapter 36, Title 12 of the S.C. Code is repealed.
SECTION 16. Section 12-36-1310 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
Section 12-36-1310. (A) A use tax is imposed on the storage, use, or other consumption in this State of tangible personal property purchased at retail for storage, use, or other consumption in this State, at the rate of five three percenta rate equal to the same percentage set forth in Section 12-36-915 of the sales price of the property, regardless of whether the retailer is or is not engaged in business in this State. (B) The use tax imposed by this article also applies to the: (1) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the business of providing or furnishing a laundering, dry cleaning, dyeing, or pressing service, but does not apply to the gross proceeds derived from coin operated laundromats and dry cleaning machines; (2) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the sale of electricity; (3)(a) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the charges for the ways or means for the transmission of the voice or messages, including the charges for use of equipment furnished by the seller or supplier of the ways or means for the transmission of the voice or messages. Gross proceeds from the sale of prepaid wireless calling arrangements subject to tax at retail pursuant to item (5) of this subsection are not subject to tax pursuant to this item. Effective for bills rendered after August 1, 2002, charges for mobile telecommunications services subject to the tax under this item must be sourced in accordance with the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act as provided in Title 4 of the United States Code. The term 'charges for mobile telecommunications services' is defined for purposes of this section the same as it is defined in the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act. All definitions and provisions of the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act as provided in Title 4 of the United States Code are adopted. Telecommunications services are sourced in accordance with Section 12-36-1920; (b)(i) For purposes of this item, a "bundled transaction" means a transaction consisting of distinct and identifiable properties or services, which are sold for one nonitemized price but which are treated differently for tax purposes; (ii) For
bills rendered on or after January 1, 2004, that include telecommunications
services in a bundled transaction, if the nonitemized price is (4) fair market value of tangible personal property brought into this State, by the manufacturer thereof, for storage, use, or consumption in this State by the manufacturer; (5) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the sale or recharge at retail for prepaid wireless calling arrangements; (a) "Prepaid wireless calling arrangements" means communication services that: (i) are used exclusively to purchase wireless telecommunications; (ii) are purchased in advance; (iii) allow the purchaser to originate telephone calls by using an access number, authorization code, or other means entered manually or electronically; and (iv) are sold in units or dollars which decline with use in a known amount. (b) All charges for prepaid wireless calling arrangements must be sourced to the: (i) location in this State where the over-the-counter sale took place; (ii) shipping address if the sale did not take place at the seller's location and an item is shipped; or (iii) either the billing address or location associated with the mobile telephone number if the sale did not take place at the seller's location and no item is shipped; (6) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the sale of services. (C) When a taxpayer is liable for the use tax imposed by this section on tangible personal property purchased in another state, upon which a sales or use tax was due and paid in the other state, the amount of the sales or use tax due and paid in the other state is allowed as a credit against the use tax due this State, upon proof that the sales or use tax was due and paid in the other state. If the amount of the sales or use tax paid in the other state is less than the amount of use tax imposed by this article, the user shall pay the difference to the department.
SECTION 17. Section 12-36-1320 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
Section 12-36-1320. (A) A use tax at the rate of five percent a rate equal to the same percentage set forth in Section 12-36-915 is imposed on the storage, use, or other consumption in this State of transient construction property, as defined by Section 12-36-150. (B) The owner, or if the property is leased, the lessee, of transient construction property is liable for the use tax. (C) The tax is computed as follows: (1) divide the length of time the property will be used in this State by the total useful life of the property; (2) multiply the result from item (1) by the sales price of the property; (3) multiply the amount in item (2) by five percent the percentage set forth in Section 12-36-915. The result of the computation is the tax due. The useful life of transient construction property must be determined by the department in accordance with the experience and practices of the building and construction trade. In the absence of satisfactory evidence as to the period of use intended in this State, it is presumed that the property will remain in this State for the remainder of its useful life. (D) A prorated amount of the sales and use tax legally due and paid to another state on transient construction property is allowed as a credit, but only if the other state grants substantially similar tax credits on the property purchased in South Carolina. The prorated tax credit is computed as follows: (1) divide the length of time the property was used in the other state by the total useful life of the property; (2) multiply the result from item (1) by the state sales tax legally due and paid the other state; (3) the lesser of the result from item (2) or the tax computed in subsection (C) is the prorated credit amount. (E) If the state in which the property was previously used does not prorate its use tax on, or depreciate the value for use tax purposes of, transient construction property used by South Carolina contractors operating in that state, the use tax, at five percenta rate equal to the same percentage as set forth in Section 12-36-915 of the sales price, applies. (F) Transient construction property purchased and substantially used in another state is not subject to the use tax if the owner of the property uses it to construct or repair his own buildings, structures, or other property located in this State. (G) The use, storage, or consumption of the property, when purchased for use in this State, is subject to the full amount of use tax provided in Section 12-36-1310(A), regardless of the period of intended use in this State. (H) The tax is due immediately upon transient construction property being brought into this State.
SECTION 18. Section 12-36-1710(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
(A) In addition to all other fees prescribed by law there is imposed an excise tax for the issuance of every certificate of title, or other proof of ownership, for every boat, motor, or airplane, required to be registered, titled, or licensed. The tax is five percent equal to the same percentage as set forth in Section 12-36-915 of the fair market value of the airplane, boat, and motor.
SECTION 19. Section 12-36-2110 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
(F) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the provisions of this section are no longer effective except for subsection (B), (C), and this subsection. All revenues from the sale of such items must be credited in the same manner as such revenues were credited before the provisions were ineffective. Any revenues in excess of the previous maximum amount must be credited to the general fund.
SECTION 20. Section 12-36-2120 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
Section 12-36-2120. Exempted from the taxes imposed by this chapter are the gross proceeds of sales, or sales price of: (1) tangible personal property or receipts of any business which the State is prohibited from taxing by the Constitution or laws of the United States of America or by the Constitution or laws of this State; (2) tangible personal property sold to the federal government; (3)(a) textbooks, books, magazines, periodicals, newspapers, and access to on-line information systems used in a course of study in primary and secondary schools and institutions of higher learning or for students' use in the school library of these schools and institutions; (b) books, magazines, periodicals, newspapers, and access to on-line information systems sold to publicly supported state, county, or regional libraries; Items in this category may be in any form, including microfilm, microfiche, and CD ROM; however, transactions subject to tax under Sections 12-36-910(B)(3) and 12-36-1310(B)(3) do not fall within this exemption; (4) livestock. "Livestock" is defined as domesticated animals customarily raised on South Carolina farms for use primarily as beasts of burden, or food, and certain mammals when raised for their pelts or fur. Animals such as dogs, cats, reptiles, fowls (except baby chicks and poults), and animals of a wild nature, are not considered livestock; (5) feed used for the production and maintenance of poultry and livestock; (6) insecticides, chemicals, fertilizers, soil conditioners, seeds, or seedlings, or nursery stock, used solely in the production for sale of farm, dairy, grove, vineyard, or garden products or in the cultivation of poultry or livestock feed; (7) containers and labels used in: (a) preparing agricultural, dairy, grove, or garden products for sale; or (b) preparing turpentine gum, gum spirits of turpentine, and gum resin for sale. For purposes of this exemption, containers mean boxes, crates, bags, bagging, ties, barrels, and other containers; (8) newsprint paper, newspapers, and religious publications, including the Holy Bible and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture's The Market Bulletin; (9) coal, or coke or other fuel sold to manufacturers, electric power companies, and transportation companies for: (a) use or consumption in the production of by-products; (b) the generation of heat or power used in manufacturing tangible personal property for sale. For purposes of this item, "manufacturer" or "manufacturing" includes the activities of a processor and recycler. For purposes of this subitem, "recycler" means a person operating an industrial facility where