Bill 3553

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               3553
Ratification Number:       537
Act Number:                456
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Relating to property tax exemptions

(A456, R537, H3553)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-220, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A SURVIVING SPOUSE OF A PERMANENTLY AND TOTALLY DISABLED VETERAN MAY TRANSFER SUCH EXEMPTION TO A NEWLY ACQUIRED DWELLING PLACE.

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

Exemptions

SECTION 1. Item (1) of subsection B of Section 12-37-220 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 478 of 1980, is further amended to read:

"(1) The dwelling house in which he resides and a lot not to exceed one acre of land owned in fee or for life, or jointly with a spouse, by any veteran who is one hundred percent permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability, if the veteran files a certificate signed by the county service officer of the total and permanent disability with the State Tax Commission. The exemption is allowed the surviving spouse of the veteran so long as the spouse does not remarry, resides in the dwelling, and obtains by devise the fee or a life estate in the dwelling. A surviving spouse who disposes of the exempt dwelling and acquires another residence in this State for use as a dwelling house with a value no greater than one and one-half times the fair market value of the exempt dwelling may apply for and receive the exemption on the newly acquired dwelling, but no subsequent dwelling of a surviving spouse is eligible for exemption under this item. The spouse shall inform the county auditor of the change in address of the dwelling. The dwelling house is defined as a person's legal residence."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.