Sold As Is Houses is not a buyer, broker or law firm. This guide is general information, not legal advice. How this site works
Quick answer
In South Carolina, the county's delinquent tax collector sells property with unpaid taxes at a public auction. The owner, a grantee, or a mortgage or judgment creditor can redeem within 12 months of the sale by paying the bid plus interest of 3% to 12% depending on when they redeem. If no one redeems, the buyer gets a tax title, and any overage goes to the owner of record, payable 90 days after the deed.
How a South Carolina tax sale works
When property taxes stay unpaid, the county official who collects delinquent taxes sells the property at public auction, and the winning bidder pays in full on sale day. [1] The collector also bids for the Forfeited Land Commission an amount equal to all unpaid taxes, penalties, assessments and costs. [1]
The sale does not end your rights right away. South Carolina gives a 12-month redemption period, and only after it ends does the buyer get a tax title. [1] Contact the county delinquent tax collector to learn the exact sale date and amount owed.
During the redemption year the bidder holds a receipt for the purchase money, and the tax title is made only if no one redeems in time. [1] That gives you time to choose a path: pay the redemption amount, refinance, borrow from family, or sell. Each has costs and timing that differ, and the interest rises each quarter, so it helps to decide early. If the house is already listed or under contract, tell your closing attorney about the tax sale right away so the payoff can be ordered.
Who can redeem, and what it costs
The defaulting taxpayer, a grantee, or a mortgage or judgment creditor may redeem within 12 months from the date of the tax sale. [1] Redeeming means paying the taxes and costs plus interest on the bid. The interest rate depends on when you redeem. [1]
| Redeemed in | Interest on the bid |
|---|---|
| Months 1 to 3 | 3% |
| Months 4 to 6 | 6% |
| Months 7 to 9 | 9% |
| Months 10 to 12 | 12% |
The interest owed cannot exceed the amount of the bid made for the Forfeited Land Commission. [1] Because the rate steps up each quarter, redeeming earlier usually costs less. Ask the collector for a written payoff figure before you pay.
The redemption notice and the deadline
Between 45 and 20 days before the redemption period ends, the collector must mail a notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, restricted delivery. [1] It goes to the defaulting taxpayer and to any grantee, mortgagee or lessee of record. [1] Keep your mailing address current with the county so the notice reaches you, and do not wait for it to act.
If the property is not redeemed, the collector issues a tax title to the buyer within about 30 days after the redemption period ends. [1]
Overage: money that may belong to you
If the winning bid was more than the taxes owed, the extra is called overage. After outstanding municipal tax liens are paid, any remaining overage belongs to the owner of record right before the redemption period ended. [1] It is payable 90 days after the tax deed is executed, unless another claimant files suit in that time. [1]
After a tax deed issues, the collector must notify the defaulting taxpayer and prior owner of record in writing of any excess due. [1] Overage that is not claimed or assigned within five years of the tax sale goes to the county's general fund. [1]
What an owner can do
- Before the sale: pay the delinquent taxes, penalties and costs to the county delinquent tax collector.
- After the sale: redeem within 12 months by paying the bid plus the interest shown above. [1]
- Sell before the deadline: a sale that closes before redemption ends can pay the redemption amount from the proceeds. Your closing attorney handles the payoff.
- After a tax deed: watch for the collector's overage notice and claim any overage. [1]
- Get advice: if the deadline is close or the title is unclear, talk to a South Carolina real estate attorney.
If you sell, the closing attorney will pay the taxes from your proceeds, and you will also owe the deed recording fee. See the South Carolina selling guide and closing costs for sellers. Cash offers are usually below full market value, so compare them with listing in cash offer vs. listing.
If there is a mortgage, an heir, or a co-owner
Tax sales affect more people than the owner. A mortgage or judgment creditor may also redeem during the 12 months, and mortgagees and lessees of record get the redemption notice. [1] If you still have a mortgage, your lender may have a reason to pay the taxes to protect its loan. Call your servicer and ask.
When the property is redeemed, the tax sale is cancelled in the county's records and the bidder gets back the purchase price plus interest. [1] If the owner died and the house is still in an estate, the personal representative or heirs should contact the collector quickly. See selling an inherited house in South Carolina.
Timing matters even after the tax title issues. The statute says that if no one redeems within the 12 months plus another 12 months, the tax deed cannot be challenged on procedural or other grounds. [1] If you think a notice was never sent or went to the wrong address, ask a South Carolina attorney soon.
- Your tax bill or parcel number, and the sale date if you know it.
- The county delinquent tax collector's phone number from the county website.
- A written payoff figure that shows the bid, the interest and any costs.
- Your loan servicer's contact details, if there is a mortgage.
How North Carolina is different
North Carolina counties collect unpaid taxes by foreclosing the tax lien, either through a court action under G.S. 105-374 or the simpler in rem method in G.S. 105-375. [2] Under the in rem method, the collector files a certificate with the Clerk of Superior Court, a judgment is docketed, and a sheriff's sale can follow from three months to two years later, with at least 30 days' notice. [2] Paying the judgment in full, with interest and costs, cancels it. [2] Read more in the North Carolina selling guide.
Common questions
How long do I have to redeem after a South Carolina tax sale?
Twelve months from the date of the delinquent tax sale. [1]
How much interest do I pay to redeem?
3% of the bid in months 1 to 3, 6% in months 4 to 6, 9% in months 7 to 9, and 12% in months 10 to 12, capped at the Forfeited Land Commission bid amount. [1]
Can I sell my house during the redemption period?
The owner can redeem at any point in the 12 months. [1] A sale that closes before the deadline can pay the redemption from the proceeds. Ask a South Carolina closing attorney how title will be handled.
What happens to extra money from the tax sale?
Overage, after municipal tax liens, belongs to the owner of record just before redemption ended, payable 90 days after the deed. Unclaimed overage goes to the county after five years. [1]
Sources
- S.C. Code Title 12, Chapter 51: Alternate Procedure for Collection of Property Taxes South Carolina Legislature, accessed October 17, 2026
- G.S. 105-375 In rem method of foreclosure North Carolina General Assembly, accessed October 17, 2026
How this page was made
This guide was drafted with AI writing tools, working from the official sources listed on this page. A separate fact-checking pass opened every cited source and checked each rule, deadline and number against it; anything a source did not support was removed. Marcus L. Barber, the publisher, then read and approved the full page, including the text, questions and answers, title and search description before it was published.
This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice, and it has not been reviewed by a North Carolina or South Carolina attorney. Laws and court rules change; check the linked source or ask a lawyer about your situation. See our editorial policy. Spot an error? Email support@soldasishouses.com.
