Online Tax Payment Instruction Guide Step 1: Before starting, it is recommended that you have your credit card available. If you want to avoid searching the Tax database for your account, have the tax bill(s) available that you received in the mail for any county taxes you wish to pay. Warning: If you are paying a Motor Vehicle tax bill, please verify the mailing and taxing addresses on your bill. If they are incorrect you must go to a County service center and have them corrected before you pay online. Otherwise, DMV correspondence may be sent to the wrong location. At this time, any applications for a Motor Vehicle High Mileage Discount must be made at a County service center before paying your Motor Vehicle tax bill online. Tip: You may also want to print these instructions or keep this help window open for reference during the process. Step 2: To locate the property tax bill, select the type of property under the Functions column on the far left of the Online Tax System Homepage. Selecting the Start Your Search button in the middle of the Homepage will bring up the search for Real Property.

For Real Property

Selecting the type of property will bring up the Search by Owner Name screen (or Search by Owner Name and Situs Address for Motor Vehicles). You can change what information is used to locate the tax bill by selecting one of the options from the far left column under Search By. Searching by Owner’s Name or Address may bring up multiple accounts. Select the Property ID/PIN of the account you wish to pay to bring up the account in detail. Tip: Names should be entered with the last name first (example Smith John), and addresses can be entered as just the first 4 characters of the address (“10 Ma” for 10 Maple St). (PIN) = Property Identification Number, Primary Identification Number Also: Parcel ID for real property

For Motor Vehicles and Personal Property: Once you have selected the PIN of the account you wish to pay, click the Pay Now button at the bottom of the screen. For Motor Vehicle bills, you may be asked to enter the name of your insurance company before proceeding to the shopping cart. Tip: The Treasurer’s Office does not charge late fees on Motor Vehicles. The Penalty/Fee being charged is the DMV Renewal Fee.

For Real Property: Searching for an account will bring up the Overview page. Select Pay Taxes Online on the far left under Records, then click the Pay Now button at the bottom of the screen.

Once the Pay Now button has been selected, you will be asked to specify the credit card type. Select the card type, then select Continue to go to the Shopping Cart.

Multiple bills can be paid in each transaction. Once you have added a bill to the shopping cart you have the option to Continue Shopping or Go to Checkout. Selecting the Continue Shopping button will return you to the Online Tax System Homepage where you can search for and add further bills to the shopping cart. Once all the bills have been added to the cart, click Go to Checkout on the Shopping Cart page to complete the transaction.

Step 3: When you are ready to pay, click the Go to Checkout button on the Shopping Cart page (if you are not already at this page, you can get to it by clicking the Shopping Cart option on the far left of the Online Tax System’s Homepage). You are now presented with the Secure Online Payment Form.

All the payment information entered on this page is protected by privacy encryption (note the VeriSign secure icon). You must enter your name, e-mail address, and all the payment information requested. Tip: All numbers should be entered as a string of numbers, with no dashes, spaces, or parentheses. After completing all the information requested, click the Submit button ONCE. Warning: Clicking the Submit button multiple times may result in multiple charges to your credit card and/or errors in your tax payment. If your card is declined, or an error occurs, you will be given the opportunity to either try again or to cancel the entire transaction. Warning: If the CVV2 code (the 3 or 4 digit verification ID on the back of the card) is incorrect, the funds may be held as a pending transaction by the bank or credit card company. If you have not received a confirmation page stating the payment has been successfully processed those funds will automatically be returned to your card (the time frame depending on the company). Step 4: Once the transaction is authorized, the payment process will update your selected accounts and you will receive a Payment Confirmation page. Warning: To avoid problems with your payment do not press your browser's BACK, STOP, REFRESH or EXIT buttons. Print and/or Save the Payment Confirmation and keep it for your records. A confirmation will also be sent to the e-mail address you provided. Your official Charleston County Tax Receipt will be mailed to you within three business days. If you paid a Motor Vehicle bill, your decal will be mailed to you within 10 business days.