SC has the 6th highest sales taxes & top-rate income tax rates in the nation.
SC has the 7th highest business property tax rates in the nation.
SC has the 5th highest large industrial property tax rates in the nation (74% above the US average).
The property tax share of business taxes is 36% higher than the US average.
SC has cut ¼ of its state general fund budget since 2006, yet your tax rates have not decreased.
The legislature passed Act 388 – which shifted $250 million in tax burden to SC businesses.
Property taxes on 2nd homes/rentals are 119-165% higher than primary homes (prior to 2006, they were 50% higher).
59% of South Carolinians pay one of the nation’s top income tax rates, while 41% pay no taxes (6th highest rate in US).
SC has the 13th highest sales tax rate – collecting $2.5 billion (while giving away 80 special interest exemptions totaling $2.7 billion).
SC collects 90 cents (6%) sales tax on a $15 model airplane, but we cap the tax on a million dollar leer jet at $300 – a $59,700 tax exemption.
SC collects $300 on the sale of a used 2006 Hyundai for $5,000. SC collects$300 on a 2009 Lamborghini Roadster for $385,000 – a $22,800 exemption.
SC collects $300 in sales taxes on a $36,000 BMW. NC collects $1,080 & Georgia collects $2,520 on the same vehicle.
SC collects $300 on the sale of a 2008 Suzuki Motorcycle for $5,000. SC collects $300 on a 2009 Harley Davidson CVO for $35,499 – a $1,830 exemption.
SC collects $300 on the sale of a 15 foot Sylvan Smokercraft Fishing Boat for $5,000. SC collects $300 on a used 1982 126-foot Feadship Yacht for $6.5 million – a $389,700 exemption.
SC collects $300 on the sale of a 1997 Delta Straight Load Horse Trailer for $5,000. SC collects $300 on a 2009 Exiss Trailers Event Custom Cowboy 18′ Gooseneck Horse Trailer for $158,000 – a $9,180 exemption.
SC collects $300 on the sale of a 1989 Chieftain Winnebago for $5,000. SC collects $300 on a 2007 Coach House Platinum Recreational Vehicle for $130,000 – a $7,500 exemption.
SC collects $300 on the sale of a 2004 Cat/Noble TM50 Piggyback Forklift (self-propelled light construction) for $5,000. SC collects $300 on 2009 Nissan New Container MAST 2.5 Forklift for $31,000– a $1,560 exemption.
SC collects $300 on the sale of a 1973 Singlewide (2 BR/1Ba/480 sq ft) Manufactured Home for $5,000. SC collects $300 on a 2001 Doublewide Commander Manufactured Home (4 BR/2Ba/2432 sq ft) which meets certain energy efficiency standards for $139,500 – a $8,070 exemption.
SC collects $300 on the sale of a Tellers-Sommerhoff 16 ft Opus Pipe Organ to a church for $5,000. SC collects $300 on a $125,000 – 1874 Hook & Hastings 252 ft Pipe Organ sold to a church – $7,200 exemption.
Did you know SC collects nothing in taxes on the sale of mink animals sold to be raised to produce fur. SC collects $300 on the sale of a $5,000 mink coat.
SC collects 6 cents on a Big Mac on the dollar menu at McDonalds. SC collects nothing on the sale of sweet feed for Black Angus cattle.
SC collects $3.84 on the sale of a 42 pound bag of Scott’s Summerguard home lawn/garden fertilizer for $64. SC collects nothing on the sale of $200 Texas Longhorn registered bull semen.
