How taxes work in South Carolina
Sales tax. South Carolina charges a 6% statewide sales tax, and counties, cities and special districts add their own on top — which is why the average combined rate of about 7.46% is the number that matters at the till. Groceries are exempt from the state rate; local option taxes on food vary by county.
Property tax. At an average effective rate of about 0.53%, a $350,000 home in South Carolina carries roughly $1,855 a year in property tax before exemptions. South Carolina is a low-property-tax state, which quietly lowers the true cost of owning there. Local assessors set actual bills, so verify with the county for any specific property.
Income tax. Progressive, top rate around 6.2% and falling. If you are self-employed in South Carolina, you still owe federal self-employment tax plus quarterly state estimates where applicable.
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.
How South Carolina compares with similar states
The states closest to South Carolina on average combined sales tax. Property tax is the average effective rate; income tax shows the structure, not a single rate.
| State | Combined sales tax | Property tax | Income tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina (this page) | 7.46% | 0.53% | Progressive |
| Colorado | 7.81% | 0.52% | Flat |
| Georgia | 7.38% | 0.92% | Flat |
| Ohio | 7.24% | 1.56% | Progressive |
| Utah | 7.19% | 0.57% | Flat |
| All-state average (51 entries) | 6.61% | 1.04% | — |
What this means for your money in South Carolina
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.
Major cities in South Carolina
Charleston, Columbia, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Rock Hill. Combined sales-tax rates differ between these cities — sometimes by more than a full percentage point inside the same state — because county and city layers stack on the state base. The South Carolina sales tax guide breaks down the calculation and links the calculator where you can enter your exact local rate.
Calculators for South Carolina residents
- South Carolina Sales Tax Guide & Examples — what you actually pay, with worked amounts.
- Sales Tax & VAT Calculator — add or extract tax at any rate, including your exact South Carolina local rate.
- Mortgage Calculator — include South Carolina property tax in the monthly payment.
- Property Tax Calculator — estimate a specific property's bill.
- Self-Employment Tax Calculator — federal SE tax for South Carolina freelancers.