Miss This One Thing And You May Be Penalized
With the January 15 property tax due date approaching, Beaufort County Treasurer Maria Walls is encouraging residents to use myBeaufortCounty.com, the Treasurer’s Office’s secure and convenient tax bill management tool, to ensure timely payment and avoid potential mail-related delays.
Recently, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) changed its processing rules, resulting in most postmarks now reflecting the date mail is processed, not necessarily the date it is placed in a mailbox. Because South Carolina law requires property tax payments to be considered timely based on the USPS postmark date, payments mailed close to the deadline may receive a postmark dated after January 15 - even if they were dropped in the mail on or before the due date.
“To help residents avoid unnecessary penalties, we strongly encourage using myBeaufortCounty.com,” said Maria Walls, CPA, SHRM-SCP, Beaufort County Treasurer. “It’s the most convenient and reliable way to view property tax bills, make payments, and receive immediate confirmation - without concerns about mail processing delays and unnecessary penalties.”
Under state law, payments that are postmarked after January 15 are subject to statutory penalties and fees. While penalties may be waived in limited circumstances, such as documented proof of timely USPS acceptance or a verified County error, the Treasurer’s Office has limited authority to waive penalties resulting from postal delays outside the County’s control.
Residents who choose to mail payments are encouraged to mail them several days early or visit a USPS retail counter and request a manual postmark. However, online payments through myBeaufortCounty.com eliminate postmark concerns entirely.
“I don’t want our customers paying more than they have to and encourage everyone to plan ahead so unnecessary penalties can be avoided.”
Paying online allows customers to:
View all property tax bills in one place
Make payments 24/7
Receive immediate confirmation
Avoid mail delays and postmark
Wondering if myBeaufortCounty is for you? Check out what other customers think in the video below.
“Our intent is to give residents the information they need to select the best choice for their situation,” Treasurer Walls added. “Whether paying online, in person, or by mail, we encourage everyone to plan ahead so their payment is credited on time and unnecessary penalties can be avoided.”
To find your balance due, pay and sign up for e-billing, visit myBeaufortCounty.com or contact the Treasurer’s Office at BeaufortCountyTreasurer.com or 843-341-8404.
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