Reassessment notices to start arriving in mailboxes next week

Contact:
Jackie Broach, Public Information Officer
Phone: (843) 545-3164
E-mail: jbroach@gtcounty.org
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Reassessment notices to start arriving in mailboxes next week
 
GEORGETOWN COUNTY – Georgetown County will begin mailing property reassessment notices to all county property owners on Monday, Sept. 15. Most residents should begin receiving their notices in the mail by the middle of the week.
County officials are reminding residents that these reassessment notices are not tax bills. The notices simply reflect the updated assessed value of each property, as required by state law every five years.
“Market values across the county have risen sharply since the last reassessment, but that doesn’t mean residents will see the same type of increase in their tax bills,” said Walt Ackerman, Georgetown County Director of Administrative Services. “South Carolina law places limits on how much taxable value can rise in a reassessment cycle, and it also requires millage rates to be rolled back so counties cannot profit from reassessment.”
By law, taxable value cannot increase more than 15% over a five-year period, unless the property has been sold or significantly improved. If a property is sold, it is reassessed at its full market value during the year of sale. Otherwise, properties are only reassessed countywide every five years.
The goal of reassessment is to ensure property values fairly reflect current market conditions. Because it is a revenue-neutral process, counties are not allowed to collect more in property taxes as a result of reassessment alone.
“People should expect to see very little change to their tax bill as a result of reassessment,” Ackerman said. “If everybody’s property went up 15%, millage would be rolled back 15% and taxes would remain the same. But not everybody’s values are going to go up 15%; some might only go up 10% or 12%, so the tax rate is going to be rolled back to equalize the revenue.”
Residents who believe their reassessed value is incorrect will have 90 days from the date of their notice to file a written appeal. Detailed instructions will be included in each reassessment notice.
Assessor Tim Holt stressed the importance of reviewing the notice carefully, but also reminded residents that any changes they see in their 2025 property tax bill this fall may not be related to reassessment. “Tax bills may also reflect millage adjustments for schools, fire service, and other taxing entities,” Holt said.
To help residents navigate the reassessment process, Georgetown County has launched a new webpage: gtcounty.org/reassessment. The site includes answers to frequently asked questions, details on how values are calculated, information on the appeal process and more.
For additional information, visit the website or contact the Georgetown County Assessor’s Office at (843) 545-3014.