South Carolina sales tax guide

All you need to know about sales tax in the Palmetto State

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Introducing our Sales Tax Automation 101 series. The first installment covers the basics of sales tax automation: what it is and how it can help your business.

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Sales tax 101

Sales tax is a tax paid to a governing body (state or local) on the sale of certain goods and services. South Carolina first adopted a general state sales tax in 1951, and since that time, the rate has risen to 6 percent. On top of the state sales tax, there may be one or more local sales taxes, as well as one or more special district taxes, each of which can range between 6 percent and 3 percent. Currently, combined sales tax rates in South Carolina range from 6 percent to 9 percent, depending on the location of the sale.

As a business owner selling taxable goods or services, you act as an agent of the state of South Carolina by collecting tax from purchasers and passing it along to the appropriate tax authority. Sales and use tax in South Carolina is administered by the South Carolina Department of Revenue (DOR).  

Any sales tax collected from customers belongs to the state of South Carolina, not you. It’s your responsibility to manage the taxes you collect to remain in compliance with state and local laws. Failure to do so can lead to penalties and interest charges.

When you need to collect South Carolina sales tax

In South Carolina, sales tax is levied on the sale of tangible goods and some services. The tax is collected by the seller and remitted to state tax authorities. The seller acts as a de facto collector.

To help you determine whether you need to collect sales tax in South Carolina, start by answering these three questions:

  1. Do you have nexus in South Carolina?
  2. Are you selling taxable goods or services to South Carolina residents?
  3. Are your buyers required to pay sales tax?

If the answer to all three questions is yes, you’re required to register with the state tax authority, collect the correct amount of sales tax per sale, file returns, and remit to the state.

Failure to collect South Carolina sales tax

If you meet the criteria for collecting sales tax and choose not to, you’ll be held responsible for the tax due, plus applicable penalties and interest.

It’s extremely important to set up tax collection at the point of sale — it’s near impossible to collect sales tax from customers after a transaction is complete.


Sales tax nexus

The need to collect sales tax in South Carolina is predicated on having a significant connection with the state. This is a concept known as nexus. Nexus is a Latin word that means "to bind or tie," and it’s the deciding factor for whether the state has the legal authority to require your business to collect, file, and remit sales tax.

Nexus triggers

Sales tax nexus in all states used to be limited to physical presence: A state could require a business to register and collect and remit sales tax only if it had a physical presence in the state, such as employees or an office, retail store, or warehouse.

In June 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States overruled the physical presence rule with its decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc. States are now free to tax businesses based on their economic and virtual connections to the state, or economic nexus.

While physical presence still triggers a sales tax collection obligation in South Carolina, it’s now possible for out-of-state sellers to have sales tax nexus with South Carolina.

Out-of-state sellers

Out-of-state sellers with no physical presence in a state may establish sales tax nexus in the following ways:

Affiliate nexus: Having ties to businesses or affiliates in South Carolina. This includes, but isn’t limited to, the design and development of tangible personal property (goods) sold by the remote retailer, or solicitation of sales of goods on behalf of the retailer.

Click-through nexus:
Having an agreement to reward a person(s) in the state for directly or indirectly referring potential purchasers of goods through an internet link, website, or otherwise. At this time, South Carolina has not enacted a click-through nexus law.

Economic nexus: Having a certain amount of economic activity in the state. For sales made on and after November 1, 2018, a remote seller must register with the state then collect and remit South Carolina sales tax if the remote seller has gross revenue exceeding $100,000 from all sales of property, products transferred electronically, and services delivered into South Carolina in the current or previous calendar year.

Inventory in the state: Storing property for sale in the state. This includes merchandise owned by Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) merchants and stored in South Carolina in a warehouse owned or operated by Amazon.

Marketplace sales: Making sales through a marketplace. Effective April 26, 2019, in-state marketplace facilitators and remote facilitators with economic nexus are responsible for collecting and remitting sales tax on behalf of marketplace sellers in South Carolina. 

Trade shows: Attending conventions or trade shows in South Carolina. You may be liable for collecting and remitting South Carolina use tax on orders taken or sales made during South Carolina conventions or trade shows. However, a remote seller can establish nexus through trade show activity if an employee is in the state for at least four days in a 12-month period.

If you have sales tax nexus in South Carolina, you’re required to register with the South Carolina DOR and to charge, collect, and remit the appropriate tax to the state.

For more information, see South Carolina Department of Revenue: Nexus FAQ; Sales and Use Tax Nexus; and SC Revenue Ruling #14-4.

Trailing nexus

Sales tax nexus can linger even after a retailer ceases the activities that caused it to be “engaged in business” in the state. This is known as trailing nexus. As of October 2019, South Carolina does not have an explicitly defined trailing nexus policy. 

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)

If you’re an active Amazon seller and you use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), you need to know where your inventory is stored and if its presence in a state will trigger nexus. FBA sellers can also download an Inventory Event Detail Report from Amazon Seller Central to identify inventory stored in South Carolina.

