SC DOR Refund Procedures for State Deed Recording Fee

The new deed recording fee requires that each deed have a notation placed upon it by the Clerk of Court or the Register of Deeds (ROD). The notation must include the date the deed was filed, the fee collected, and any other information the county may require. The notation must state “Exempt” if the transaction falls within one of the exemptions provided under Code Section 12-24-40.

lf a taxpayer seeks a refund of any fee paid, the following procedure must be followed:

1. The original deed and the original affidavit (if the requirement for the affidavit has not been waived by the clerk or register) must be presented to the Clerk of Court or ROD.
2. If the original deed indicates that the deed recording fee was incorrectly charged, the deed must be re-recorded to include the notation “Exempt.”
3.  The Clerk or ROD will verify that the notation on the deed is the notation placed on the deed by the Clerk or ROD. The Clerk or ROD will then sign a letter or form verifying that the notation is authentic and present this to the taxpayer.
4. The taxpayer should then forward a certified copy of the deed and affidavit and the notation verification letter or form to the Department of Revenue. The taxpayer should also include a cover letter requesting the refund and containing all the information required by Code Section 12-60-470.
5. All refund requests for deed recording fees should be mailed to:
   SC Department of Revenue
   Miscellaneous Taxes
   P.O. Box 125
   Columbia, South Carolina 29214

All refund requests received without the notation verification letter or form will be sent back to the taxpayer with a letter stating that the notation must first be verified by the Clerk or ROD and that the refund request must contain the verification letter or form. Refunds will also not be issued unless the Department receives the original deed and the original affidavit (unless the requirement for the affidavit has been previously waived by the Clerk for ROD).

If a refund is due, the Department will refund the State portion to the taxpayer and issue an order to the Clerk or ROD to refund the taxpayer the county portion of the fee. The Clerk or ROD should not issue a refund for the county portion of the fee unless they have received a refund order from the Department of Revenue. The Department, prior to returning the original deed and other documentation to the taxpayer, will note on the deed the date of the refund and the amount of the refund issued/ordered.  If the Department determines a refund is not due, the Department will advise the taxpayer. The taxpayer may appeal this denial of the refund under the provisions of Code Sections 12-60-470 and 12-24-150.