SC collects 18 cents on a $3 spool of string used to fly a kite. SC collects nothing on the sale of a spool of twine used to deliver newspapers. {Total containers exemption: $600,000.}
SC collects 6 cents on a $1 pack of college rule paper. SC collects nothing on the sale of newsprint paper sold to newspapers. {$5 million exemption}
SC collects 42 cents on the sale of $7 College Football Preview Magazines. SC collects nothing on the sale of The State newspaper. {$7 million exemption}
SC collects 33 cents on the sale of a $5.50 Progressive Farmer magazine. SC collects nothing for the sale of The Market Bulletin. {$10,800 exemption}
SC collects $1.20 on the sale of a $20 bag of Kingsford Matchlite Charcoal. SC collects nothing on the sale of coal to electric & transportation companies. {$103 million exemption}
SC collects $4.14 on the sale of a Panasonic KXTS 2-line corded phone at Wal-Mart. SC collects nothing on the sale of “charges for colored telephones and retractable cords” obtained through a telephone company. {Total customer charges exemptions: $22.8 million}
SC collects $2.10 on the sale of a $35 GE answering machine. SC collects nothing on telephone company run voicemail messaging. {$46 million exemption}
SC collects 30 cents on the sale a $5 pack (24) of bottled water. SC collectsnothing on water sold by public utilities (if rates are per PSC). {$27 million exemption}
SC collects 14 cents tax on the dry cleaning of shirt. SC collects nothing on the dry cleaning for ships involved in intercoastal trade. {Total vessel bunkering exemptions: $1.5 million}
SC collects 12 cents per pound of dry ice – used to preserve property during shipment. SC collects nothing on the sale of the shipping containers.
SC collects 15 cents on the sale of a package of Reynolds aluminum foil. SC collects nothing on aluminum foil purchased and used in shipping.
SC collects 30 cents on the sale of Hallmark wrapping paper. SC collectsnothing on wrapping paper sold and used in shipping. {Total product delivery exemptions: $25 million}
SC collects 30 cents per gallon of gas sold at the pump for use in a personal car or boat. SC collects nothing for the sale of any type of motor fuel used by commercial fishing vessels or farm tractors. {$500 million exemption}
SC collects $144 on the sale of the $2,400 Giles Dairy Deluxe Milking Machine. SC collects nothing on the pasteurizing machines utilized once the cow is milked.
SC collects taxes on the range feeders/waterers and mousetraps sold in South Carolina. SC collects nothing on automatic chain feeders, auger & pan feeders and automatic waterers sold to the same farms.
SC collects taxes on egg baskets, egg stackers, and nesting equipment sold to farmers. SC collects no taxes on egg washing machinery, egg grading machinery and egg candling machinery sold to the same farms.
SC collects taxes on gloves used by farmers in cleaning out chicken cage houses. SC collects nothing on the sale of automatic clean-out systems for cage houses.
SC collects 7 cents a pack (lowest in nation) in cigarette taxes. SC collects nothing in the sale of tobacco curers and/or transporters.
SC collects $300 on the sale of a $5,000 S & H Bumperpull Stock Trailer. SC collectsnothing on the sale of a stock trailer used for hauling farm crops. {Total farm machinery tax exemption cost to state: $7.3 million}
SC collects taxes on manufactured products. SC exempts from taxing machines used in producing manufactured products. For example, television stations are considered manufacturers. {$63 million exemption}
SC collects taxes on the sale of electricity to TV stations when the electricity is used for such purposes as providing lighting and air conditioning in offices and elevators. SC collects no taxes for electricity sold to TV stations to produce light & air conditioning for the production of TV shows.
SC collects taxes on the sale of sound proofing materials, radio/TV towers and wiring sold to TV stations. SC collects no taxes on the sale of studio technical equipment and machinery/antenna sold to TV stations.
SC collects 7 cents per pack of cigarettes and 12 cents on the sale of boiled peanuts at a football game. SC collects nothing on the fuel used to cure agricultural products such as tobacco and peanuts. {$750,000 exemption}
SC collects taxes from manufacturers on the electricity they use for administrative purposes (i.e. offices, parking lots, first aid rooms, elevators & water coolers). SC collects no taxes from manufacturers used in the production of tangible property for sale. {$87.5 million exemption}
SC collects $18 in taxes for the sale of a Classic Lionel Train Set. SC collects no taxes on the sale of a $300,000 EMD 1750 HP GP-9 Locomotive. {$352,710 exemption}
SC collects $35 on the sale of a 9-ft G-3 Jon Boat. SC collects nothing on a $15 million New Hopper 560-ft Barge. {$169,546 exemption}
SC collects 60 cents on the sale of a G.I. Joe Dukes Toy Missile Launcher. SC collects nothing on the sale of materials used to produce missiles by the US Military. {Exemption amount classified}
SC collects sales taxes on farm products sold by a farmer who operates a processing plant. SC collects taxes on farm products sold by the distant cousin of a farmer. SC collects no taxes on farm products sold by a farmer (or immediate family) when they do not own a processing plant. {$412,400 exemption}
SC collects 30 cents in taxes on the sale of Resolve carpet cleaner. SC collects no taxes on the sale of equipment and supplies to carpet cleaners.