materials that otherwise would become solid waste are collected, separated, or processed for use in the form of raw materials or products for sale. A recycler does not include a person operating a facility whose purpose is retaining, wholesaling, distributing, or some other non-manufacturing purpose; (c) the generation of electric power or energy for use in manufacturing tangible personal property for sale; (d) the generation of motive power for transportation. For the purposes of this exemption, 'manufacturer' or 'manufacturing' includes the activities of mining and quarrying Reserved; (e) the generation of motive power for test flights of aircraft by the manufacturer of the aircraft where: (i) the taxpayer invests at least seven hundred fifty million dollars in real or personal property or both comprising or located at a single manufacturing facility over a seven-year period; and (ii) the taxpayer creates at least three thousand eight hundred full-time new jobs at the single manufacturing facility during that seven-year period; or (f) the transportation of an aircraft prior to its completion from one facility of the manufacturer of the aircraft to another facility of the manufacturer of the aircraft, not including the transportation of major component parts for construction or assembly, or the transportation of personnel. This exemption only applies when: (i) the taxpayer invests at least seven hundred fifty million dollars in real or personal property or both comprising or located at a single manufacturing facility over a seven-year period; and (ii) the taxpayer creates at least three thousand eight hundred full-time new jobs at the single manufacturing facility during that seven-year period. To qualify for the exemptions provided for in subitems (e) and (f), the taxpayer shall notify the department before the first month it uses the exemption and shall make the required investment and create the required number of full-time new jobs over the seven-year period beginning on the date provided by the taxpayer to the department in its notices. The taxpayer shall notify the department in writing that it has met the seven hundred fifty million dollar investment requirement and has created the three thousand eight hundred full-time new jobs or, after the expiration of the seven-year period, that it has not met the seven hundred fifty million dollar investment requirement and created the three thousand eight hundred full-time new jobs. The department may assess any tax due on fuel purchased tax free pursuant to subitems (e) and (f) but due the State as a result of the taxpayer's failure to meet the seven hundred fifty million dollar investment requirement and create the three thousand eight hundred full-time new jobs. The running of the periods of limitations for assessment of taxes provided in Section 12-54-85 is suspended for the time period beginning with notice to the department before the taxpayer uses the exemption and ending with notice to the department that the taxpayer either has met or has not met the seven hundred fifty million dollar investment requirement and created the three thousand eight hundred full-time new jobs. As used in subitems (e) and (f), "taxpayer" includes a person who bears a relationship to the taxpayer as described in Section 267(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. (10)(a) meals or foodstuffs used in furnishing meals to school children, if the sales or use are within school buildings and are not for profit; (b) meals or foodstuffs provided to elderly or disabled persons at home by nonprofit organizations that receive only charitable contributions in addition to sale proceeds from the meals; (c) food stuffs, either prepared or packaged for the homeless or needy that are sold to nonprofit organizations, or food stuffs that are subsequently sold or donated by a nonprofit organization to another nonprofit organization. This subitem is only applicable to food stuffs which are eligible for purchase under the USDA food stamp program; (d) meals or foodstuffs prepared or packaged that are sold to public or nonprofit organizations for congregate or in-home service to the homeless or needy or disabled adults over eighteen years of age or individuals over sixty years of age. This subitem only applies to meals and foodstuffs eligible for purchase under the USDA food stamp program; (11)(a) toll charges for the transmission of voice or messages between telephone exchanges; (b) charges for telegraph messages; (c) carrier access charges and customer access line charges established by the Federal Communications department or the South Carolina Public Service department; and (d) electronic transactions involving automatic teller machines; (12) seventy-five percent of the gross proceeds of sales of water sold by public utilities, if rates and charges are of the kind determined by the Public Service Commission, or water sold by nonprofit corporations organized pursuant to Chapter 36, Title 33; (13) fuel, lubricants, and supplies for use or consumption aboard ships in intercoastal trade or foreign commerce. This exemption does not exempt or exclude from the tax the sale of materials and supplies used in fulfilling a contract for the painting, repair, or reconditioning of ships and other watercraft; (14) wrapping paper, wrapping twine, paper bags, and containers, used incident to the sale and delivery of tangible personal property; (15)(a) motor fuel, blended fuel, and alternative fuel subject to tax under Chapter 28, Title 12; however, gasoline used in aircraft is not exempt from the sales and use tax; (b) if the fuel tax is subsequently refunded under Section 12-28-710, the sales or use tax is due unless otherwise exempt, and the person receiving the refund is liable for the sales or use tax; (c) fuels used in farm machinery and farm tractors; (d) fuels used in commercial fishing vessels; (e) natural gas sold to a person with a miscellaneous motor fuel user fee license pursuant to Section 12-28-1139, who will compress it to produce compressed natural gas, or cool it to produce liquefied natural gas, for use as a motor fuel and remit the motor fuel user fees as required by law; and (f) liquefied petroleum gas sold to a person with a miscellaneous motor fuel user fee license pursuant to Section 12-28-1139, who will use the liquefied petroleum gas as a motor fuel and remit the motor fuel user fees as required by law; (16) farm
machinery and their replacement parts and (17) machines
used in manufacturing, processing, agricultural packaging, recycling,
compounding, mining, or quarrying tangible personal property for sale. "Machines"
include the parts of machines, Fiscal Year of Sale Percentage Fiscal year 1997-1998 fifty percent After June 30, 1998 one hundred percent; (18) fuel used exclusively to cure agricultural products; (19) electricity used by cotton gins, manufacturers, miners, or quarriers to manufacture, mine, or quarry tangible personal property for sale. For purposes of this item, "manufacture" or "manufacturemanufacturer" includes the activities of processors; (20) railroad cars, locomotives, and their parts, monorail cars, and the engines or motors that propel them, and their parts; (21) vessels and barges of more than fifty tons burden; (22) materials necessary to assemble missiles to be used by the Armed Forces of the United States; (23) farm, grove, vineyard, and garden products, if sold in the original state of production or preparation for sale, when sold by the producer or by members of the producers immediate family; (24) supplies and machinery
used by laundries, cleaning, dyeing, pressing, or garment or other textile
rental establishments in the direct performance of their primary function, but
not sales of supplies and machinery used by coin (25) motor vehicles (excluding trucks) or motorcycles, which are required to be licensed to be used on the highways, sold to a resident of another state, but who is located in South Carolina by reason of orders of the United States Armed Forces. This exemption is allowed only if within ten days of the sale the vendor is furnished a statement from a commissioned officer of the Armed Forces of a higher rank than the purchaser certifying that the buyer is a member of the Armed Forces on active duty and a resident of another state or if the buyer furnishes a leave and earnings statement from the appropriate department of the armed services which designates the state of residence of the buyer Reserved; (26) all supplies, technical equipment, machinery, and electricity sold to radio and television stations, and cable television systems, for use in producing, broadcasting, or distributing programs. For the purpose of this exemption, radio stations, television stations, and cable television systems are deemed to be manufacturers Reserved; (27) all plants and animals sold to any publicly supported zoological park or garden or to any of its nonprofit support corporations Reserved; (28)(a) medicine and prosthetic devices sold by prescription, prescription medicines used to prevent respiratory syncytial virus, prescription medicines and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, lymphoma, leukemia, or related diseases, including prescription medicines used to relieve the effects of any such treatment, free samples of prescription medicine distributed by its manufacturer and any use of these free samples;; (b) hypodermic needles, insulin, alcohol swabs, blood sugar testing strips, monolet lancets, dextrometer supplies, blood glucose meters, and other similar diabetic supplies sold to diabetics under the authorization and direction of a physician; (c) disposable medical supplies such as bags, tubing, needles, and syringes, which are dispensed by a licensed pharmacist in accordance with an individual prescription written for the use of a human being by a licensed health care provider, which are used for the intravenous administration of a prescription drug or medicine, and which come into direct contact with the prescription drug or medicine. This exemption applies only to supplies used in the treatment of a patient outside of a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or ambulatory surgical treatment center; (d) medicine donated by its manufacturer to a public institution of higher education for research or for the treatment of indigent patients; (e) dental prosthetic devices; and (f) prescription drugs dispensed to Medicare Part A patients residing in a nursing home are not considered sales to the nursing home and are not subject to the sales tax; (29) tangible personal property purchased by persons under a written contract with the federal government when the contract necessitating the purchase provides that title and possession of the property is to transfer from the contractor to the federal government at the time of purchase or after the time of purchase. This exemption also applies to purchases of tangible personal property which becomes part of real or personal property owned by the federal government or, as provided in the written contract, is to transfer to the federal government. This exemption does not apply to purchases of tangible personal property used or consumed by the purchaser; (30) office supplies, or other commodities, and services resold by the Division of General Services of the Department of Administration to departments and agencies of the state government, if the tax was paid on the divisions original purchase; (31) vacation time sharing plans, vacation multiple ownership interests, and exchanges of interests in vacation time sharing plans and vacation multiple ownership interests as provided by Chapter 32, Title 27, and any other exchange of accommodations in which the accommodations to be exchanged are the primary consideration Reserved; (32) natural and liquefied petroleum gas and electricity used exclusively in the production of poultry, livestock, swine, and milk; (33) electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, kerosene, LP gas, coal, or any other combustible heating material or substance used for residential purposes. Individual sales of kerosene or LP gas of twenty gallons or less by retailers are considered used for residential heating purposes; (34) fifty
