Sales tax by state · South Carolina
South Carolina Sales Tax Rate
The statewide sales tax in South Carolina is 6%, the 8th-highest statewide rate (tied with 10 other states). With local taxes added, shoppers in Charleston pay 9%. Here’s how that compares nationally and what you pay in the state’s major cities.
- South Carolina state rate 6% statewide base rate
- National rank 8th of 51, highest first
- Charleston combined 9% state + local, ZIP 29401
- Tax on $100 $9.00 in Charleston
Sales tax in South Carolina
South Carolina charges a statewide sales tax of 6%, 0.98 percentage points above the 5.02% average across all states. Counties, cities and special districts can add their own taxes on top, so the total at the register is usually higher than the state rate.
Combined rates in South Carolina’s major cities
The combined rate for one downtown ZIP code in each city, broken down by who charges it:
| City | State | County | City | Special | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston 29401 | 6% | 0% | 1% | 2% | 9% |
| Columbia 29201 | 6% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 8% |
What sales tax adds in Charleston
At the 9% combined rate in Charleston, sales tax adds:
For any other address in South Carolina, enter its ZIP code in the sales tax calculator to get the exact combined rate.
How South Carolina compares
Among all 51 states and DC, South Carolina’s 6% is the 8th-highest statewide rate (tied with 10 other states). The average statewide rate is 5.02%, and the highest is California’s 7.25%. See every state ranked on sales tax by state.
South Carolina sales tax — FAQ
What is the sales tax rate in South Carolina?
The statewide sales tax rate in South Carolina is 6%. That is the 8th-highest statewide rate (tied with 10 other states) and 0.98 percentage points above the 5.02% average across all states. Local taxes can add more depending on where you shop.
What is the sales tax in Charleston, South Carolina?
The combined sales tax rate in downtown Charleston (ZIP 29401) is 9%: 6% state, 1% city, 2% special district. Rates in other parts of the city can differ.
How do I calculate sales tax in South Carolina?
Multiply the price by the combined rate where you buy. In Charleston, a $100 purchase carries $9.00 in tax (9%), for $109.00 total. For any other location, enter the ZIP code in the sales tax calculator.
Is South Carolina's sales tax high compared with other states?
Among all 51 states and DC, South Carolina’s 6% is the 8th-highest statewide rate (tied with 10 other states), 0.98 percentage points above the 5.02% average across all states. The highest is California’s 7.25%.
Rates as of September 2026. City rates are for one downtown ZIP code and can differ elsewhere in the city.
Data: State departments of revenue, via APIVerve. Our tables, charts and text are licensed CC BY 4.0: reuse them freely, including commercially, as long as you credit us. Cite as: Digest Your Finances, “Sales Tax by State”, https://digestyourfinances.com/studies/sales-tax-by-state/south-carolina/ — based on State departments of revenue. CC BY 4.0.
