South Carolina tax guide: sales, income and property tax
Three taxes decide most everyday money calculations in South Carolina: what you pay at the register, what leaves your paycheck, and what your home costs each year. This guide sets out each one with the current figures, then links to the calculators that apply them. Rates are reviewed against state sources; confirm a specific transaction with the South Carolina Department of Revenue.
The short answer
South Carolina: 6% state sales tax, about 7.46% average combined (rank 18 of 51 — 0.85 points above the 6.61% all-state average), a progressive income tax, and an average effective property tax of 0.53% (rank 47 of 51). On a $100 purchase at the average combined rate, the tax is $7.
Sales tax in South Carolina
The statewide base rate is 6%. Counties, cities and special districts add their own layers, bringing the average combined rate to about 7.46% — and the rate at a specific address can sit well above or below that average. On a $100 purchase, the tax is $6 at the base rate and roughly $7 at the average combined rate. The difference is local tax, which is why two towns in the same state can charge noticeably different totals on the same item.
Groceries are exempt from the state rate; local option taxes on food vary by county.
Worked examples at the average combined rate
What the 7.46% average combined rate adds to purchases of different sizes:
| Purchase | Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $25 | $2 | $27 |
| $100 | $7 | $107 |
| $500 | $37 | $537 |
| $1,000 | $75 | $1,075 |
| $10,000 | $746 | $10,746 |
If you sell into South Carolina from another state, economic nexus rules can oblige you to collect its tax once your sales pass the state's threshold — the exact threshold and what counts toward it are in the South Carolina sales tax calculator and rate page, and the data hub for the state is the South Carolina locations page.
Income tax in South Carolina
South Carolina taxes income progressively, in brackets, like the federal system. Progressive, top rate around 6.2% and falling. Because brackets tax slices of income at rising rates, your effective state rate is always below your top (marginal) rate.
Federal tax applies the same everywhere; the state layer is what changes a paycheck between two states. Run the same salary through the paycheck calculator and the take-home pay calculator with and without a state rate to see the size of the difference before negotiating a move or a remote-work arrangement.
Property tax in South Carolina
The average effective property tax rate in South Carolina is about 0.53% of a home's value per year. On a $400,000 home that is roughly $2,120 a year, or $177 a month — a real line in the housing budget, collected through escrow in most mortgages. Averages hide wide local variation: the county and school district set most of the rate, and homestead exemptions can cut the taxable value for owner-occupiers.
How South Carolina compares
The states closest to South Carolina on average combined sales tax, with the national extremes for scale. The all-state averages across the 51 entries are 6.61% for combined sales tax and 1.04% for property tax.
| State | Combined sales tax | Property tax |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina (this guide) | 7.46% | 0.53% |
| Colorado | 7.81% | 0.52% |
| Georgia | 7.38% | 0.92% |
| Ohio | 7.24% | 1.56% |
| Utah | 7.19% | 0.57% |
| Louisiana — highest combined | 9.56% | 0.55% |
| Oregon — lowest combined | 0% | 0.82% |
What this means for your money
Property tax is light in South Carolina: an average effective rate of 0.53% ranks 47 of 51, well below the all-state average of 1.04%. A $400,000 home carries about $2,120 a year. Low property tax lowers the fixed cost of owning, which partly offsets whatever the state's income and sales taxes take.
Read together: South Carolina combines an average combined sales tax of 7.46% (rank 18 of 51), an average effective property tax of 0.53% (rank 47 of 51) and progressive income tax brackets. A household comparing states should compare all three against its own pattern — a high earner who rents weighs the income tax most; a homeowner on a fixed income weighs the property tax most.
Key figures
| Figure | South Carolina |
|---|---|
| State sales tax (base) | 6% |
| Average combined sales tax | 7.46% |
| Groceries | Exempt (state level) |
| Income tax structure | Progressive brackets |
| Average effective property tax | 0.53% |
| Capital | Columbia |
| Largest city | Charleston |
Sales tax · average combined
Property tax · average effective
Chart: DailyFinance.tools · Rates are reviewed averages from our state tax dataset — your exact local rate may differ.
South Carolina tax FAQs
What is the sales tax rate in South Carolina?
The statewide base rate in South Carolina is 6%. With local taxes added, the average combined rate is about 7.46%, and the exact rate depends on where the sale takes place.
Does South Carolina have a state income tax?
Yes. Progressive, top rate around 6.2% and falling.
Are groceries taxed in South Carolina?
Groceries are exempt from the state rate; local option taxes on food vary by county.
How does South Carolina rank for sales tax nationally?
South Carolina's average combined rate of 7.46% ranks 18 of 51 states and DC (1 = highest) — 0.85 points above the all-state average of 6.61%. The highest average combined rate is Louisiana at 9.56%; the lowest is Oregon at 0%.
How much property tax do you pay in South Carolina?
The average effective property tax rate in South Carolina is about 0.53% of a home's value per year — rank 47 of 51, against an all-state average of 1.04%. On a $400,000 home that is roughly $2,120 a year. County assessors set actual bills, and exemptions can reduce them.
Where can I verify South Carolina tax rates?
The rates in this guide are reviewed averages for planning. For a filing or a specific address, confirm the current rate with the South Carolina Department of Revenue (sales and income tax) or the county assessor (property tax).
Reviewed by Tahir Shehzad, ACMA · State tax data reviewed November 2026 against official sources — see our Methodology and Editorial Policy. Figures are educational estimates, not tax or financial advice. For a filing decision, confirm with the South Carolina Department of Revenue.