percent of the gross proceeds of the sale of a modular home regulated pursuant
to Chapter 43, Title 23, both on (35) motion picture film sold or rented to or by theaters Reserved; (36) tangible personal property where the seller, by contract of sale, is obligated to deliver to the buyer, or to an agent or donee of the buyer, at a point outside this State or to deliver it to a carrier or to the mails for transportation to the buyer, or to an agent or donee of the buyer, at a point outside this State Reserved; (37) petroleum asphalt products, commonly used in paving, purchased in this State, which are transported and consumed out of this State Reserved; (38) hearing aids, as defined
by Section 40 (39) concession sales at a festival by an organization devoted exclusively to public or charitable purposes, if: (a) all the net proceeds are used for those purposes; (b) in advance of the festival, its organizers provide the department, on a form it prescribes, information necessary to ensure compliance with this item. For purposes of this item, a 'festival' does not include a recognized state or county fair Reserved; (40) containers
and chassis, including all parts, components, and (41) items
sold by organizations exempt under Section 12 (42) depreciable assets, used in the operation of a business, pursuant to the sale of the business. This exemption only applies when the entire business is sold by the owner of it, pursuant to a written contract and the purchaser continues operation of the business Reserved; (43) all supplies, technical equipment, machinery, and electricity sold to motion picture companies for use in filming or producing motion pictures. For the purposes of this item, 'motion picture' means any audiovisual work with a series of related images either on film, tape, or other embodiment, where the images shown in succession impart an impression of motion together with accompanying sound, if any, which is produced, adapted, or altered for exploitation as entertainment, advertising, promotional, industrial, or educational media; and a 'motion picture company' means a company generally engaged in the business of filming or producing motion pictures Reserved; (44) electricity used to irrigate crops; (45) building materials,
supplies, fixtures, and equipment for the construction, repair, or improvement
of or that become a part of a self (46) War memorials or monuments honoring units or contingents of the Armed Forces of the United States or of the National Guard, including United States military vessels, which memorials or monuments are affixed to public property; (47) tangible personal property sold to charitable hospitals predominantly serving children exempt under Section 12-37-220, where care is provided without charge to the patient.; (48) solid waste disposal collection bags required pursuant to the solid waste disposal plan of a county or other political subdivision if the plan requires the purchase of a specifically designated containment bag for solid waste disposal Reserved; (49) postage purchased by a person engaged in the business of selling advertising services for clients consisting of mailing, or directing the mailing of, printed advertising material through the United States mail directly to the client's customers or potential customers or by a person to mail or direct the mailing of printed advertising material through the United States mail to a potential customer Reserved; (b) electricity, natural gas, propane, or fuels of any type, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, or gasses of any type, and fluids and lubricants used by a qualified recycling facility; (c) tangible personal property which becomes, or will become, an ingredient or component part of products manufactured for sale by a qualified recycling facility; (d) tangible personal property of or for a qualified recycling facility which is or will be used (1) for the handling or transfer of postconsumer waste material, (2) in or for the manufacturing process, or (3) in or for the handling or transfer of manufactured products; (e) machinery and equipment foundations used or to be used by a qualified recycling facility; (f) as used in this item, "recycling property", "qualified recycling facility", and "postconsumer waste material" have the meanings provided in Section 12-6-3460; (51) material handling systems and material handling equipment used in the operation of a distribution facility or a manufacturing facility including, but not limited to, racks used in the operation of a distribution facility or a manufacturing facility and either used or not used to support a facility structure or part of it. To qualify for this exemption, the taxpayer shall notify the department before the first month it uses the exemption and shall invest at least thirty-five million dollars in real or personal property in this State over the five-year period beginning on the date provided by the taxpayer to the department in its notices. The taxpayer shall notify the department in writing that it has met the thirty-five million dollar investment requirement or, after the expiration of the five years, that it has not met the thirty-five million dollar investment requirement. The department may assess any tax due on material handling systems and material handling equipment purchased tax-free pursuant to this item but due the State as a result of the taxpayer's failure to meet the thirty-five million dollar investment requirement. The running of the periods of limitations for assessment of taxes provided in Section 12-54-85 is suspended for the time period beginning with notice to the department before the taxpayer uses the exemption and ending with notice to the department that the taxpayer either has met or has not met the thirty-five million dollar investment requirement; (52) parts and supplies used
by persons engaged in the business of repairing or reconditioning aircraft.
This exemption does not extend to tools and other equipment not (53) motor vehicle extended service contracts and motor vehicle extended warranty contracts Reserved; (54) clothing
and other (55) audiovisual masters made or used by a production company in making visual and audio images for first generation reproduction. For purposes of this item: (a) 'Audiovisual master' means an audio or video film, tape, or disk, or another audio or video storage device from which all other copies are made; (b) 'Production company' means a person or entity engaged in the business of making motion picture, television, or radio images for theatrical, commercial, advertising, or education purposes Reserved; (56) machines
used in research and development. "Machines" includes machines and parts of
machines, (57)(a) sales taking place during a period beginning 12:01 a.m. on the first Friday in August and ending at twelve midnight the following Sunday of: school supplies. (i) clothing; (ii) clothing accessories including, but not limited to, hats, scarves, hosiery, and handbags; (iii) footwear; (iv) school supplies including, but not limited to, pens, pencils, paper, binders, notebooks, books, bookbags, lunchboxes, and calculators; (v) computers, printers and printer supplies, and computer software; (vi) bath wash clothes, blankets, bed spreads, bed linens, sheet sets, comforter sets, bath towels, shower curtains, bath rugs and mats, pillows, and pillow cases. (b) The exemption allowed by this item does not apply to: (i) sales of jewelry, cosmetics, eyewear, wallets, watches; (ii) sales of furniture; (iii) a sale of an item placed on layaway or similar deferred payment and delivery plan however described; (iv) rental of clothing or footwear; (v) a sale or lease of an item for use in a trade or business. (c) Before July tenth of each year, the department shall publish and make available to the public and retailers a list of those articles qualifying for the exemption allowed by this item; For purposes of this item, school supplies include but are not limited to: (1) an item of clothing, the price of which is one hundred twenty-five dollars or less; (2) an item of school supplies, the price of which is fifty dollars or less; (3) an item of school instructional material, the price of which is twenty dollars or less; (4) laptops and tablet computers, not purchased for use in a trade or business, the price of which is five hundred dollars or less; and (5) sports equipment, not purchased for use in a trade or business, the price of which is one hundred fifty dollars or less. (b) For purposes of this item: (1) "Clothing" means all human
wearing apparel suitable for general use. "Clothing" includes, but is not
