Beaufort County prepares for delinquent tax sale

The annual Beaufort County Delinquent Tax Sale is scheduled for Monday, October 6, 2025, at the Buckwalter Recreation Center in Bluffton. The auction, conducted by the County Treasurer’s Office, will offer properties with unpaid taxes to registered bidders, in compliance with South Carolina Code §12-51-50

All delinquent properties must be advertised prior to the sale in accordance with statute; publication is expected to begin in early September. A full listing of properties will appear in the September 16th edition of the Bluffton Sun which will be available online at blufftonsun.com.

Bidders must register in advance—either online or in person—beginning on the first Tuesday in September. The process closes at noon on Friday, October 3, 2025, and carries a nonrefundable registration fee of $50.

The sale operates as a tax deed auction. While ownership may ultimately transfer to the bidder if the delinquent taxpayer fails to redeem, most participants seek the guaranteed interest return, rather than the property itself. Current official resources specify that annual interest for the 2025 tax sale will be set at 12%, charged quarterly. That equates to 3% for each quarter the property remains redemption eligible: October–December, January–March, April–June, and July–September.

Redemption allows the original owner to reclaim the property by paying the delinquent taxes, interest, and applicable fees within 12 months and one day after the sale. If redemption does not occur, the Treasurer’s Office records a tax sale deed with the Register of Deeds, typically within 90 days of the redemption deadline.

What homeowners should know
Owners facing potential sale have received notifications via certified mail, newspaper notices and signs posted on the property. To avoid auction, delinquent taxes must be paid by the statutory deadline, usually late September. Specifics for 2025 are expected to mirror prior years’ schedules.

If the property is redeemed, the winning bidder is refunded the purchase price plus interest, though a delay may occur if required documentation is missing. If the property is not redeemed, the successful bidder becomes the owner—subject to title issues—after recording.

Why buyers participate
Buyers often target these auctions not to own property, but to collect the guaranteed annual interest. Many properties are redeemed before ownership transfers. Outside analyses of tax lien investments note that while high returns can be attractive, they may carry risks such as title issues, other liens, or neighborhood decline.

For details on registration, property listings, and auction rules, contact Jeff DeLoach, deputy tax collector, at jdeloach@bcgov.net. Additional resources, including deadlines and payment options, are available at the Beaufort County Treasurer’s Office website: www.beaufortcountytreasurer.com.