Behind on Property Taxes? Sell Before the Charleston County Tax Sale
The Charleston County tax sale begins November 9, 2026. If you're behind on property taxes and selling makes sense, a cash sale can pay the delinquent taxes from your proceeds, sometimes before the sale date.
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The 2026 Charleston County tax sale
Charleston County's delinquent tax sale begins Monday, November 9, 2026, at 9 AM. The county's tax sale page lists the venue in two places, the Montague Room at the North Charleston Coliseum and the Charleston Area Convention Center, and has other inconsistencies, so confirm the venue and your property's status with the Charleston County Delinquent Tax Office at (843) 202-6570 (4045 Bridge View Dr., North Charleston).
Berkeley and Dorchester counties run their own annual tax sales through their own delinquent tax offices. If your house is in Goose Creek, Hanahan, Daniel Island or Summerville, check with that county.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Ask the county for your exact payoff, and an attorney or CPA about your options.
How South Carolina gets to a tax sale
Unpaid property taxes build up penalties on a set schedule under SC Code §12-45-180 and §12-51-40:
January 15
A 3% penalty if taxes are unpaid (or 30 days after notices are mailed).
February 1
Another 7% penalty.
March 16
Another 5% penalty, then the treasurer issues a tax execution.
Notices and the sale
A notice goes out around April 1, then a certified-mail notice or posting on the property, and the property is advertised for the delinquent tax sale.
By the time a house is advertised, the bill has grown well past the original tax. Charleston County treats taxes as delinquent if they are still unpaid by mid-March of the following year.
The 12-month redemption period
Even after a Charleston County tax sale, owners generally have 12 months to redeem (§12-51-90). The owner, a grantee or a lienholder can redeem by paying the taxes, penalties and costs plus interest on the winning bid:
| Months after the sale | Interest on the bid |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | 3% |
| 4–6 | 6% |
| 7–9 | 9% |
| 10–12 | 12% |
The interest is capped at the Forfeited Land Commission bid, and Charleston County also requires the current year's taxes to redeem. If the property isn't redeemed, a tax deed can be issued, and after another 12 months it generally becomes incontestable. The cost of waiting rises every quarter, which is why many owners act before or soon after the sale.
Our longer guide to the Charleston County tax sale covers the calendar, the list and redemption in more detail.
Paying the back taxes from your sale proceeds
A sale of your house can pay the delinquent taxes from your proceeds at closing. In South Carolina a licensed attorney handles or supervises the title search and closing, and the title search turns up the tax execution. The closing attorney gets the exact payoff from the county and pays it, along with any mortgage and other liens, before you receive the rest. Current-year taxes are prorated at closing.
Our part:
- A written cash offer within 24–48 hours of seeing the house or getting the details we need.
- Close in as little as 7–14 days when the title is clear. You pick the closing date, and later is fine too.
- No fees or commissions, and we pay the closing costs. You still pay off your own mortgage, liens, past-due taxes and HOA balances from the sale proceeds, and property taxes are prorated at closing.
- We buy as-is: no repairs, no cleaning, and you leave what you don't want.
"No fees" means no commission and no closing costs for you. It doesn't erase the taxes, which come out of your proceeds. You'll see every number on the closing statement before you sign, and you're welcome to have your own attorney look it over.
One more tax note for long-time owners: South Carolina assesses an owner-occupied legal residence at 4% and other property, such as rentals and second homes, at 6%, and reassessment increases are capped at 15% over five years. A sale resets the value to market for the next owner, so a buyer's bill can be much higher than yours. If the house is a rental, see selling a rental with tenants.
Is selling the right move?
Not always. If you can pay the taxes or set up a payment with the county, you may want to keep the house. If the taxes are part of a bigger picture, such as an inherited house nobody can afford to carry or mortgage payments that have also fallen behind, a sale may make sense. Read about selling an inherited house or facing foreclosure.
We price from the as-is condition, our repair estimate, comparable sales and what we need to resell. Our cash offer will usually be less than what you might get listing with an agent after repairs. That's the trade for speed, certainty, no repairs and no fees. Use our cash offer vs. listing calculator to compare, and feel free to get an agent's opinion too.
Curious how we get to a number? Read how cash offers are calculated, or see the steps on how it works. We buy houses with tax problems across the Charleston area:
Property tax questions
When is the 2026 Charleston County tax sale?
Charleston County's delinquent tax sale begins Monday, November 9, 2026, at 9 AM. The county's own page lists the venue two different ways, the North Charleston Coliseum and the Charleston Area Convention Center, so confirm the location and whether your property is on the list with the Delinquent Tax Office at (843) 202-6570.
Can I sell my house if I owe back property taxes?
Yes. Past-due property taxes are paid from the sale proceeds at closing, the same way a mortgage payoff is. The closing attorney gets the exact payoff from the county and pays it before you receive your share. Once the taxes are paid before the sale date, the property should come off the sale list; confirm with the county.
How long do I have to redeem after a tax sale in South Carolina?
Generally 12 months from the sale. To redeem, you repay the taxes, penalties and costs plus interest on the bid that rises each quarter, from 3% up to 12%, and Charleston County also requires the current year's taxes. If the property isn't redeemed, a tax deed can be issued. Confirm the exact figures with the Delinquent Tax Office.
Do I still pay the back taxes if I sell to you?
Yes. Our promise of no fees and paid closing costs covers the closing, not your existing debts. Past-due taxes, penalties, your mortgage and other liens are paid from your sale proceeds, and current-year taxes are prorated at closing. You'll see every figure on the closing statement before you sign.
Ready for a no-obligation cash offer?
Tell us about the house. We usually reply the same day, and you choose the closing date.