limited to, aprons, household and shop; (2) "School supplies" means items commonly used by a student in a course of study. "School supplies" includes only the following items: Binders; book bags; calculators; cellophane tape; blackboard chalk; compasses; composition books; crayons; erasers; folders, expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila; glue, paste, and paste sticks; highlighters; index cards; index card boxes; legal pads; lunch boxes; markers; notebooks; paper, loose-leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper; pencil boxes and other school supply boxes; pencil sharpeners; pencils; pens; protractors; rulers; scissors; and writing tablets. "School supplies" does not include any item purchased for use in a trade or business. (3) "School instructional material" means written material commonly used by a student in a course of study as a reference and to learn the subject being taught. "School instructional material" includes only the following items: reference books, reference maps and globes, textbooks, and workbooks. "School instructional material" does not include any material purchased for use in a trade or business; (58) cooperative direct mail promotional advertising materials and promotional maps, brochures, pamphlets, or discount coupons by nonprofit chambers of commerce or convention and visitor bureaus who are exempt from income taxation pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c) delivered at no charge by means of interstate carrier, a mailing house, or a United States Post Office to residents of this State from locations both inside and outside the State. For purposes of this item, 'cooperative direct mail promotional advertising materials' means discount coupons, advertising leaflets, and similar printed advertising, including any accompanying envelopes and labels which are distributed with promotional advertising materials of more than one business in a single package to potential customers, at no charge to the potential customer, of the businesses paying for the delivery of the material Reserved; (59) facilities for transmitting electricity that is transferred, sold, or exchanged by electrical utilities, municipalities, electric cooperatives, or political subdivisions to a limited liability company which is subject to regulation under the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. Section 791(a)) and which is formed to operate or to take functional control of electric transmission assets as defined in the Federal Power Act Reserved; (60) a lottery ticket sold pursuant to Chapter 150, Title 59; (61) copies of or access to legislation or other informational documents provided to the general public or any other person by a legislative agency when a charge for these copies is made reflecting the agency's cost of the copies. Funds received as revenue from the sale of materials or as reimbursements for the cost of providing certain supplies or services or refunds must be remitted to the State Treasurer as collected, but in no event later than twelve working days from the date of the receipt of any such funds; (62) seventy percent of the gross proceeds of the rental or lease of portable toilets Reserved; (63) prescription and over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies, including diabetic supplies, diabetic diagnostic equipment, and diabetic testing equipment, sold to a health care clinic that provides medical and dental care without charge to all of its patients; (64) sweetgrass baskets made by artists of South Carolina using locally grown sweetgrass Reserved; (65)(a) computer equipment, as defined in subitem (c) of this item, used in connection with a technology intensive facility as defined in Section 12-6-3360(M)(14)(b), where: (i) the taxpayer invests at least three hundred million dollars in real or personal property or both comprising or located at the facility over a five-year period; (ii) the taxpayer creates at least one hundred new full-time jobs at the facility during that five-year period, and the average cash compensation of at least one hundred of the new full-time jobs is one hundred fifty percent of the per capita income of the State according to the most recently published data available at the time the facility's construction starts; and (iii) at least sixty percent of the three hundred million dollars minimum investment consists of computer equipment; (b) computer equipment, as defined in subitem (c) of this item, used in connection with a manufacturing facility, where: (i) the taxpayer invests at least seven hundred fifty million dollars in real or personal property or both comprising or located at the facility over a seven-year period; and (ii) the taxpayer creates at least three thousand eight hundred full-time new jobs at the facility during that seven-year period. As used in this subitem, "taxpayer" includes a person who bears a relationship to the taxpayer as described in Section 267(b) of the Internal Revenue Code.; (c) For the purposes of this item, "computer equipment" means original or replacement servers, routers, switches, power units, network devices, hard drives, processors, memory modules, motherboards, racks, other computer hardware and components, cabling, cooling apparatus, and related or ancillary equipment, machinery, and components, the primary purpose of which is to store, retrieve, aggregate, search, organize, process, analyze, or transfer data or any combination of these, or to support related computer engineering or computer science research.; (d) These exemptions apply from the start of the investment in or construction of the technology intensive facility or the manufacturing facility. The taxpayer shall notify the Department of Revenue of its use of the exemption provided in this item on or before the first sales tax return filed with the department after the first such use. Upon receipt of the notification, the department shall issue an appropriate exemption certificate to the taxpayer to be used for qualifying purposes under this item. Within six months after the fifth anniversary of the taxpayer's first use of this exemption, the taxpayer shall notify the department in writing that it has or has not met the investment and job requirements of this item by the end of that five-year period. Once the department certifies that the taxpayer has met the investment and job requirements, all subsequent purchases of or investments in computer equipment, including to replace originally deployed computer equipment or to implement future expansions, likewise shall qualify for the exemption described above, regardless of when the taxpayer makes the investments.; (e) The department may assess any tax due on property purchased tax free pursuant to this item but due the State if the taxpayer subsequently fails timely to meet the investment and job requirements of this item after being granted the exemption; for purposes of determining whether the taxpayer has timely satisfied the investment requirement, replacement computer equipment counts toward the investment requirement to the extent that the value of the replacement computer equipment exceeds the cost of the computer equipment so replaced, but, provided the taxpayer otherwise qualifies for the exemption, the full value of the replacement computer equipment is exempt from sales and use tax. The running of the periods of limitation within which the department may assess taxes provided pursuant to Section 12-54-85 is suspended during the time period beginning with the taxpayer's first use of this exemption and ending with the later of the fifth anniversary of first use or notice to the department that the taxpayer either has met or has not met the investment and job requirements of this item; (66) electricity used by a technology intensive facility as defined in Section 12-6-3360(M)(14)(b) and qualifying for the sales tax exemption provided pursuant to item (65) of this section, and the equipment and raw materials including, without limitation, fuel used by such qualifying facility to generate, transform, transmit, distribute, or manage electricity for use in such a facility. The running of the periods of limitation within which the department may assess taxes pursuant to Section 12-54-85 is suspended during the same time period it is suspended in item (65)(d) of this section; (67) effective July 1, 2011, construction materials used in the construction of a new or expanded single manufacturing or distribution facility, or one that serves both purposes, with a capital investment of at least one three hundred million dollars in real and personal property at a single site in the State over an eighteen-month period, or effective November 1, 2009, construction materials used in the construction of a new or expanded single manufacturing facility where: (i) the taxpayer invests at least seven hundred fifty million dollars in real or personal property or both comprising or located at the facility over a seven-year period; and (ii) the taxpayer creates at least three thousand eight hundred full-time new jobs at the facility during that seven-year period. To qualify for this exemption, the taxpayer shall notify the department before the first month it uses the exemption and shall make the required investment over the applicable time period beginning on the date provided by the taxpayer to the department in its notices. The taxpayer shall notify the department in writing that it has met the investment requirement or, after the expiration of the applicable time period, that it has not met the investment requirement. The department may assess any tax due on construction materials purchased tax free pursuant to this subitem but due the State as a result of the taxpayer's failure to meet the investment requirement. The running of the periods of limitations for assessment of taxes provided in Section 12-54-85 is suspended for the time period beginning with notice to the department before the taxpayer uses the exemption and ending with notice to the department that the taxpayer either has met or has not met the investment requirement. As used in this subitem, "taxpayer" includes a person who bears a relationship to the taxpayer as described in Section 267(b) of the Internal Revenue Code; (68) any property sold to the public through a sheriff's sale as provided by law Reserved; (69) [Reserved] (70)(a) gold, silver, or platinum bullion, or any combination of this bullion; (b) coins that are or have been legal tender in the United States or other jurisdiction; and (c) currency. The department shall prescribe documentation that must be maintained by retailers claiming the exemption allowed by this item. This documentation must be sufficient to identify each individual sale for which the exemption is claimed Reserved; (71) any device, equipment, or machinery operated by hydrogen or fuel cells, any device, equipment, or machinery used to generate, produce, or distribute hydrogen and designated specifically for hydrogen applications or for fuel cell applications, and any device, equipment, or machinery used predominantly for the manufacturing of, or research and development involving hydrogen or fuel cell technologies. For purposes of this item: (a) "fuel cells" means a device that directly or indirectly creates electricity using hydrogen (or hydrocarbon-rich fuel) and oxygen through an electro-chemical process; and (b) "research and development" means laboratory, scientific, or experimental testing and development of hydrogen or fuel cell technologies. Research and development does not include efficiency surveys, management studies, consumer surveys, economic surveys, advertising, or promotion, or research in connection with literary, historical, or similar projects; (72) any
