SC
The investor buys a deed to the property, but the former owner keeps a window to redeem and reclaim title.
Sale type
Redeemable deed
Redemption
12 mo
Interest / penalty
Penalty
Sale timing
Varies
Rules in plain English
Sale type
Redeemable deed
The investor buys a deed to the property, but the former owner keeps a window to redeem and reclaim title.
S.C. Code § 12-51-130; § 12-51-90
“shall make a tax title to the purchaser or the purchaser's assignee”official source ↗
Redemption period
12 mo
12 months (1 year) from the sale date
S.C. Code § 12-51-90(A)
“may within twelve months from the date of the delinquent tax sale redeem each item of real estate”official source ↗
Interest / penalty
Penalty
A penalty applies per period, amount not documented.
S.C. Code § 12-51-90(B)
“First three months three percent of the bid amount Months four, five, and six six percent of the bid amount Months seven, eight, and nine nine percent of the bid amount Last three months twelve percent of the bid amount”official source ↗
Bid method
Highest bid
The parcel or lien goes to the highest bidder at auction.
S.C. Code § 12-51-50; § 12-51-55
“shall submit a bid on behalf of the forfeited land commission equal to the amount of all unpaid property taxes, penalties, assessments”official source ↗
Sale schedule
Varies
Sale timing varies by county.
S.C. Code § 12-51-50
“at public auction at the courthouse or other convenient place within the county, if designated and advertised, on the advertised date”official source ↗
Redemption detail
- Base period
- 12 months (1 year)
- Starts from
- the sale date
- Notice days
- Not documented
- Exceptions
- Not documented
Interest schedule
| From month | To month | Rate | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3 | 3% | months 1-3 |
| 3 | 6 | 6% | months 4-6 |
| 6 | 9 | 9% | months 7-9 |
| 9 | 12 | 12% | months 10-12 |
Bidder process
- 01The officer charged with collecting delinquent taxes advertises the property and the sale is held at public auction at the courthouse or another convenient place within the county on the advertised date (12-51-50)
- 02The officer submits an opening bid on behalf of the forfeited land commission equal to all unpaid property taxes, penalties, assessments, and costs (12-51-55)
- 03Bid at the public auction; the property is sold to the highest bidder
- 04The successful bidder pays the full amount of the bid on the day of the sale in cash, cashier's check, certified check, or money order (12-51-50, 12-51-60)
- 05The officer furnishes the purchaser a receipt and the treasurer marks the public tax records as paid by the tax sale (12-51-60)
- 06If the successful bidder fails to remit in legal tender within the time specified, the officer cancels the bid and readvertises the property (12-51-70)
- Registration
- Not documented
- Registration mode
- Not documented
- Registration deadline
- Not documented
- Registration fee
- Not documented
- Deposit required
- Not documented
- Deposit amount
- Not documented
- Deposit percent
- Not documented
- Deposit refundable
- Not documented
- Sale format
- in_person
- Payment deadline
- payable in full on the date of the sale
- Payment methods
- cash, certified_funds
- Residency required
- Not documented
S.C. Code 12-51-50
“The property duly advertised must be sold, by the person officially charged with the collection of delinquent taxes, at public auction at the courthouse or other convenient place within the county, if designated and advertised, on the advertised date for legal tender payable in full by cash, cashier's check, certified check, or money order on the date of the sale.”official source ↗
S.C. Code 12-51-55
“The officer charged with the duty to sell real property and mobile or manufactured housing for nonpayment of ad valorem property taxes shall submit a bid on behalf of the forfeited land commission equal to the amount of all unpaid property taxes, penalties, assessments including, but not limited to, assessments owed to a special taxing district established pursuant to Section 4-9-30, Chapter 19, Title 4, or an assessment district established pursuant to Chapter 15, Title 6, and costs including taxes levied for the year in which the redemption period begins.”official source ↗
S.C. Code 12-51-60
“The successful bidder at the delinquent tax sale shall pay legal tender as provided in Section 12-51-50 to the person officially charged with the collection of delinquent taxes in the full amount of the bid on the day of the sale.”official source ↗
S.C. Code 12-51-70
“If the successful bidder fails to remit in legal tender within the time specified, the person officially charged with the collection of delinquent taxes shall cancel that bid and duly readvertise the same property for sale, in the same manner, on a subsequent delinquent tax sale date.”official source ↗
Notes
S.C. Code Title 12 Ch. 51 12-51-50, -55, -90. | Prose: redeemable deed | 3% of bid (months 1-3), 6% (4-6), 9% (7-9), 12% (10-12) | 12 months | public auction; Forfeited Land Commission bids the full delinquent amount | varies by county (advertised date)