If you sell taxable goods to South Carolina residents and have inventory stored in the state, you likely have nexus and an obligation to collect and remit tax. To begin to understand your unique nexus obligations, check out our free economic nexus tool or consult with a trusted tax advisor.

Sourcing sales tax in South Carolina: which rate to collect

In some states, sales tax rates, rules, and regulations are based on the location of the seller and the origin of the sale (origin-based sourcing). In others, sales tax is based on the location of the buyer and the destination of the sale (destination-based sourcing). 

South Carolina is a destination-based state. This means you’re responsible for applying the sales tax rate determined by the ship-to address on all taxable sales.


Getting registered

After determining you have sales tax nexus in South Carolina, you need to register with the proper state authority and collect, file, and remit sales tax to the state. We get a lot of questions about this and recognize it may be the most difficult hurdle for businesses to overcome. Avalara Licensing can help you obtain your South Carolina business license and sales tax registration.

How to register for a South Carolina seller's permit

You can register for a South Carolina seller’s permit online through the South Carolina DOR. To apply, you’ll need to provide the South Carolina DOR with certain information about your business, including but not limited to:

  • Business name, address, and contact information
  • Federal EIN number
  • Date business activities began or will begin
  • Projected monthly sales
  • Projected monthly taxable sales
  • Products to be sold

Cost of registering for a South Carolina seller's permit

The cost to register for a retail license in South Carolina is $50.

Acquiring a registered business

You must register with the South Carolina Department of Revenue if you acquire an existing business in South Carolina. The state requires all registered businesses to have the current business owner’s name and contact information on file.

Streamlined Sales Tax (SST)

The Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (SSUTA), or Streamlined Sales Tax (SST), is an effort by multiple states to simplify the administration and cost of sales and use tax for remote sellers. Remote sellers can register in multiple states at the same time through the Streamlined Sales Tax Registration System (SSTRS).

As of October 2019, South Carolina is not an SST member state.


Collecting sales tax

Once you've successfully registered to collect South Carolina sales tax, you'll need to apply the correct rate to all taxable sales, remit sales tax, file timely returns with the South Carolina Department of Revenue, and keep excellent records. Here’s what you need to know to keep everything organized and in check.

How you collect South Carolina sales tax is influenced by how you sell your goods:

Brick-and-mortar store: Have a physical store? Brick-and-mortar point-of-sale solutions allow users to set the sales tax rate associated with the store location. New tax groups can then be created to allow for specific product tax rules.

Hosted store: Hosted store solutions like Shopify and Squarespace offer integrated sales tax rate determination and collection. Hosted stores offer sellers a dashboard environment where South Carolina sales tax collection can be managed.

Marketplace: Marketplaces like Amazon and Etsy offer integrated sales tax rate determination and collection, usually for a fee. As with hosted stores, you can set things up from your seller dashboard and let your marketplace provider do most of the heavy lifting.

Mobile point of sale: Mobile point-of-sale systems like Square rely on GPS to determine sale location. The appropriate tax rate is then determined and applied to the order. Specific tax rules can be set within the system to allow for specific product tax rules.

South Carolina sales tax collection can be automated to make your life much easier. Avalara AvaTax seamlessly integrates with the business systems you already use to deliver sales and use tax calculations in real time.

Tax-exempt goods

Some goods are exempt from sales tax under South Carolina law. Examples include most non-prepared food items, prescription drugs, and medical supplies.

We recommend businesses review the laws and rules put forth by the South Carolina Department of Revenue to stay up to date on which goods are taxable and which are exempt, and under what conditions.

Tax-exempt customers

Some customers are exempt from paying sales tax under South Carolina law. Examples include government agencies, some nonprofit organizations, and merchants purchasing goods for resale.

Sellers are required to collect a valid exemption or resale certificate from buyers to validate each exempt transaction.

Misplacing a sales tax exemption/resale certificate

South Carolina sales tax exemption and resale certificates are worth far more than the paper they’re written on. If you’re audited and cannot validate an exempt transaction, the South Carolina Department of Revenue may hold you responsible for the uncollected sales tax. In some cases, late fees and interest will be applied and can result in large, unexpected bills.

Sales tax holidays

Sales tax holidays exempt specific products from sales and use tax for a limited period, usually a weekend or a week. Approximately 17 states offer sales tax holidays every year. 

On August 7–9, 2020, South Carolina has a Sales Tax Free Weekend holiday for:

  • Clothing and footwear
  • Computers, printers, printer supplies, and software
  • School supplies
  • Select bed and bath items

The holiday applies to both state and local sales taxes; there are no price restrictions on eligible goods.


Filing and remittance

You're registered with the South Carolina Department of Revenue and you've begun collecting sales tax. Remember, those tax dollars don't belong to you. As an agent of the state of South Carolina, your role is that of intermediary to transfer tax dollars from consumers to the tax authorities.

How to file

Once you’ve collected sales tax, you’re required to remit it to the South Carolina Department of Revenue by a certain date. The South Carolina Department of Revenue will then distribute it appropriately.