building materials used to construct a new or renovated building or any
machinery or equipment located in a research district. However, the amount of
the sales tax that would be assessed without the exemption provided by this
section must be invested by the taxpayer in hydrogen or fuel cell machinery or
equipment located in the same research district within twenty 'Research district' means land owned by the State, a county, or other public entity that is designated as a research district by the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, the Medical University of South Carolina, South Carolina State University, or the Savannah River National Laboratory Reserved; (73) an amusement park ride and any parts, machinery, and equipment used to assemble, operate, and make up an amusement park ride or performance venue facility located in a qualifying amusement park or theme park and any related or required machinery, equipment, and fixtures located in the same qualifying amusement park or theme park. (a) To qualify for the exemption, the
taxpayer shall meet the investment and job requirements provided in subitem
(b)(i) over a five (b) For purposes of this item: (i) 'Qualifying amusement park or theme park' means a park that is
constructed and operated by a taxpayer who makes a capital investment of at
least two hundred fifty million dollars at a single site and creates at least
two hundred fifty full (ii) 'Related or required machinery, equipment, and fixtures' means an ancillary apparatus used for or in conjunction with an amusement park ride or performance venue facility, or both, including, but not limited to, any foundation, safety fencing and equipment, ticketing, monitoring device, computer equipment, lighting, music equipment, stage, queue area, housing for a ride, electrical equipment, power transformers, and signage. (iii) 'Performance venue facility'
means a facility for a live performance, nonlive performance, including any
animatronics and computer (iv) 'Taxpayer' means a single taxpayer or, collectively, a group of one or more affiliated taxpayers. An 'affiliated taxpayer' means a person or entity related to the taxpayer that is subject to common operating control and that is operated as part of the same system or enterprise. The taxpayer is not required to own a majority of the voting stock of the affiliate Reserved; (74) durable medical equipment and related supplies: (a) as defined under federal and state Medicaid and Medicare laws; (b) which is paid directly by funds of this State or the United States under the Medicaid or Medicare programs, where state or federal law or regulation authorizing the payment prohibits the payment of the sale or use tax; and (c) sold by a provider who holds a South Carolina retail sales license and whose principal place of business is located in this State; (75) unprepared food that lawfully may be purchased with United States Department of Agriculture food coupons, except that this exemption does not apply to candy and soft drinks. However, the exemption allowed by this item applies only to the state sales and use tax imposed pursuant to this chapter; (76) sales
of handguns as defined pursuant to Section 16 (77) energy efficient products purchased for noncommercial home or personal use with a sales price of two thousand five hundred dollars per product or less. (a) For the purposes of this
exemption, an 'energy efficient product' is any energy efficient product for
noncommercial home or personal use consisting of any dishwasher, clothes
washer, air conditioner, ceiling fan, fluorescent light bulb, dehumidifier,
programmable thermostat, refrigerator, door, or window, the energy efficiency of
which has been designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
and the United States Department of Energy as meeting or exceeding each
agency's energy (b) This exemption shall not apply to purchases of energy efficient products purchased for trade, business, or resale. (c) The exemption provided in this item applies only to sales occurring during a period commencing at 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2009, and concluding at 12:00 midnight on October 31, 2009, (National 'Energy Efficiency Month') and every year thereafter until 2019. (d) Each year until 2019, the State
Energy Office shall prepare an annual report on the fiscal and energy impacts
of the October first through October thirty (e) Beginning with the February 15, 2009, forecast by the Board of Economic Advisors of annual general fund revenue growth for the upcoming fiscal year, and annually after that, if the forecast of that growth then and in any adjusted forecast made before the beginning of the fiscal year equals at least five percent of the most recent estimate by the board of general fund revenues for the current fiscal year, then the exemption allowed by this item shall be allowed for the applicable year. If the February fifteenth forecast or adjusted forecast annual general fund revenue growth for the upcoming fiscal year meets the requirement for the credit, the board promptly shall certify this result in writing to the department Reserved; (78) machinery
and equipment, building and other raw materials, and electricity used in the
operation of a facility owned by an organization which qualifies as a tax
exempt organization pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3)
when the facility is principally used for researching and testing the impact of
such natural hazards as wind, fire, water, earthquake, and hail on building
materials used in residential, commercial, and agricultural buildings. To
qualify for this exemption, the taxpayer shall notify the department of its
intent to qualify and shall invest at least twenty million dollars in real or
personal property at a single site in this State over the three (79)(A)(1) original or replacement computers, computer equipment, and computer hardware and software purchases used within a datacenter; and (2) electricity used by a datacenter and eligible business property to be located and used at the datacenter. This subsubitem does not apply to sales of electricity for any other purpose, and such sales are subject to the tax, including, but not limited to, electricity used in administrative offices, supervisory offices, parking lots, storage warehouses, maintenance shops, safety control, comfort air conditioning, elevators used in carrying personnel, cafeterias, canteens, first aid rooms, supply rooms, water coolers, drink boxes, unit heaters and waste house lights. (B) As used in this section: (1) "Computer" means an electronic device that accepts information in digital or similar form and manipulates it for a result based on a sequence of instructions. (2) "Computer equipment" means original or replacement servers, routers, switches, power units, network devices, hard drives, processors, memory modules, motherboards, racks, other computer hardware and components, cabling, cooling apparatus, and related or ancillary equipment, machinery, and components, the primary purpose of which is to store, retrieve, aggregate, search, organize, process, analyze, or transfer data or any combination of these, or to support related computer engineering or computer science research. This also includes equipment cooling systems for managing the performance of the datacenter property, including mechanical and electrical equipment, hardware for distributed and mainframe computers and servers, data storage devices, network connectivity equipment, and peripheral components and systems. (3) "Computer software" means a set of coded instructions designed to cause a computer or automatic data processing equipment to perform a task. (4) "Concurrently maintainable" means capable of having any capacity component or distribution element serviced or repaired on a planned basis without interrupting or impeding the performance of the computer equipment. (5) "Datacenter" means a new or existing facility at a single location in South Carolina: (i) that provides infrastructure for hosting or data processing services and that has power and cooling systems that are created and maintained to be concurrently maintainable and to include redundant capacity components and multiple distribution paths serving the computer equipment at the facility. Although the facility must have multiple distribution paths serving the computer equipment, a single distribution path may serve the computer equipment at any one time; (ii)(a) where a taxpayer invests at least fifty million dollars in real or personal property or both over a five-year period; or (b) where one or more taxpayers invests a minimum aggregate capital investment of at least seventy-five million dollars in real or personal property or both over a five-year period; (iii) where a taxpayer creates and maintains at least twenty-five full-time jobs at the facility with an average cash compensation level of one hundred fifty percent of the per capita income of the State or of the county in which the facility is located, whichever is lower, according to the most recently published data available at the time the facility is certified by the Department of Commerce; (iv) where the jobs created pursuant to subitem (B)(5)(iii) are maintained for three consecutive years after a facility with the minimum capital investment and number of jobs has been certified by the Department of Commerce; and (v) which is certified by the Department of Commerce pursuant to subitem (D)(1) under such policies and procedures as promulgated by the Department of Commerce. (6) "Eligible business property" means property used for the generation, transformation, transmission, distribution, or management of electricity, including exterior substations and other business personal property used for these purposes. (7) "Multiple distribution paths" means a series of distribution paths configured to ensure that failure on one distribution path does not interrupt or impede other distribution paths. (8) "Redundant capacity components" means components beyond those required to support the computer