Back taxes never go away. State outs local businesses that owe big: nearly $2 million
Twelve Beaufort County businesses made South Carolina’s quarterly list of top 250 delinquent taxpayers, combining to owe nearly $2 million to the state - primarily for payroll withholding violations, sales tax and use tax.
The former Rose Hill Golf Club operating company, which owes almost $200K in sales and use tax, is included on the list.
Current management and the property owners association aren’t affiliated with the debt, according to Director of Golf Mark Teed. International Golf Maintenance has run the course and club since October 2022.
“They’re very close in title, they’re very different otherwise,” Teed said. IGM is up to date on its taxes and doesn’t have any liens. Teed said the club is in “great financial health.”
Andrew Stephens, the former operator of Rose Hill Golf Club, pleaded guilty to operating it without a retail license in 2021. Three years earlier the S.C. Department of Revenue revoked the retail license over $144,000 in unpaid sales taxes, according to Stephens’ arrest warrant.
“(It’s) not responsible through the club because it was never the POA or IGM employees,” Teed said. “Each company that’s come through over the past years has been their own LLC or corporation.”
Half of the businesses on the list are either dissolved or forfeited, but not exempt from paying outstanding taxes. In these cases, the SCDOR continues to pursue and collect on the debt against the owners, according to spokesperson Tim Smith.
Businesses that filed for bankruptcy or made payment agreements with the state Department of Revenue aren’t included on the list.
“If they’re on a payment plan, they’re removed,” Smith said. He said the department reached out to each of the businesses on the list multiple times without resolution before their name was published.
Coastal Connections Inc., the top delinquent taxpayer in Beaufort County ranks 21 on the overall list, with the top delinquent taxpayer statewide owing about $1.7 million.
Here are the top delinquent taxpayers from Beaufort County along with what they owe and what their tax liens are for:
1. Coastal Connections Inc.
Before it dissolved in 2020, Coastal Connections Inc. was a temporary staffing and recruiting business specializing in hospitality, administrative, professional and skilled labor placements.
$329,865; Dissolved; Withholding tax
2. Hilton Head Bluffton Partners I LP
$295,322; Partnership Tax
3. Daniels Espresso Inc.
$219,221; Forfeited; Sales and Use Tax
4. Rose Hill Golf Club LLC
$196,567; Sales and Use Tax
5. Battery Creek Collection LLC, Second name Sweetgrass Restaurant and Bar
Before it closed, Sweetgrass Restaurant and Bar was a seafood restaurant on St. Helena Island.
$146,106; Dissolved; Withholding tax
6. Roastfish & Cornbread LLC
The Hilton Head restaurant is closed.
$145,939.75; Sales and Use Tax
7. Hollykirk Enterprises Inc.
$131,022; Forfeited; Sales and Use Tax
8. May River Granite LLP
Before it closed May River Granite was a natural stone supplier.
$122,668; Sales and Use Tax
9. Property Preservation Inc.
$106,222; Forfeited; Withholding Tax
10. Gist Gague Family Trust
In South Carolina, some family trusts must file income tax returns.
$89,062; Sales and Use Tax
11. Sand Inc.
$85,507; Forfeited; Sales and Use Tax
12. Cool Breezes LLC
$83,845; Sales and Use Tax