Filing a South Carolina sales tax return is a two-step process comprised of submitting the required sales data (filing a return) and remitting the collected tax dollars (if any) via the MyDORWAY web portal. The filing process requires filers to detail total sales in the state, the amount of sales tax collected and the location of each sale.

Online filing is generally recommended, but paper returns are acceptable. Businesses with $15,000 or more per month in tax liability are required to file electronically.

Filing frequency

The South Carolina Department of Revenue will assign you a filing frequency. Typically, this is determined by the size or sales volume of your business. State governments generally ask larger businesses to file more frequently. See the filing due dates section for more information.

South Carolina sales tax returns and payments must be remitted at the same time; both have the same due date.

Online filing

You may file directly with the South Carolina DOR by visiting their site and entering your transaction data manually. This is a free service, but preparing South Carolina sales tax returns can be time-consuming — especially for larger sellers.

Using a third party to file returns

To save time and avoid costly errors, many businesses outsource their sales and use tax filing to an accountant, bookkeeper, or sales tax automation company like Avalara. This is a normal business practice that can save business owners time and help them steer clear of costly mistakes due to inexperience and a lack of deep knowledge about Missouri sales tax code.

Filing when there are no sales

Once you have a South Carolina seller's permit, you’re required to file returns at the completion of each assigned collection period regardless of whether any sales tax was collected. When no sales tax was collected, you must file a "zero return.”

Failure to submit a zero return can result in penalties and interest charges.

Closing a business

The South Carolina DOR requires all businesses to "close their books" by filing a final sales tax return. This also holds true for business owners selling or otherwise transferring ownership of their business.

Timely filing discount

Many states encourage the timely or early filing of sales and use tax returns with a timely filing discount. 

As of October 2019, the discount is 3 percent of the tax due when the total due is less than $100, and 2 percent of the tax due on $100 or more. The maximum discount allowed in any state fiscal year is $3,000 for paper filers and $3,100 for electronic filers.


Filing due dates

It's important to know the due dates associated with the filing frequency assigned to your business by the South Carolina Department of Revenue. This way you'll be prepared and can plan accordingly. Failure to file by the assigned date can lead to late fines and interest charges.

The South Carolina DOR requires all sales tax filing to be completed by the 20th day of the month following the tax period. Below, we've grouped South Carolina sales tax filing due dates by filing frequency for your convenience. Due dates falling on a weekend or holiday are adjusted to the following business day.

South Carolina DOR may authorize a 28-day return period. If granted, returns are also due on the 20th day of the month following each tax period.

South Carolina 2019 monthly filing due dates

Reporting periodFiling deadline
JanuaryFebruary 20, 2019
FebruaryMarch 20, 2019
MarchApril 22, 2019
AprilMay 20, 2019
MayJune 20, 2019
JuneJuly 22, 2019
July August 20, 2019
AugustSeptember 20, 2019
SeptemberOctober 21, 2019
OctoberNovember 20, 2019
NovemberDecember 20, 2019
DecemberJanuary 21, 2020

South Carolina 2019 quarterly filing due dates

Reporting periodFiling deadline
Q1 (January 1–March 31)April 22, 2019
Q2 (April 1–June 30)July 22, 2019
Q3 (July 1–September 30)October 21, 2019
Q4 (October 1–December 31)January 21, 2020

Late filing

Filing a South Carolina sales tax return late may result in a late filing penalty as well as interest on any outstanding tax due. For more information, refer to our section on penalties and interest.

In the event a South Carolina sales tax filing deadline was missed due to circumstances beyond your control (e.g., weather, accident), the South Carolina DOR may grant you an extension. However, you may be asked to provide evidence supporting your claim.


Penalties and interest

Hopefully you don't need to worry about this section because you're filing and remitting South Carolina sales tax on time and without incident. However, in the real world, mistakes happen.

If you miss a sales tax filing deadline, follow the saying, “better late than never,” and file your return as soon as possible. Failure to file returns and remit collected tax on time may result in penalties and interest charges, and the longer you wait to file, the greater the penalty and the greater the interest.

If you’re in the process of acquiring a business, it’s strongly recommended that you contact the South Carolina DOR and inquire about the current status of the potential acquisition. Once you've purchased the business, you’ll be held responsible for all outstanding South Carolina sales and use tax liability.


Shipping and handling

If you’re collecting sales tax from South Carolina residents, you’ll need to consider how to handle taxes on shipping and handling charges.

Taxable and exempt shipping charges

South Carolina sales tax may apply to charges for shipping, handling, delivery, freight, and postage. When taxable sales are shipped via the retailer’s trucks or by common carrier with either unspecified or F.O.B. Destination shipping terms, the shipping is considered part of the sale and the charges are taxable. 

If the shipping terms are F.O.B. Shipping Point, the shipping is not considered part of the sale and the charges are exempt. 

Shipping charges on tax exempt sales are generally exempt as well, regardless of shipping method.

There are exceptions to almost every rule with sales tax, and the same is true for shipping and handling charges. Specific questions on shipping in South Carolina and sales tax should be taken directly to a tax professional familiar with South Carolina tax laws.

For additional information, see the South Carolina Sales and Use Tax Manual.

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