equipment. (C)(1) To qualify for the exemption allowed by this item, a taxpayer, and the facility in the case of a seventy-five million dollar investment made by more than one taxpayer, shall notify the Department of Revenue and Department of Commerce, in writing, of its intention to claim the exemption. For purposes of meeting the requirements of subitems (B)(5)(ii) and (B)(5)(iii), capital investment and job creation begin accruing once the taxpayer notifies each department. Also, the five-year period begins upon notification. (2) Once the taxpayer meets the requirements of subitem (B)(5), or at the end of the five-year period, the taxpayer shall notify the Department of Revenue, in writing, whether it has or has not met the requirements of subitem (B)(5). The taxpayer shall provide the proof the department determines necessary to determine that the requirements have been met. (D)(1) Upon notifying each department of its intention to claim the exemption pursuant to subitem (C)(1), and upon certification by the Department of Commerce, the taxpayer may claim the exemption on eligible purchases at any time during the period provided in Section 12-54-85(F), including the time period prior to subitem (B)(5)(iv) being satisfied. (2) For purposes of this section, the running of the periods of limitations for assessment of taxes provided in Section 12-54-85 is suspended for: (i) the time period beginning with notice to each department pursuant to subitem (C)(1) and ending with notice to the Department of Revenue pursuant to subitem (C)(2); and (ii) during the three-year job maintenance requirement pursuant to subitem (B)(5)(iv). (E) Any subsequent purchase of or investment in computer equipment, computer hardware and software, and computers, including to replace originally deployed computer equipment or to implement future expansions, likewise shall qualify for the exemption provided in this subitem, regardless of when the taxpayer makes the investments. (F)(1) If a taxpayer receives the exemption for purchases but fails to meet the requirements of subitem (B)(5) at the end of the five-year period, the department may assess any state or local sales or use tax due on items purchased. (2) If a taxpayer meets the requirements of subitem (B)(5), but subsequently fails to maintain the number of full-time jobs with the required compensation level at the facility, as previously required pursuant to subitem (B)(5)(iii), the taxpayer is: (i) not allowed the exemption for items described in subitem (A)(1) until the taxpayer meets the previous qualifying jobs requirements pursuant to subitem (B)(5)(iii); and (ii) allowed the exemption for electricity pursuant to subitem (A)(2), but the exemption only applies to a percentage of the sale price, calculated by dividing the number of qualifying jobs by twenty-five. (G) This subitem only applies to a datacenter that is certified by the Department of Commerce pursuant to subitem (D)(1) prior to January 1, 2032. However, this item shall continue to apply to a taxpayer that is certified by December 31, 2031, for an additional ten-year period. Upon the end of the ten-year period, this subitem is repealed; (80)(a) effective on July first immediately following a forecast meeting the requirements of subitem (b), seventy-five percent of the gross proceeds of the sales of injectable medications and injectable biologics, so long as the medication or biologic is administered by or pursuant to the supervision of a physician in an office which is under the supervision of a physician, or in a Center for Medicare or Medicaid Services (CMS) certified kidney dialysis facility. For purposes of this exemption, 'biologics' means the products that are applicable to the prevention, treatment, or cure of a disease or condition of human beings and that are produced using living organisms, materials derived from living organisms, or cellular, subcellular, or molecular components of living organisms; (b) Beginning with the February 15, 2013, forecast by the Board of Economic Advisors of annual general fund revenue growth for the upcoming fiscal year, and annually thereafter until the conditions of this item are met, if the forecast of that growth equals at least two percent of the most recent estimate by the board of general fund revenues for the current fiscal year, then on July first, the exemption described in subitem (a) shall apply to fifty percent of the gross proceeds of sales of the described items. Beginning the next July first, the exemption shall apply to one hundred percent of the gross proceeds of sales of the described items. If the February fifteenth forecast meets the requirement for a rate reduction, the board promptly shall certify this result in writing to the Department of Revenue. (81) construction materials used by an entity organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as a nonprofit corporation to build, rehabilitate, or repair a home for the benefit of an individual or family in need. For purposes of this item, "an individual or family in need" means an individual or family, as applicable, whose income is less than or equal to eighty percent of the county median income.; (82) children's clothing sold to a private charitable organization exempt from federal and state income tax, except for private schools, for the sole purpose of distribution by that organization to needy children. For purposes of this item: (a) "clothing" means those items exempt from sales and use tax pursuant to item (57)(a)(i) and (iii) of this section; and (b) "needy children" means children eligible for free meals under the National School Lunch Program of the United States Department of Agriculture.; (83) any item subject to the fee set forth in Section 56-3-627.
SECTION 21. Section 12-36-2530 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
Section 12-36-2530. The department may require all
retailers in this State making retail sales exempt
pursuant to Section 12
SECTION 22. Sections 12-36-2620 through 12-36-2640 of the S.C. Code are amended to read:
Section 12-36-2620. The revenues from the taxes imposed by Sections 12-36-910, 12-36-920(B), 12-36-1310, and 12-36-1320 are composed of two taxes must be credited as follows: (1) a four percent tax, which eighty percent must be credited as provided in Section 59-21-1010(A); and (2) a one
percent tax, which twenty
percent must be credited as provided in Section 59-21-1010(B). The one percent tax specified in this item does not apply to
sales to an individual eighty
Section 12-36-2630. The revenues from the tax imposed by Section 12-36-920(A) is composed of three taxes must be credited as follows: (1) a four percent tax which three-fifths must be credited as provided in Section 59-21-1010, with eighty percent of the funds credited as provided in Section 59-21-1010(A); and (2) a one percent tax, which must be twenty percent of the funds credited as provided in Section 59-21-1010(B). The one percent tax specified in this item (2) does not apply
to sales to an individual eighty (3)(2) a two percent two-fifths, a local accommodations tax, which must be credited to the political subdivisions of the State in accordance with Chapter 4, Title 6. The proceeds of this tax, less the department's actual increase in the cost of administration and the expenses of the Tourism Expenditure Review Committee established pursuant to Section 6-4-35, must be remitted quarterly to the municipality or the county in which it is collected. The two percent local accommodations tax provided by this item may not be increased except upon approval of two-thirds of the membership of each House of the General Assembly. However, the tax may be decreased or repealed by a simple majority of the membership of each House of the General Assembly. The tax imposed by Section 12-36-920 must be billed and paid in a single item listed as tax, without itemizing the taxes referred to in this section.
Section 12-36-2640. The revenues from the tax imposed by Section 12-36-1710 is composed of two taxes must be credited as follows: (1) a four percent tax which eighty percent must be credited to the general fund of the State; and (2) a one
percent tax which twenty
percent must be credited as provided in Section 59-21-1010(B). The one percent tax specified in this item does not apply to
the issuance of certificates of title or other proof of ownership to an
individual eighty
SECTION 23. Section 12-36-2646 of the S.C. Code is repealed.
SECTION 24. A. Article 1, Chapter 11, Title 11 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
Section 11-11-270. (A)(1) There is created in the State Treasury the Tax Reform Reserve Fund. This account is separate and distinct from the general fund of the State and all other funds. Earnings and interest on this fund must be credited to it and any balance in this fund at the end of a fiscal year carries forward in the fund in the succeeding fiscal year. Pursuant to subsection (B), the fund only may be appropriated to cover any loss of sales tax revenue resulting from a decreased sales tax rate or to provide a refundable individual income tax credit for tax year 2027. (2) Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, in Fiscal Year 2024-2025, and the following two
fiscal years, the fund must be credited any sales tax revenues (B)(1) In addition to making its forecast of economic conditions, revenues, and recurring general fund revenue in this State pursuant to Section 11-9-1130, the Board of Economic Advisors shall make the same forecast except that the board shall assume that the reduction in the state sales tax and the elimination of sales tax exemptions that began on July 1, 2024, had not taken effect. This additional forecast must be made with each forecast required by Section 11-9-1130. If the April tenth final forecast for the upcoming fiscal year is less than the same additional forecast, then the General Assembly shall appropriate from the fund an amount up to the amount of shortage and the scheduled reduction in the state sales tax rate must be delayed by one year. The scheduled rate reduction must be implemented the next fiscal year if the provisions of this section are met, mutatis mutandis. (2) Any funds remaining in the fund on June 30, 2027, must be appropriated to provide a refundable individual income tax return for the 2027 tax year. This income tax credit for each individual taxpayer is the result produced when multiplying a fraction in which the individual's income tax liability, after applying all applicable credits, is the numerator and the denominator is the net state individual income tax revenues in the most recently completed tax year, multiplied by the amount of remaining funds.
