County's website adds services

The option to submit a business registration form online is the newest service offered on Aiken County's website.

The service joins several others that have popped up on www.aikencounty.net in the past year or so, including the option to download the Master-in-Equity Judicial Sale listing and printing vehicle and real property tax receipts, among others.

"We are moving toward 24/7 government. The County is always looking for ways to make improvements," said Information Technology Director Johnny Walton. "Hopefully we can save citizens a little bit of gas and help with parking, too."

There is no fee to register a business in Aiken County, but all businesses should register each year to receive a Business Registration Certificate. Users fill in fields on the business's address, the date the business opened, a description of the type of business and owner information. All business registrations are due by July 1 and expire on Dec. 31 of each year. Users can also download the form and mail it to the tax collector.

The next Master-in-Equity Judicial Sale will be April 15, and the page will be available for download on the County's website March 22. The page contains the legal description of the property being sold, many of which are a result of foreclosure.

Also offered on the website are vehicle and real property tax receipt searches. Receipts are searchable by the owner's name, receipt number or property number.

For some time now, users have been able to pay their taxes and view land records and GIS maps online.

A convenience fee of 2.5 percent is applied to the total tax bill. Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Taxpayers can still pay their current tax bills through the mail or by using the treasurer's drop box at the County Complex.

Delinquent taxes must still be paid through the Delinquent Tax Collector's office.

Walton said staff is working on additional options for users of the website, including applying for building permits.

"We are doing our best to put as much out there as possible. It is a convenience for our citizens and less traffic in the offices," said County Administrator Clay Killian.