Pickens County tax commissioner outlines payment options, warns homestead relief grant not available this year

Graham Parker, host of the Around Pickens podcast, interviewed Daniel Reeves, Pickens County Tax Commissioner, about how the tax commissioner's office collects property and motor‑vehicle taxes and what residents should expect when bills arrive.

Reeves said the tax commissioner is an elected constitutional officer responsible for billing, collecting and disbursing property and motor‑vehicle taxes to schools and local governing authorities; assessors set property values and handle exemptions. "The tax commissioner's job is to bill and collect and to disperse," Reeves said.

The office offers multiple payment options intended to ease taxpayer burden. Reeves said residents can enter a prepayment contract that allows the office to collect up to 75 percent of a property tax bill in advance, which he likened to an escrow for those without escrow accounts. "We generally don't do above 75% because you never know what's gonna happen with exemptions or maybe some kind of grant," he said. Reeves also described 12‑month payment plans, online payments by card or e‑check, a drop box at the office and the option to pay in person or by phone.

Reeves advised taxpayers to review last year's bill before assuming their taxes rose. He said the governor provided a Homestead Relief Grant (HTRG) last year that reduced some homestead bills by as much as about $500 for eligible properties; that grant was not provided this year. "You may think that your taxes have increased substantially, but it's actually this year the governor did not give that grant," Reeves said. "So look at last year's bill before you hit the roof." He added that, under applicable law, if the office collects more than the billed amount it cannot issue a refund and instead must apply the excess to next year's bill.

Reeves described recent modernization at the office—a website, online payments, and greater use of technology—saying changes were adopted to make it easier for residents to transact without standing in long lines. He also described staff incentives—employee‑of‑the‑quarter awards tied to service metrics—and said short‑term construction in the office is intended to improve workflow and security.

The tax commissioner's office, Reeves said, can also help direct residents to other county services when issues fall outside the office's responsibilities. "If you need us at any time, you can call us or come by," he said.

The tax commissioner did not set the millage rate on the podcast; Reeves said the millage rate was pending and that changes in bill appearance this year are driven by the absence of last year's one‑time grant rather than an automatic increase in rates. Residents seeking more information should consult the Pickens County Tax Commissioner's office website and review last year's bill for comparison.