Updated October 2026. Assessment rules checked against the South Carolina Code this month.
As of October 2026, a TMS number in South Carolina is the parcel ID your county assessor uses on its tax map. You’ll find it on your property tax bill, your deed and the county’s free online search. Some counties now call it a PIN or parcel ID. It matters because it carries your 4% legal residence rate, which can cut your tax by a third compared with 6%.
Jump to: 🏠 What a TMS is · 🪜 Find it · 💲 Tax math · 🤝 4% rate · 📍 County links · ❓ FAQ
Key takeaways
- TMS, PIN, parcel ID and tax map number all name the same thing: your parcel’s spot on the county tax map.
- Your legal residence is assessed at 4% of fair market value. Most other real property, including rentals, is assessed at 6%.
- On a $350,000 home at 300 mills, that’s $4,200 a year at 4%, and $6,300 at 6%.
- Counties reassess once every fifth year, and the reassessment increase is capped at 15% over five years.
What is a TMS number in South Carolina?
TMS is the label many South Carolina counties use for a parcel’s tax map number. It tells the assessor which map sheet, block and parcel your land sits on. Every tax bill, deed and assessment notice for that land uses it.
You’ll see other names for the same number:
- TMS or TMS number.
- PIN, or parcel identification number.
- Parcel ID, PID or map number.
- Tax map number.
Charleston County, for example, now prints a “PIN, formerly called Parcel ID/PID” on the left side of the bill, a few lines down. Same idea, newer name.
Unlike a street address, the number stays with the land. It changes only if the county splits, joins or redraws the parcel. That makes it the cleanest way to track one lot across owners and years.
How do you read a TMS number?
Most TMS numbers move from big to small: the map sheet, then a block, then the parcel, sometimes with a unit or split code on the end. A number might look like 249-00-01-012. Dashes, dots and lengths vary by county. Always copy the exact format your county shows.
How do I find my TMS number?
Four free ways, quickest first.
- Your tax bill. Look near the top or the left side for TMS#, PIN or map number.
- Your county’s online search. Enter your address or the owner’s name. The record shows the TMS, the value and the tax history.
- Your deed or closing papers. The recorded deed and the settlement statement both list it.
- The county GIS map. Click your lot to see the parcel number and its lines.
Many counties run their search on the Schneidercorp qPublic platform. Others, like Charleston and Horry, have their own. The full list of links is further down.
How are South Carolina property taxes calculated?
South Carolina taxes a share of your home’s fair market value. Here are the four steps.
- Fair market value. The county assessor sets it.
- Assessment ratio. State law sets it. A legal residence is 4%. All other real property not otherwise listed is 6%.
- Assessed value. Market value times the ratio.
- Millage. Assessed value times the total mills, divided by 1,000.
Example: a $350,000 home that’s your legal residence. 4% of $350,000 is $14,000. At 300 mills, the tax is $14,000 times 300, divided by 1,000. That’s $4,200 a year. The same home as a rental, at 6%, is assessed at $21,000 and taxed $6,300.
| Market value | Assessed at 4% | Tax at 4%, 300 mills | Assessed at 6% | Tax at 6%, 300 mills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $10,000 | $3,000 | $15,000 | $4,500 |
| $350,000 | $14,000 | $4,200 | $21,000 | $6,300 |
| $500,000 | $20,000 | $6,000 | $30,000 | $9,000 |
The 300 mills is an example. Your bill adds county, school, city and special district mills. Check your own bill for the total.
How often does South Carolina reassess?
State law says each county must appraise and equalize property once every fifth year. When it does, the increase from that reassessment is limited to 15% within a five-year period. The cap doesn’t cover new additions, and a sale can reset the value. So a buyer may see a bigger jump than the seller did.
How do I get the 4% legal residence rate?
It isn’t automatic. You apply with your county assessor once you own and live in the home. Charleston, for one, takes the 4% legal residence application online. The county will ask for proof that you live there.
Apply right after you close, and ask the assessor for its deadline. The difference is real money. On a $350,000 home at 300 mills, it’s $2,100 a year.
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Buy a home →The 4% rate can also cover up to five acres next to your home. But it doesn’t apply to any part you rent out or use for a business.
Selling a South Carolina home? Have your TMS ready
Buyers, lenders and the closing attorney will ask for it. They’ll match your TMS to the deed and tax records. Pull your county record and last paid bill before you list.
Beycome lists South Carolina homes on the MLS for a flat fee. Basic is $99 with $0 due to Beycome at closing, and you decide on price, showings and offers. Read our guide to selling a South Carolina home without a realtor, or compare flat fee MLS services in South Carolina. When you’re ready, list your home for a $99 flat fee.
The tax proration shows up on your closing statement. Here’s who pays which closing costs when you sell.
South Carolina county assessor links
- Charleston County: charlestoncounty.org/assessor.
- Greenville County: Greenville County real property search.
- Horry County (Myrtle Beach): horrycounty.org/assessor.
- Richland County (Columbia): qPublic Richland.
- Lexington County: qPublic Lexington.
- Spartanburg County: spartanburgcounty.org/assessor.
- York County (Rock Hill): yorkcountygov.com/assessor.
- Anderson County: Anderson County assessor.
- Beaufort County (Hilton Head): Beaufort County assessor.
- Berkeley County: berkeleycountysc.gov/assessor.
Looking next door? See our guides to the North Carolina parcel number and the Georgia property tax ID.
South Carolina TMS FAQ
What does TMS mean on a South Carolina tax bill?
It’s your parcel’s tax map number. The county uses it to tie the bill, the deed and the assessment to one piece of land.
Is a TMS number the same as a parcel ID or PIN?
Yes. Counties use different names, but they all point to the same parcel on the tax map.
How do I look up a TMS number by address?
Use your county’s online property search. Type the street number and name, open the record, and the TMS or PIN is at the top.
Does the TMS number change when I buy a house?
No. It stays with the land. It only changes if the county splits, combines or remaps the parcel.
Do I need to apply for the 4% rate every year?
Usually not. You apply once after you buy. Tell the assessor if you move out or start renting the home.
Where is the tax map number on a deed?
Most deeds print it near the top or in the property description. Look for “TMS,” “PIN” or “Tax Map.”
Reviewed by Beycome Brokerage Realty LLC, a licensed real estate brokerage. Licenses are listed at beycome.com/faq/how-to/are-you-a-licensed-broker/.
Assessment ratios and reassessment rules come from S.C. Code §§ 12-43-220, 12-43-217 and 12-37-3140, read on October 21, 2026. The 300 mills figure is an example, not your county’s rate.
Beycome prices are as of October 2026 and can change. “$0 at closing” means no Beycome fee at closing. Other closing costs, taxes, attorney and title fees, and any buyer’s agent pay you agree to still apply.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and deadlines vary by county.
Sources
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