B. On July 1, 2026, Section 11-11-270 of the S.C. Code is repealed.
SECTION 25. Chapter 10, Title 4 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
Article 11
General Provisions
Section 4-10-1110. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any tax imposed pursuant to this chapter or any provision of law, or any local law enacted by the General Assembly, the rate of the imposition must be reduced by the same percentage that the sales tax rate is reduced pursuant to Section 12-36-915 when compared to the state sales tax rate on June 30, 2024. Further, any rate limitation on any such sales and use tax must be reduced by the same percentage.
SECTION 26.A. The Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office shall monitor the effects of the amendments made in this act on sales and use tax revenue collections. By February 15, 2025, and each February fifteenth thereafter, the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office shall issue a report detailing the effects of this act and any updates to previous reports and estimates. The report must be issued to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.
B. This SECTION takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
SECTION 27. (A)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, the taxation of services, the elimination of exemptions, and the reduction of sales tax rates must be phased-in as provided in this section. (2) Notwithstanding the general effective date of this act, upon approval by the Governor, the Department of Revenue shall take steps necessary to begin the implementation of this act. (B) The taxation of services, as added by this act, must be taxed at a rate of one-third of the amount determined pursuant to 12-36-915 percent beginning July 1, 2024. The rate shall be phased in equal amounts each July first thereafter until July 1, 2026, when the tax rate on services must be the amount determined pursuant to Section 12-36-915 and is considered to be fully phased-in. (C)(1) The elimination of the exemptions contained in Section 12-36-2120 must be phased-in in three equal installments of thirty-three and one-third percent, so that in the first year of implementation, beginning July 1, 2024, the exemption only applies to sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the gross proceeds of sales. The percentage of gross proceeds to which the exemption applies must be reduced by the same percent each July first thereafter, until the exemption is completely eliminated on July 1, 2026. (2) The reduction of the application of any exemption contained in Section 12-36-2120 must be phased-in in a similar manner as provided in item (1), mutatis mutandis. (D) The state sales tax rate must be reduced by one-third of the amount projected by the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office pursuant to Section 12-36-915 each July first, beginning on July 1, 2024, until the state sales tax rate equals the amount set forth in Section 12-36-915 on July 1, 2025. (E)(1) The reduction of any local sales and use tax rate pursuant to Section 4-10-1110, must be reduced by three equal installments, beginning July 1, 2024, and every July first thereafter until July 1, 2026. (2) The reduction of the rate limitation must be phased-in in a similar manner as provided in item (1), mutatis mutandis.
SECTION 28. Article 1, Chapter 9, Title 58 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
Section 58-9-60. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the total amount of tax, of any source imposed by this State or political subdivision thereof, may not exceed 11.9 percent for mobile telecommunications services. If the commission determines that the cumulative taxes charge more than the limit, then all taxes must be reduced proportionally so as not to exceed the limit. The revenue shall be credited in the same manner but in the proportionally reduced amount.
SECTION 29. Section 6-1-320 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
Section 6-1-320. (A)(1) Notwithstanding Section 12-37-251(E), a local governing body may increase the millage rate imposed for general operating purposes above the rate imposed for such purposes for the preceding tax year only to the extent of the increase in the average of the twelve monthly consumer price indices for the most recent twelve-month period consisting of January through December of the preceding calendar year, plus, beginning in 2007, the percentage increase in the previous year in the population of the entity as determined by the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. If the average of the twelve monthly consumer price indices experiences a negative percentage, the average is deemed to be zero. If an entity experiences a reduction in population, the percentage change in population is deemed to be zero. However, in the year in which a reassessment program is implemented, the rollback millage, as calculated pursuant to Section 12-37-251(E), must be used in lieu of the previous year's millage rate. (2) There may be added to the operating millage increase allowed pursuant to item (1) of this subsection any such increase, allowed but not previously imposed, for the three property tax years preceding the year to which the current limit applies. (B)
Notwithstanding the limitation upon millage rate increases contained in
subsection (A), the millage rate limitation may be suspended and the millage
rate may be increased upon a two (1) the deficiency of the preceding year; (2) any catastrophic event outside the control of the governing body such as a natural disaster, severe weather event, act of God, or act of terrorism, fire, war, or riot; (3) compliance with a court order or decree; (4) taxpayer closure due to circumstances outside the control of the governing body that decreases by ten percent or more the amount of revenue payable to the taxing jurisdiction in the preceding year; or (5) compliance with a regulation promulgated or statute enacted by the federal or state government after the ratification date of this section for which an appropriation or a method for obtaining an appropriation is not provided by the federal or state government. (6) purchase by the local governing body of undeveloped real property or of the residential development rights in undeveloped real property near an operating United States military base which property has been identified as suitable for residential development but which residential development would constitute undesirable residential encroachment upon the United States military base as determined by the local governing body. The local governing body shall enact an ordinance authorizing such purchase and the ordinance must state the nature and extent of the potential residential encroachment, how the purchased property or development rights would be used and specifically how and why this use would be beneficial to the United States military base, and what the impact would be to the United States military base if such purchase were not made. Millage rate increases for the purpose of such purchase must be separately stated on each tax bill and must specify the property, or the development rights to be purchased, the amount to be collected for such purchase, and the length of time that the millage rate increase will be in effect. The millage rate increase must reasonably relate to the purchase price and must be rescinded five years after it was placed in effect or when the amount specified to be collected is collected, whichever occurs first. The millage rate increase for such purchase may not be reinstated unless approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the governmental entity voting in a referendum. The cost of holding the referendum must be paid from the taxes collected due to the increased millage rate; or (7) to purchase capital equipment and make expenditures related to the installation, operation, and purchase of the capital equipment including, but not limited to, taxes, duty, transportation, delivery, and transit insurance, in a county having a population of less than one hundred thousand persons and having at least forty thousand acres of state or national forest land. For purposes of this section, "capital equipment" means an article of nonexpendable, tangible, personal property, to include communication software when purchased with a computer, having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of fifty thousand dollars or more for each unit. If a tax is levied to pay for items (1) through (5) above, then the amount of tax for each taxpayer must be listed on the tax statement as a separate surcharge, for each aforementioned applicable item, and not be included with a general millage increase. Each separate surcharge must have an explanation of the reason for the surcharge. The surcharge must be continued only for the years necessary to pay for the deficiency, for the catastrophic event, or for compliance with the court order or decree. (C) The millage increase permitted by subsection (B) is in addition to the increases from the previous year permitted pursuant to subsection (A) and shall be an additional millage levy above that permitted by subsection (A). The millage limitation provisions of this section do not apply to revenues, fees, or grants not derived from ad valorem property tax millage or to the receipt or expenditures of state funds. The millage rate limitation provided for in subsection (A) may be overridden and the millage rate may be further increased by a positive majority vote of the appropriate governing body. The vote must be taken at a specially called meeting held solely for the purpose of taking a vote to increase the millage rate. The governing body must provide public notice of the meeting notifying the public that the governing body is meeting to vote to override the limitation and increase the millage rate. Public comment must be received by the governing body before the override vote. (D) The restriction contained in this section does not affect millage that is levied to pay bonded indebtedness or payments for real property purchased using a lease-purchase agreement or used to maintain a reserve account. Nothing in this section prohibits the use of energy-saving performance contracts as provided in Section 48-52-670. (E) Notwithstanding any provision contained in this article, this article does not and may not be construed to amend or to repeal the rights of a legislative delegation to set or restrict school district millage, and this article does not and may not be construed to amend or to repeal any caps on school millage provided by current law or statute or limitation on the fiscal autonomy of a school district that are more restrictive than the limit provided pursuant to subsection (A) of this section. (F) The restriction contained in this section does not affect millage imposed to pay bonded indebtedness or operating expenses of a special tax district established pursuant to Section 4-9-30(5), but the special tax district is subject to the millage rate limitations in Section 4-9-30(5). (G)(1) Notwithstanding the limitation upon millage rate increases contained in subsection (A), a fire district's governing body may adopt an ordinance or resolution requesting the governing body of the county to conduct a referendum to suspend the millage rate limitation for general operating purposes of the fire district. If the governing body of the county agrees to hold the referendum and subject to the results of the referendum, the millage rate limitation may be suspended and the millage rate may be increased for general operating purposes of the fire district. The referendum must be held at the time of the general election, and upon a majority of the qualified voters within the fire district voting favorably in the referendum, the millage rate may be increased in the next fiscal year. The referendum must include the amount of the millage increase. The actual millage levy may not exceed the millage increase specified in the referendum. (2) This subsection only applies to a fire district that existed on January 1, 2014, and serves less than seven hundred homes. (H) Notwithstanding the limitation upon millage rate increases contained in subsection (A), the governing body of a county may adopt an ordinance, subject to a referendum, to suspend the millage rate limitation for the purpose of imposing up to six-tenths of a mill for mental health. The referendum must be held at the time of the general election, and upon a majority of the qualified voters within the county voting favorably in the referendum, this special millage may be imposed in the next fiscal year. The state election laws apply to the referendum mutatis mutandis. This special millage may be removed only upon a majority vote of the local governing body. The amounts collected from the increased millage: (1) must be deposited into a mental health services fund separate and distinct from the county general fund and all other county funds; (2) must be dedicated only to expenditures for mental health services in the county; and (3) must not be used to supplant existing funds for mental health programs in the county. (I) The positive majority vote of the governing body required by this section does not apply to school districts that have their budgets approved by qualified electors at a town meeting.