SC collects taxes on the supplies and equipment bought by coin-operated Laundromats. SC collects no taxes on the sales of supplies and equipment bought by laundries and dry-cleaners. {Total cleaner exemptions: $3.3 million}
SC collects revenue on the licensing of vehicles sold to residents of South Carolina. SC collects no revenue on such licensing if said individual is located in SC by reason of the United States Armed Forces. {$2.2 million exemption}
SC collects taxes on office equipment/supplies and soundproofing/wiring equipment sold to TV and Radio Stations. SC collects no taxes on technical equipment (i.e. stage furniture, props, recording devices, projectors, video equipment and typewriters). {9.2 Million exemption}
SC collects taxes on the broadcasting tower for an FM Radio Station. SC collects no taxes on the broadcasting tower for an AM Station.
SC collects $12 in taxes on the sale of a Collie at Pets Unlimited. SC collects nothing on a monkey sold to the local zoo. {$4,290 exemption}
SC collects taxes on a Dinner Cruise in Charleston. SC collects no taxes on a vacation time-share near the Battery in downtown Charleston. {$5.3 million exemption}
SC collects taxes on the sale of gasoline to farmers to use in their Chevy Pick-up truck. SC collects no taxes on the sale of gas used in the production of poultry, livestock, swine and milk. {$1.3 million exemption}
SC collects taxes on electricity sold to and used in nursing homes, college dorms and summer camps. SC collects no taxes on electricity sold for residential purposes. {$188 million exemption}
SC collects taxes on one-half of the proceeds from the sale of a modular home. SC collects no taxes on the other half. {$1.9 million exemption}
SC collects 18 cents on a Blockbuster video/DVD movie rental. SC collects nothing on the rental of a movie by a theater. {$2.8 million exemption}
SC collects $60 in taxes on the sale of new asphalt for your driveway. SC collects nothing in taxes for the sale of asphalt products transported and consumed out of South Carolina. {$614,000 exemption}
SC collects $3.60 in taxes for the sale of Creative Lab stereo headphones. SC collects no taxes on hearing aids. {$2.1 million exemption}
SC collects sales taxes on concession items sold at the State Fair. SC collects no taxes on concession sales at the annual Ridgeway Pig on the Ridge Festival. {$475,000 exemption}
SC collects taxes on the sale of a new chassis for the rebuilding of a C-10 Chevy. SC collects no taxes on the chassis sold to international shipping lines. {$550,000 exemption}
SC collects taxes on the sales made by for-profit organizations. SC collects no sales taxes on the sales made by non-profit organizations. {$6.7 million exemption}
SC collects taxes on the sale of depreciable assets when sold in-part by the owner. SC collects no taxes on the sale of depreciable assets when the entire business is sold by the owner. {$125,000 exemption}
SC collects taxes on the sale of DVD equipment used by citizens to watch movies. SC collects no taxes on the sales of all supplies sold to motion picture companies used in the production of a movie. {$42,179 exemption}
SC collects taxes on the sale of building materials, supplies and fixtures used in the construction/repair of dad’s workshop in the garage. And SC collects taxes on the fencing of pastures. SC collects no taxes on the sale of building materials, supplies and fixtures used in the construction/repair of commercial housing of poultry/livestock. {$63,000 exemption}
SC collects taxes on the sale of tombstones and grave markers of deceased loved ones. SC collects no taxes on the sale of war memorials/monuments. {$50,000 exemption}
SC collects 78 cents on the sale of Hefty Kitchen trash bags. SC collects nothing on the sale of solid waste disposal bags. {$39,000 exemption}
SC collects sales tax on the sale of propane for a gas grill. SC collects no sales tax on propane for the use in recycling property. {Total recycling property exemption: $2.8 million}
SC collects tax the gloves (for handling products) sold to manufacturing facilities. SC collectsno taxes on the material handling systems sold to manufacturers. {$1.4 million exemption}
