Do you qualify for property tax relief? | News | Berkeley Independent

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Do you qualify for property tax relief?

Published Tuesday, July 20, 2010 10:07 AM

Berkeley Independent

Berkeley County Auditor Janet Brown Jurosko wants to be sure that county property owners are receiving all the property tax exemptions that may be available.

Brown released the following information to help determine if you qualify for an exemption.

The Homestead Exemption Act applies to the primary residence of homeowners who are 65 years of age or over, or are totally and permanently disabled, or are legally blind. This act exempts the first $50,000 of the value of the qualified applicant’s home.

The Homestead Exemption Act requires application through the County Auditor’s office and, once qualified, continues in effect unless there is a change in the title of the residence, change in disability or marital status, change of primary residence, the property is disposed of, or the dwelling is rented. This act may apply to living trusts and other trusts if the trustee holds legal title to the home and the beneficiary of the trust is qualified by age or disability.

A taxpayer may be eligible for exemption of taxes on the qualified residence by the South Carolina Department of Revenue if a homeowner has a 100 percent total and permanent service-connected disability through the Veterans Administration, or is a paraplegic or hemiplegic.

For the purposes of this exemption, “paraplegic” or “hemiplegic” includes a person with Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, which has caused the same ambulatory difficulties as a person with paraparesis or hemiparesis.

The Auditor’s office can assist in the completion of this application form, also.

Homeowner who may qualify for these programs are encouraged to contact the Berkeley County Auditor’s Office for assistance. Come by 1003 Highway 52 in Moncks Corner, or call 723-3800 (Charleston), 567-3136 (Saint Stephen), and 719-4727 or 719-4735 (Moncks Corner).

If you are already receiving one of these exemptions, you do not have to reapply unless your circumstances change as noted above. You will see the breakdown on your yearly tax bill.

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