Sales Tax in Charleston, South Carolina in 2025

We'll walk you through how the sales tax rate is determined for Charleston and address some common questions you may have. We'll also cover how to collect, audit, and remit sales tax in Charleston.

Plus, we’ll share the best solution that will ensure you are always compliant across the entire sales tax lifecycle.

Disclaimer: Our sales tax data is updated on a quarterly basis. 

Charleston Sales Tax Rate 2025

Charleston is located in South Carolina, United States, and has a sales tax rate of 9.000%. This is the combination of local and state sales tax rates.

Here is the breakdown of the Charleston's sales tax:

Sales Tax Rates in Charleston by Zip Codes and Districts

Charleston overlaps with 2 counties in South Carolina. But as you can see in the table below, the combined sales tax rate is set at 9.000% for both. (This includes their state and local taxes.)

County Sales Tax in Charleston

Charleston overlaps with 2 counties in South Carolina. But as you can see in the table below, the county sales tax rate is 0.000% in each one.

How Does the Charleston Sales Tax Compare to the Rest of South Carolina?

Charleston’s 9.000% sales tax rate is the highest rate you can find in the state of South Carolina. It is 3.000% higher than South Carolina’s lowest rate, which is 6.000% and can be found in Pawleys Island, among other places.

To give you a better idea, here’s a comparison of Charleston sales tax rates with a few other cities in South Carolina:

What Creates Sales Tax Nexus in Charleston?

Charleston shares the same sales tax nexus rules as South Carolina. 

Read More: Check out this detailed guide on Sales Tax in South Carolina.

You have sales tax nexus in Charleston if you fulfill any of the these conditions:

• Physical nexus: Businesses with offices, distribution houses, sale houses, warehouses, or other places of business. 
• Employees: Businesses with any agent operating within South Carolina under the retailer’s or subsidiary’s authority.
• Economic nexus: Businesses whose gross revenue exceeds $100,000 in the previous or current calendar year.

Learn more about sales tax nexus and when you’re required to collect sales tax.

What Products Are Exempt from Charleston Sales Tax?

Charleston doesn't have any special exemptions and follows the same sales tax rules as South Carolina.

The following items are exempt from sales tax in Charleston:

• Medicine and prosthetic devices sold by prescription.
• Insecticides, chemicals, fertilizers, soil conditioners, seeds, seedlings, and nursery stock used for farming and agricultural production. 
• Water supplied by public utilities and designated non-profit corporations.

Who Needs a Sales Permit in Charleston?

Any retailer selling, leasing, or renting tangible personal property in Charleston should collect sales tax. 

How to Collect Sales Tax in Charleston

South Carolina follows destination-based sales tax sourcing for both in-state and out-of-state businesses, which also applies for Charleston. This means that if you sell to a South Carolina resident, you must apply the sales tax rate based on the buyer’s shipping address.

Learn more about origin-based and destination-based sales tax sourcing here.

How to File and Pay Sales Tax in Charleston

You can file Charleston sales tax returns using the following methods:

• Automated: Let Zamp handle your South Carolina sales tax filing and remittance so you won’t ever have to deal with a sales tax return.
• Online: Taxpayers with a tax liability of $15,000 or more per filing period should file and pay electronically via the MyDORWAY website.
• Offline: Taxpayers whose tax liability is less than $15,000 should file Form ST-389 with your State Sales & Us​e Tax Return (ST-3).

About the author

Zamp Team

The Zamp Team consists of experienced writers and editors who are dedicated to researching sales tax topics to help readers make smart decisions about their business and sales tax compliance. Collectively, the team has over 200 years of sales tax experience.