Relocation Information

South Carolina Sales and Use Tax

Sales Tax

South Carolina's sales and use tax rate is 5%. Neither Horry County nor Georgetown County has a local option sales and use tax. Prescriptions, dental prosthetics and hearing aids are exempt from the sales tax. Those over the age of 85 are exempt from 1% of the sales tax. A maximum sales tax of $300 is imposed on the purchase of motor vehicles, including recreational vehicles, boats, motorcycles and airplanes.

Each gallon of gasoline is taxed at 16 cents. This tax is included in the price per gallon at the gasoline pump.

Use tax is imposed on goods and certain services purchased out of state and brought into South Carolina or on which no sales tax has been paid. The statewide sales and use tax rate is 5%. Counties may impose an additional 1% local sales tax if voters in that county approve the tax. Generally, all retail sales are subject to the sales tax.

Use Tax

Use Tax: Purchases of tangible goods for use in South Carolina on which no South Carolina sales or use tax has been paid are subject to the use tax. Examples include: catalog purchases, goods bought on-line over the internet, or furniture purchased out of state and delivered in South Carolina on which no or insufficient South Carolina tax was paid. (Contrary to popular misconception, the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act governs taxation of access to the internet through your internet-access provider. Goods purchased over the internet are not tax free.) When figuring your use tax liability, please review any credit card statements from the taxable year. In addition, please recall any large purchases made during the taxable year.

Credit: You are allowed a credit against SC use tax for the amount of tax paid to another state or local jurisdiction. For example, if you purchased furniture in another state, and paid that state's 4% sales tax, you would calculate the SC use tax at 5%, plus local option taxes, and subtract from the total 4% paid to the other state.

"Individual Use Tax is reported on Your Individual Income Tax Return."

For more information on taxes in South Carolina visit the SCDOR web site.

Where to Mail Returns

Sales and Use Tax Returns

• SCDOR
  Sales Tax Return
  Columbia, SC  29214-0101