South Carolina has publicly announced its official delinquent taxpayers list, and individuals and businesses in Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton counties are included among the top tardy taxpayers.
On Jan. 15, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) updated the state’s Top Delinquent Taxpayers lists.
The SCDOR stated in a Jan. 22 news release that it publicly lists the names on its website, and shares with the media, to provide transparency, fairness, and accountability.
The SCDOR launched the Top Delinquent Taxpayers lists, which include the state’s top individual and business delinquent taxpayers, in 2020 as a revision of the agency’s former Debtor’s Corner.
“We are committed to the fair administration of tax laws,” stated the SCDOR release. “When everyone pays their fair share, South Carolina wins. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. When individuals and businesses knowingly avoid paying their fair share by refusing to comply with tax laws, the tax burden increases for everyone else… We are dedicated to holding these delinquent taxpayers accountable when they knowingly do the wrong thing and have not taken the corrective steps we’ve asked them to make.”
The lists are updated quarterly and can be found at dor.sc.gov/delinquent-taxpayers. Debts with multiple responsible parties may be listed more than once on the Individuals list.Â
Lowcountry residents among top individual tax debtors
While the Top Delinquent Individuals List contains people from almost every county or region in the state, and a few out-of-state people, there are several debtors from our three-county area of the Lowcountry.
A Hampton man is among the highest individual debtors with $1.3 million in unpaid taxes, while a Colleton County man owes $440K and a Jasper County man owes $197K.
There are several tardy taxpayers with Beaufort County addresses, including:
- Five Hilton Head Island men who owe amounts ranging from $135K to $283K.
- A Beaufort man who owes $175,995.
- Two Bluffton men who owe amounts ranging from $118K to $143K.
- A St. Helena woman who owes $107K.
Placement on these lists does not mean these people have been charged with criminal violations.
To view the full SCDOR Top Delinquent Individuals List, which includes names, addresses, and amounts owed, go to https://mydorway.dor.sc.gov/_/#4
Top Delinquent Businesses
The Top Delinquent Businesses includes businesses owned by both in-state and out-of-state owners, with several in this area of the Lowcountry.
Topping out the locals on the list is Ruby Lee’s South of Hilton Head Island, which owes $418K. The list also includes lesser debtors such as:
- Hilton Head Bluffton Partners of Bluffton
- Rose Hill Golf Club of Bluffton
- Battery Creek Collection LLC of St. Helena Island
- May River Granite LLP of Bluffton
- Daniels Expresso Inc. of Hilton Head Island
- Labbe Glass Inc. of Hilton Head Island
- Passio Reiger LLC of Ridgeland, Jasper County
- Gist Gaque Family Trust of Hilton Head Island
- Tison Motor Company of Estill, Hampton County
- Benjamin and Bent Enterprises LLC of Hilton Head Island
- Property Preservation Inc. of Bluffton
- First Choice LLC of Bluffton
To view the full list of top tardy businesses, go to https://mydorway.dor.sc.gov/_/
Frequently asked questions about the SCDOR Delinquent Tax Lists
Information below courtesy of the SCDOR delinquent tax webpage
How does someone end up on this list?
Long before their name is published, the SCDOR reaches out to these individuals and businesses to try to resolve these debts, states the department’s release, adding that it has sent letters, made calls, or attempted personal contact multiple times with no resolution. At this point, a tax lien has been filed against everyone on this list, making these debts public information.
How often is the list updated?
An updated list is published quarterly. The current amount of tax, penalty, and interest due may differ from the amount listed if partial payments have been made or additional penalty and interest have accrued. Since the last update, some of these delinquent taxpayers may have resolved their debts. Those taxpayers will be removed from the list at the next update.Â
Who’s excluded from this list?
Individuals and businesses who have filed for bankruptcy or who have made payment agreements with SCDOR are not included on this list. Any debt in the SCDOR GEAR or Setoff Debt programs is also excluded.
If you’re on the Top Delinquent Taxpayers list and want to make a payment or discuss payment plan options:
Pay online at dor.sc.gov/pay, or mail your payment with the voucher that was provided on the letter the SCDOR mailed to you.If you have information about someone on the Top Delinquent Taxpayer List that may help the SCDOR enforce compliance:​Complete the CID-27 Tax Violation Complaint Form. Learn more about reporting tax fraud here.