SECTION 30. Section 12-37-251 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
Section 12-37-251. (A)(1) The Trust Fund for Tax Relief must contain an amount equal to the revenue necessary to fund a property tax exemption of one hundred thousand dollars based on the fair market value of property classified pursuant to Section 12-43-220(c) calculated on the school operating millage imposed for tax year 1995 or the current school operating millage, whichever is lower, excluding taxes levied for bonded indebtedness and payments pursuant to lease purchase agreements for capital construction. The 1995 tax year school operating millage or the current school operating millage, whichever is lower, is the base year millage for purposes of calculating the amount necessary to fund the Trust Fund for Tax Relief in accordance with this section. However, in years in which the values resulting from a countywide reassessment and equalization program are implemented, the base year millage must be adjusted to an equivalent millage rate in the manner that the Department of Revenue shall prescribe. Funds distributed to a taxing district as provided in subsection (B) must be used to provide a uniform property tax exemption for all property in the taxing district which is classified pursuant to Section 12-43-220(c), excluding taxes levied for bonded indebtedness and payments pursuant to lease purchase agreements for capital construction. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, a school district whose operating millage falls below the 1995 school year operating millage may request to receive tax relief based on the 1995 operating millage, or equivalent millage rate, if one of the following conditions are met: (a) the current operating millage per pupil plus the current debt service millage is equal to or less than the total millage per pupil for 1995; (b) the operating millage per pupil for the 1995 tax year reduced by the amount by which the total millage per pupil for all purposes in the current year exceeds the total millage per pupil for the 1995 tax year but not below the actual operating millage per pupil for the current year. The Department of Revenue is responsible for certifying that the conditions are met based on the latest completed fiscal year data of the requesting district. Any funds received by an eligible school district in excess of its current millage under this subsection may be used by the district to pay bonded indebtedness. RESERVED (B)(1) School districts must be reimbursed from revenues credited to the Trust Fund for Tax Relief for a fiscal year, in the manner provided in Section 12-37-270, for the revenue lost as a result of the homestead exemption provided in this section. Ninety percent of the reimbursement must be paid in the last quarter of the calendar year on December first. From funds appropriated to the Office of the Comptroller General in the annual general appropriations act, the Comptroller shall make the calculations and distributions required pursuant to this subsection. If amounts received by a school district pursuant to this subsection are insufficient to reimburse fully for the base year operating millage, the local school board, within its authority, shall decide how to make up the shortfall, if necessary. Amounts received by a district in excess of the amount necessary to reimburse the district for the base year operating millage must first be used to reduce any operating millage imposed since the 1995 base year, must next be used for school debt service purposes, and any funds remaining may then be retained by the district. (2) School districts must be reimbursed on a per capita basis, but a district may not receive as a reimbursement for a fiscal year an amount less than the actual reimbursement amount it received in fiscal year 1998-1999. If amounts credited to the Trust Fund for Tax Relief for a fiscal year pursuant to item (1) of this subsection are insufficient to pay the full amount of the reimbursements provided by this item, then all amounts credited to the trust fund for a fiscal year for this reimbursement in excess of the amount of the reimbursements paid pursuant to this section in fiscal year 1998-1999 must be allocated only to those districts receiving less than the full per capita reimbursement, and this allocation must be on a per capita basis among only those counties receiving some part of this allocation. (3) Operating millage levied in a county for alternative schools, career and technology centers, and county boards of education whether or not levied countywide or on a school district by school district basis in a county also is considered school operating millage to which the property tax exemption provided by this section applies. County treasurers shall consider these operating millages in determining revenue lost when making disbursements to school districts from trust funds for tax relief funds under this section. RESERVED (C) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, property exempted from property taxation in the manner provided in this section is considered taxable property for purposes of bonded indebtedness pursuant to Sections 14 and 15 of Article X of the Constitution of this State, and for purposes of computing the "index of taxpaying ability" pursuant to Section 59-20-20(3). RESERVED (D) RESERVED (E)
Rollback millage is calculated by dividing the prior year property taxes levied
as adjusted by abatements and additions by the adjusted total assessed value applicable
in the year the values derived from a countywide equalization and reassessment
program are implemented. This amount of assessed value must be adjusted by
deducting assessments added for property or improvements not previously taxed,
for new construction, for renovation of existing structures, and assessments
(F) The exemption allowed by this section is conditional on full funding of the Education Finance Act and on an appropriation by the General Assembly each year reimbursing school districts an amount equal to the Office of Research and Statistics of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office's estimate of total school tax revenue loss resulting from the exemption in the next fiscal year.RESERVED (G) If the boundaries of a municipality extend into more than one county and those counties implement the countywide appraisal and equalization programs required pursuant to Section 12-43-217 on different schedules, then the governing body of the municipality shall set an equivalent millage to be used to compute municipal ad valorem property taxes. The equivalent millage to be set by the municipal governing body must be determined by methodology established by the respective county auditors which must be consistent with the methodology for calculating equivalent millage to be established by the Department of Revenue for use in these situations for the purpose of equalizing the municipal property tax on real property situated in different counties.
SECTION 31.A. Section 11-11-150(A)(1) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
(1) Reserved Section 12-37-251 for the residential property tax exemption;
B. This section is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 30, 2023.
SECTION 32.A. Section 12-37-220(B)(47) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
(47)(a) Effective for property tax years beginning after 2006 and to the extent not already exempt pursuant to Section 12-37-250, one hundred percent of the fair market value of owner-occupied residential property eligible for and receiving the special assessment ratio allowed owner-occupied residential property pursuant to Section 12-43-220(c) is exempt from all property taxes imposed for school operating purposes but not including millage imposed for the repayment of general obligation debt. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, property exempted from property tax in the manner provided in this item is considered taxable property for purposes of bonded indebtedness pursuant to Section 15 of Article X of the Constitution of this State. (c) The exemptions allowed by this item may not be deleted or reduced except by a legislative enactment receiving a recorded rollcall vote of at least a two-thirds majority of the membership of each house of the General Assembly Reserved;
B. This section is effective for property tax years beginning after 2023.
SECTION 33.A. Section 12-6-510(B) of the S.C. Code is amended by adding an item to read:
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, beginning in tax year 2025, the top marginal rate is reduced to the higher of five and one-half percent or the amount identified by the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office pursuant to Section 12-36-915(B). To the degree that the provisions of this section shall cause the top marginal rate to decrease sooner than the phase-in set forth in item (3), the provisions of this item shall control and the rate must be reduced sooner. The Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office and the Department of Revenue shall adjust the amount which is subtracted in item (1) to reflect reduction in the top marginal rate item so that the tax tables remain consistent.
B. This SECTION takes effect upon approval by the Governor and first applies to tax years beginning after 2024.
SECTION 34. Except where provided otherwise, this act takes effect July 1, 2024. ----XX---- This web page was last updated on June 14, 2023 at 2:50 PM |
