A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 12-51-50, RELATING TO SALES OF PROPERTY BY A COUNTY RESULTING FROM DELINQUENT TAXES, SO AS TO ALLOW AN ELECTRONIC SALE AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROCEDURES OF AN ELECTRONIC SALE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 12-51-60, RELATING TO PAYMENT BY the SUCCESSFUL BIDDER IN A TAX SALE, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF PROCEEDS DERIVED FROM AN ELECTRONIC TAX SALE.

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

 

SECTION 1.  Section 12-51-50 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    Section 12-51-50.  (A) The property duly advertised must be sold, by the person officially charged with the collection of delinquent taxes, at public auction at the courthouse or other convenient place within the county, electronically, or a combination of both, if designated and advertised, on the advertised date for legal tender payable in full by cash, cashier's check, certified check, or money order on the date of the sale. If the defaulting taxpayer or the grantee of record of the property has more than one item advertised to be sold, as soon as sufficient funds have been accrued to cover all of the delinquent taxes, assessments, penalties, and costs, further items must not be sold.

    (B) If the person officially charged with the collection of delinquent taxes chooses to conduct the sale of real or personal property pursuant to this section electronically, then the sale must:

       (1) allow for electronic proxy bidding. Bidders may be required to advance sufficient funds as a deposit. The deposit method and amount must be determined by the person officially charged with the collection of delinquent taxes;

       (2) allow for the levy of additional charges for services related to conducting or contracting for the electronic sale; and

       (3) provide notice of the electronic sale in the same manner required by Section 12-51-40(d) and post a link of the sale on the county's website.

 

SECTION 2.  Section 12-51-60 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    Section 12-51-60.  The successful bidder at the delinquent tax sale shall pay legal tender as provided in Section 12-51-50 to the person officially charged with the collection of delinquent taxes in the full amount of the bid on the day of the sale. Upon payment, the person officially charged with the collection of delinquent taxes shall furnish the purchaser a receipt for the purchase money. He must attach a copy of the receipt to the execution with the endorsement of his actions, which must be retained by him. Expenses of the sale must be paid first, and the balance of all delinquent tax sale monies collected must be turned over to the treasurer. Proceeds from an electronic sale must be deposited into an auction vendor's account on behalf of the county within in three business days of the electronic sale and must be deposited with the county treasurer within five business days of the electronic sale. Upon receipt of the funds, the treasurer shall mark immediately the public tax records regarding the property sold as follows:  Paid by tax sale held on (insert date). All other monies received, including any excess after payment of delinquent taxes, assessments, penalties, and costs, must be retained, paid out, and accounted for by the delinquent tax collector. Once a tax deed has been issued, the defaulting taxpayer and the owner of record immediately before the end of the redemption period must be notified in writing by the delinquent tax collector of any excess due. The notice must be addressed and mailed in the manner provided in Section 12-51-40(b) for taking exclusive possession of real property. Expenses of providing this notice are considered costs of the sale for purposes of determining the amount, if any, of the excess.

 

SECTION 3.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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