Access Florence SC Property Tax Records
Florence property tax records are administered by Florence County and cover all parcels within the city of Florence. The Florence County Assessor values each parcel, the County Auditor prepares tax bills, and the Florence County Treasurer collects payments. The City of Florence Council sets a separate millage rate each year to fund municipal services, and that rate is added on top of county and school district levies for properties inside city limits. This guide explains how Florence property taxes work, when bills are due, and how to locate official records.
Florence Property Tax Quick Facts
How Florence City Property Taxes Work
Florence operates on a layered property tax system. Florence County handles assessment and billing for all real property within city limits. The Florence County Assessor, Jamie Floyd, and staff at 180 N Irby St, MSC-A, Florence, SC 29501, phone (843) 665-3056, are responsible for establishing fair market values. The County Auditor at (843) 665-3088 calculates the tax bills using those values and the applicable rates. The Florence County Treasurer at (843) 665-3041, located at 180 N Irby Street, Florence, collects real estate property taxes for the entire county including all city addresses.
The City of Florence Council adopts a separate millage rate by June 30 each year. That rate funds city-specific services such as roads, public safety, and parks. For the current period, the city tax rate stands at $54.90 per $1,000 of assessed value. This city rate is applied on top of the county and school district millage, so Florence city properties carry a higher combined rate than comparable properties outside city limits.
The South Carolina Department of Revenue at dor.sc.gov provides statewide guidance on property tax rules but does not administer Florence's local tax. All collections flow to Florence County and city government.
A one cent local option sales tax functions as a direct credit against Florence property tax bills. This credit reduces the net property tax owed by eligible city property owners and is applied automatically when bills are calculated. The City Finance Department at 324 W Evans Street, 3rd Floor, Florence, SC, phone (843) 665-3162, and the city website at cityofflorencesc.gov have additional details about this credit and other billing matters.
Florence County Assessment Ratios and Reassessment
Assessment ratios in South Carolina determine what share of a property's fair market value is taxable. Under S.C. Code Ann. Title 12, Chapter 43, owner-occupied primary residences in Florence are assessed at 4% of fair market value. Rental homes, commercial properties, and non-primary-residence parcels are assessed at 6%. Manufacturing properties carry a 10.5% ratio.
The gap between 4% and 6% is significant. On a Florence home valued at $200,000, the 4% rate produces a taxable value of $8,000. The 6% rate produces $12,000. Applying the combined millage rate to that $4,000 difference shows the real annual savings the owner-occupied status delivers. Florence homeowners who live in their property should confirm the 4% rate is in place by checking with the County Assessor.
Chapter 43 also requires Florence County to complete a countywide reassessment every five years. Reassessment notices are mailed to property owners in May following the completion of the reassessment cycle. Owners who receive a notice showing a significant increase have the right to contest the new value through the formal appeal process.
Note: Florence County reassessment notices arrive in May. Owners who want to challenge a new value should review the notice as soon as it arrives because the appeal window is limited.
Search Florence Property Tax Records and Deeds
The Florence County Register of Deeds maintains recorded documents for all Florence city properties. The online search portal at search.florencedeeds.com lets you search by owner name, address, or document type to locate deeds, mortgages, and related instruments that affect title and ownership history for Florence parcels.
The Register of Deeds portal is a starting point for tracing ownership history and understanding the chain of title for a Florence city property. It complements the Assessor's records, which focus on current values and assessment status. For tax bill lookups and payment history, the Florence County Treasurer's office at (843) 665-3041 is the appropriate contact. For questions about assessed values or exemptions, reach the Assessor's office at (843) 665-3056.
The City of Florence also provides property tax payment guidance through its website. The city's business license and property tax payment page at cityofflorencesc.gov includes links to forms, contact information for city finance staff, and background on how the city millage is determined each year. The city Finance Department at (843) 665-3162 can answer questions about city-specific charges that appear on a Florence property tax bill.
Florence Tax Due Dates and Penalty Schedule
Florence property taxes are due on January 15. S.C. Code Ann. Title 12, Chapter 45 governs both the due date and the graduated penalty system that applies to late payments. A 3% penalty is added to any balance that remains unpaid past January 15.
Additional penalties follow if the account stays delinquent. A 7% penalty is added after the next deadline, and a further 5% penalty is applied after that. The total penalty exposure for a Florence property owner who ignores multiple notices can easily exceed 15% of the original bill before further legal costs are factored in.
Delinquent Florence properties fall under S.C. Code Ann. Title 12, Chapter 51. A delinquency notice is issued on April 1. The property owner then has a 12-month redemption period to pay the total amount owed and avoid further action. Non-payment through the entire redemption period puts the property at risk of forfeiture. The Florence County Treasurer's office handles delinquency matters and can provide the exact amount needed to redeem a delinquent property.
Florence Homestead Exemption and Senior Tax Relief
South Carolina provides meaningful property tax relief for qualifying Florence residents through the Homestead Exemption. Under S.C. Code Ann. Title 12, Chapter 37, the Homestead Exemption removes the first $50,000 of fair market value from property tax for eligible owners. To qualify, the applicant must be 65 years of age or older, legally blind, or totally and permanently disabled, and must have been a South Carolina resident for at least one full calendar year.
Applications for the Homestead Exemption in Florence go through the Florence County Auditor's office at (843) 665-3088. The exemption applies to the primary residence only and cannot be used on rental or investment properties. Once the Auditor approves the application, the exemption renews automatically each year as long as the owner continues to meet the qualifications.
South Carolina law provides additional tax relief for senior, disabled, and legally blind citizens beyond the standard Homestead Exemption. These additional exemptions have their own eligibility rules and application procedures. Florence property owners who believe they may qualify for any supplemental relief should contact the County Auditor's office directly for guidance on the current programs available.
Note: The Homestead Exemption application must be submitted to the Florence County Auditor. The application is not processed through the Assessor or the Treasurer, so contacting the correct office avoids delays.
Appealing Florence County Property Tax Values
Florence property owners who disagree with the County Assessor's valuation have a formal right to appeal. The first step is submitting a written objection to the Florence County Assessor's office within 90 days of receiving the assessment notice. Including a recent independent appraisal or documentation of comparable sales strengthens the objection at this initial stage.
If the Assessor's review does not resolve the disagreement, the matter proceeds to the county Board of Assessment Appeals. A property owner who remains dissatisfied after the board hearing can escalate to the South Carolina Administrative Law Court. S.C. Code Ann. Title 12, Chapter 60 governs the formal appeal pathway to the Administrative Law Court for property tax disputes statewide, including Florence.
Owners appealing after a Florence County reassessment should pay particular attention to properties that sold recently in their neighborhood. Sales data from the year or two before the reassessment cycle is the most relevant evidence the Assessor and the board will consider. Presenting that data in an organized format at the earliest stage of the appeal process tends to produce the fastest resolution.
Florence County Property Tax Records
Florence County maintains all official property tax records for parcels within the city of Florence. The Assessor, Auditor, and Treasurer offices operate at the county level and are the authoritative source for assessment and billing data.