2009-12-11
TOWN OF BLUFFTON PROPERTY OWNERS TO GET CORRECTED TAX BILLS
Beaufort County Auditor Sharon Burris is sending corrected tax bills to property owners within the municipal boundaries of the Town of Bluffton and refunds to those residents who have already paid.
Burris said an incorrect millage rate was used in calculating the Town of Bluffton’s 2009 property tax bills. The error amounts to an overage of 2 mils. A total of 38 mils should have appeared on the Bluffton tax bills instead of the 40 mils shown. The error did not occur in the property tax bills of residents of the unincorporated parts of greater Bluffton.
Burris said the reduction of 2 mils will reduce tax bills by about $8 for every $100,000 of value on a primary residence or by $12 for every $100,000 of value on all other categories of taxable property.
The deadline for payment without penalty has been extended for those town residents who have not yet paid their property taxes. It will be due 30 days from the postmark of their corrected bill which is being prepared for printing now. However, the online tax payment option will not be in place without penalty after January 15, 2010.
Refunds to those who have already paid will be issued by the treasurer’s office as soon as possible following the processing of payment.
Burris said she regrets the confusion the error has caused. “We are making every effort to rectify the situation as quickly and as smoothly as possible.”
For more information, Bluffton taxpayers may call the auditor’s office for more information at (843) 470-2555 or (843) 757-1500 ext. 230 or 229.