2026 rates
South Carolina Sales Tax Calculator
The South Carolina state sales tax rate is 6%. With local additions, the average combined rate is 7.46%, rising to about 9% in the highest-taxing areas.
Sales tax by city in South Carolina
| City | Combined rate |
|---|---|
| Charleston | 9% |
| Columbia | 8% |
| North Charleston | 9% |
| Mount Pleasant | 9% |
| Rock Hill | 7% |
How South Carolina sales tax works
South Carolina charges 6% at state level, and local jurisdictions add 1.46% on average for a combined rate of about 7.46%. In the highest-taxing parts of the state, local additions reach 3%, which puts the ceiling near 9%.
That combined rate ranks South Carolina number 19 of 51 US jurisdictions, 0.89% above the national average of 6.57%.
City rates inside South Carolina are not uniform. Charleston sits at 9% while Rock Hill is 7%, a spread of 2% on the same product. Because most states tax on where the buyer takes delivery rather than where you ship from, that spread follows the shipping address and not your warehouse.
Owing tax and being required to collect it are separate questions. South Carolina sets its economic nexus threshold at $100,000 in sales into the state. Below that you generally have no obligation to register; above it you do, and the obligation applies from the point you cross rather than retroactively across the whole year. Check your own sales into South Carolina against that figure before you register anywhere.
Rates below are the published 2026 figures. Local rates change more often than state rates, so verify with the South Carolina revenue authority for a transaction of any size, and remember that the rate is only one input: whether the product is taxable at all, and whether shipping is taxable, both vary by state.
South Carolina sales tax questions
What is the sales tax rate in South Carolina?
The state rate is 6%. With local additions averaging 1.46%, the typical combined rate is 7.46%.
Does South Carolina have local sales taxes?
Yes. Local rates average 1.46% and go as high as 3%, so the combined rate depends on the buyer's address.
When do I have to register for sales tax in South Carolina?
Once your sales into South Carolina pass $100,000 you cross the economic nexus threshold and are generally required to register and collect. Below that there is usually no obligation.
How do I work out sales tax backwards from a total?
Divide the tax-inclusive total by one plus the combined rate to recover the pre-tax price, then subtract. At 7.46% you divide by 1.0746. The main calculator has a reverse mode that does this.
Is sales tax charged on shipping in South Carolina?
It depends on how the charge is presented and whether the items are taxable. Some states tax shipping when it is part of a taxable sale and others do not. Confirm the current position with the South Carolina revenue authority before setting it in your checkout.
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