Bill 1251

                    Current Status
Introducing Body:               Senate
Bill Number:                    1251
Ratification Number:            546
Act Number:                     443
Primary Sponsor:                Giese
Type of Legislation:            GB
Subject:                        Property tax payments,
                                installment basis when
                                hardship
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19940524
Computer Document Number:       JIC/5760HTC.94
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      19940616
Introduced Date:                19940310
Date of Last Amendment:         19940516
Last History Body:              ------
Last History Date:              19940616
Last History Type:              Act No. 443
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   Giese
                                Wilson
Type of Legislation:            General Bill

Bill   Body    Date          Action Description              CMN  Leg Involved
----   ------  ------------  ------------------------------  ---  ------------
1251   ------  19940616      Act No. 443
1251   ------  19940616      Signed by Governor
1251   ------  19940602      Ratified R 546
1251   Senate  19940524      Concurred in House amendment,
                             enrolled for ratification
1251   House   19940518      Read third time, returned to
                             Senate with amendment
1251   House   19940517      Read second time
1251   House   19940516      Debate adjourned until
                             Tuesday, 19940517
1251   House   19940516      Amended
1251   House   19940421      Committee Report: Favorable     30
                             with amendment
1251   House   19940405      Introduced, read first time,    30
                             referred to Committee
1251   Senate  19940331      Amended, read third time,
                             sent to House
1251   Senate  19940330      Read second time, notice of
                             general amendments
1251   Senate  19940324      Recalled from Committee,        06
       placed on Calendar
1251   Senate  19940310      Introduced, read first time,    06
                             referred to Committee

(A443, R546, S1251)

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

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

Installments, discounts authorized

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

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

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

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

Time effective

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

Approved the 16th day of June, 1994.