SC collects $12 in taxes on the sale of a carburetor for the engine of a Chevrolet Nova. SC collects no taxes on the sale of parts/supplies used in repairing commercial air carriers. {$562,000 exemption}
Individuals pay $1,000 for a bumper-to-bumper extended car warranty for their vehicle. The state of South Carolina collects no tax on this sale. {$1.2 million exemption}
SC collects $2.22 in sales taxes on a King Gee’s work-man’s shirt. SC collects no taxes on clothing required for working in a Class 100 Federal certified clean environment. {$40,000 exemption}
SC collects $3.18 on the sale of the Matrix: Ultimate Collection DVD movie. SC collects no taxes on the sale of audiovisual masters used by movie-making companies. {$60,000 exemption}
SC collects $300 on the sale of a used JCB Jonsred super z crane used by the local contractor in your town. SC collects no taxes on machines used in research and development centers. {$2.6 million exemption}
SC collects sales taxes on clothing and school supplies 363 days per year. SC collects no taxes on clothing and school supplies on the 1st Friday & Saturday in August. {$2.6 million exemption}
SC collects taxes on envelopes and mailing supplies. SC collects no taxes on cooperative direct mail by nonprofits. {$800,000 exemptions}
SC collects taxes on the sales of Carolina and Clemson football tickets. SC collects no taxes on lottery tickets. {$47.6 million exemptions}
SC collects taxes on 30% of the gross proceeds of the rental of a portable toilet. SC collects no taxes on the other 70% of the toilet. {$332,976 exemptions}
SC collects taxes on wicker items sold at Lowes and Home Depot. SC collectsno taxes on sweet grass baskets made in South Carolina. {$30,000 exemptions}
SC collects taxes on construction materials used to repair your bathroom. SC collects nothing on the sale of construction materials used in the construction of a single manufacturing facility (worth at least $100 million). {$14 million exemption}
SC collects taxes on items sold in a neighborhood yard sale. SC collectsno taxes on items sold in a sheriff’s property sale. {$331,872 exemption}
SC collects $90 on the sale of a $1,500 Ladies Concord Delerium 18K white gold watch. SC collects no taxes on the sale of gold, silver or platinum bullion. {$82,860 exemption}
SC collects taxes on a family’s outing to Chuck-E-Cheese. SC collects no taxes on an amusement park ride (or anything connected building/repairing rides). {$3.9 million exemption}
SC collects 72 cents in taxes on the 12 oz. New York Strip Dinner at Applebees. SC collects no taxes on the sale of unprepared food. {$354 million exemption}
SC charges local citizens/businesses a 6% sales tax; but does not collect $110 million per year in sales taxes on Internet purchases.
Two-thirds of SC purchases are “services;” but SC exempts 133 (out of 168) services… taxing 35 services at a higher rate to pay for $955 million in exemptions per year.
SC has the 13th highest sales tax rate as a consequence of exempting 133 services. Florida only exempts 104 services; Tennessee only exempts 101 services; West Virginia only exempts 58 services.
SC taxes cell phone & phone answering services; but exempts dating services, private tennis lessons, & massages.
SC taxes diaper services; but exempts pet grooming & horse boarding/training.
SC taxes your funeral; but exempts purchasing a bail bond to get out of jail.
SC taxes commercial art/graphic design; but exempts interior design/decorating.
SC taxes credit information; but exempts lobbying, public relations & management consulting.
SC taxes commercial linen supply; but exempts the storage of household goods or furs.
SC taxes photocopying/printing; but exempts telemarketing, taxidermy & tire repair.
SC taxes cable/satellite TV; but exempts fishing & hunting guide services.
SC taxes car rentals; but exempts limousine rentals.
SC taxes aircraft rentals; but exempts chartered flights.
SC taxes hotel/motel lodging; but exempts lawn mowing, landscaping & exterminating.
SC taxes an over-night stay at a trailer park; but exempts shoe repair, haircutting & carpet cleaning.
The state’s general fund budget is approximately $5 billion; but the state has approximately $4 billion in special interest tax exemptions/loopholes.
