South Carolina transfer tax
Official source data 2026-10-01
On a $400,000 residential purchase in South Carolina
$1,480
modeled deed & transfer taxes
State base deed tax only; local taxes, exemptions and mortgage taxes are not automatically included.
Check the tax on your price.
Where the tax goes.
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base deed / transfer taxes | $1,480 |
| Selected local deed taxes | $0 |
| Buyer statutory surcharges | $0 |
| Seller statutory surcharges | $0 |
| Total modeled transfer taxes | $1,480 |
The buyer and seller can negotiate many expenses. This calculation excludes lender credits, seller concessions, prorated rent, HOA charges, inspections, repairs, and any mortgage taxes not in the stated deed-tax scope.
South Carolina rules and assumptions.
Transfer-tax scope
State base deed tax only; local taxes, exemptions and mortgage taxes are not automatically included.
Settlement & title
Budget for lawyer performance or supervision of the legal closing steps. The cited State Bar guidance distinguishes legal work from clerical tasks; obtain the closing lawyer quote.
Read the official legal-services guidance
South Carolina's Department of Insurance provides consumer help, including title insurance. Obtain the insurer's policy and endorsement quote separately from the attorney-supervised legal closing services described above.
Recording fees
Section 8-21-310 covers clerk/register document charges. South Carolina's value-based deed recording fee is the transfer tax already modeled above; exclude it from this additional document-fee allowance.
Good questions. Clear answers.
How much are closing costs in South Carolina?
For the entered $400,000 price, this scenario produces $9,750 of buyer costs and $21,980 of seller costs. The fees are adjustable allowances; only the cited taxes follow the selected statutory scope.
Who pays the transfer tax?
The default allocation follows the state scenario shown above. The closing-cost tool lets you change the contractual deed-tax allocation; statutory buyer or seller surcharges retain their separate payer.
Is the down payment a closing cost?
It is not a service fee. This tool shows $80,000 as the down payment and $89,750 as total estimated buyer cash to close.
Are the title and attorney fees official state rates?
The defaults are planning allowances, not published title-policy quotes. Enter the applicable insurance or title-guaranty quote and the closing professional’s quote. Policy type, endorsements, loan size and reissue discounts can change the cost. Set the title payer to match your contract; use the additional buyer amount for coverage excluded from the percentage allowance.
How do I calculate seller net proceeds?
Subtract seller closing costs and the entered mortgage payoff from the sale price. Here that gives $378,020. Capital-gains tax, repair credits and other liens are excluded.
Check the source.
Data as of 2026-10-01. Retrieved .
- www.scstatehouse.gov / t12c024.php
- www.consumerfinance.gov / closing-disclosure As of 2026-10-02
- www.consumerfinance.gov / loan-estimate As of 2026-10-02
- www.scbar.org / ethics-opinion-26-01 As of 2026-10-02
- doi.sc.gov / consumers As of 2026-10-02
- www.scstatehouse.gov / t08c021.php As of 2026-10-02