Sales tax in Aiken County, South Carolina
The sales tax rate in Aiken County, South Carolina is 8%. That is a 6% state rate plus a 2% county rate, and it is the same at every address in the county.
What is the sales tax rate in Aiken County?
| South Carolina state rate | 6% |
|---|---|
| Aiken County rate | 2% |
| Combined rate | 8% |
Why the rate here is not the whole story
South Carolina's state sales tax is 6 percent and Aiken County adds 2 percent in county-wide local sales taxes approved by referendum of the county's voters, made up of a 1 percent Capital Projects Tax and a 1 percent Education Capital Improvement Tax, for a combined 8 percent. South Carolina cities and towns cannot levy a general sales tax of their own, so the county is the only jurisdiction below the state that levies here and the 8 percent rate applies at every address in the county. Unprepared food that can be bought with USDA food coupons is exempt from the state 6 percent and from every local tax imposed in this county, so qualifying groceries are untaxed.
How do I find the exact rate for an address in Aiken County?
The rate is the same across Aiken County, but if you are collecting tax it is worth confirming against the source. Use South Carolina's own lookup. A vendor's calculator is not the state speaking.
Who has to collect sales tax in Aiken County?
A seller with a physical presence in South Carolina collects at the rate for the address where the sale takes place. A remote seller collects once it passes South Carolina's economic nexus threshold, which is a separate question from the rate and is covered on our sales tax nexus checker. Marketplace facilitators generally collect on behalf of their sellers.
How does Aiken County compare?
See South Carolina sales tax for the statewide picture, including the average local rate and what is exempt. Property tax is a separate tax with separate rules: property tax in Aiken County.
Sources
- Aiken County rates: South Carolina Department of Revenue, Form ST-500, South Carolina Local Tax Designation by County, effective May 1, 2026 (Rev. 3/9/2026), https://dor.sc.gov/sites/dor/files/forms/ST500.pdf, cross checked against Form ST-575, South Carolina Sales Tax Rate by Municipality (Rev. 2/5/26), https://dor.sc.gov/sites/dor/files/forms/ST575.pdf, and SC Information Letter #26-5, Local Sales and Use Tax Charts, effective March 1, 2026
- Collected and verified September 9, 2026. Confidence: P on the rate components, P on the range (P read on a primary agency page, S strong but indirect, U unverified).