The South Carolina Department of Revenue reported that taxpayers named on its Top Delinquent Taxpayers lists have paid more than $54 million in past-due taxes since the lists launched in 2020.
Based on a release from S.C. Dept. of Revenue.
Collections from taxpayers included on the South Carolina Department of Revenue’s Top Delinquent Taxpayers lists crossed the $50 million mark in 2025, according to the SCDOR.
As of Dec. 31, 2025, the state’s top tax debtors had paid $54,484,057 in past-due taxes after being included on the lists, the agency said. The SCDOR launched the lists in 2020.
“When we launched Top Delinquent Taxpayers in 2020, our aim was to hold noncompliant taxpayers accountable,” said SCDOR Director Hartley Powell. “Collecting more than $54 million from these taxpayers is an important milestone in holding delinquent taxpayers responsible for their tax debts to the state of South Carolina.”
In 2025 alone, those on the lists paid approximately $5.8 million to the state, including $5.3 million in lien payments and $555,000 in payment plan payments, according to the SCDOR. Businesses paid $4.7 million and individuals paid $1.1 million.
The lists include the state’s top individual and business tax debtors, all in tax lien status, which makes the debts public, the SCDOR said. Taxpayers are excluded if they have filed for bankruptcy protection, have a payment plan agreement with the SCDOR, or are in the GEAR or Setoff Debt programs.
The lists were last updated April 15, 2026, with debt amounts accurate as of March 10, 2026, according to the SCDOR. Total debt stood at $76.3 million on the individuals list and $64.2 million on the businesses list. The largest individual debt was $3.2 million, and the largest business debt was $16.1 million. Fourteen individuals and seven businesses owed more than $1 million each.
Charleston County had the most individual tax debt at $10.7 million, followed by Horry County at $8.5 million, Greenville County at $5.9 million, Berkeley County at $4.9 million and Lexington County at $4.1 million, the SCDOR said. By region, the Lowcountry had $19.86 million in individual tax debt, the Midlands had $12.65 million, the Pee Dee had $12.63 million and the Upstate had $11.79 million.
The SCDOR said the lists are updated quarterly, so current amounts may differ from listed figures because of partial payments or additional penalty and interest. The agency said it takes significant steps to collect debts and help taxpayers comply before names are published.
