1. (A) A person making rent or royalty payments to a nonresident of twelve hundred dollars in any calendar year or more annually for the use or privilege of using property in this State shall withhold a percentage equal to the maximum individual tax rate of each payment to a nonresident individual, partnership, trust, or estate and five percent of each payment to a nonresident corporation or any other nonresident entity.

2. (B) This section does not apply:

   1. (1) to a person for the rental of residential housing units, including short-term rentals, when four or fewer units are owned by the nonresident;
   2. (2) to an individual who pays rent directly to a nonresident solely for a residential housing unit which is his legal residence;

   3. (3) to a nonresident which has registered with the Secretary of State or the Department of Revenue and by that registration has agreed to be subject to the jurisdiction of the department and the courts of this State to determine its South Carolina tax liability, including estimated taxes, together with any related interest and penalties, if any. Registering with the Secretary of State or the department is not an admission of tax liability. If the person renting from or having a royalty contract with a nonresident obtains an affidavit from the nonresident stating that the nonresident is registered with the department or with the Secretary of State, the person is not responsible for the withholding.

      The department may revoke the exemption granted by the registration provided in this item if it determines that the nonresident taxpayer is not cooperating with the department in the determination of the nonresident taxpayer's correct South Carolina tax liability. The revocation does not revive the duty of a person renting from or having a royalty contract with a nonresident to withhold until the person receives notice of the revocation.

HISTORY: 1995 Act No. 76, Section 2; 2024 Act No. 215 (S.577), Section 2, eff July 2, 2024.

Effect of Amendment

2024 Act No. 215, Section 2, in (A), substituted "a percentage equal to the maximum individual tax rate" for "seven percent".