COLUMBIA, S.C. — Property tax bills arriving across South Carolina this fall carry a bigger break for many older homeowners, but only for those who have signed up for it.
For the 2026 tax year the state homestead exemption jumps from $50,000 to $75,000. That is the slice of an eligible owner-occupied home value that is taken off the books before property tax is figured. The boost, a 50 percent increase, comes through the State Legislature Aiding in Saving Homes program, known as SLASH, and it is temporary. Depending on where the house sits, the extra $25,000 off taxable value can mean several hundred dollars in savings.
Who qualifies: owners who had turned 65 by the end of the previous year, along with homeowners who are totally and permanently disabled or legally blind, and surviving spouses of people who already held the exemption. The home must already be approved for the 4 percent legal residence rate, and the owner needs a full calendar year of South Carolina residency before the tax year. A paid-off mortgage is not required.
People who already get the exemption do not need to do anything; the higher amount applies on its own. Those who have never applied should contact the auditor in the county where they live. The application is a single page and only has to be filed once, unless the owner moves to a different home.
Timing matters. Bills go out in the fall but are not due until mid-January, and homeowners can still apply up to the Jan. 15 no-penalty deadline in early 2027. Depending on whether the bill is already paid, they will receive either a revised bill or a partial refund. Owners who would also have qualified last year can get part of their 2025 tax back. Anyone who applies after Jan. 15 gets the discount only for 2026.
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