The average South Carolina property tax rate is about 0.49% of a home’s value, which comes to roughly $1,251 a year on the typical South Carolina home. That makes South Carolina property tax one of the lower burdens in the country. This guide breaks down the South Carolina property tax rate, what the typical bill looks like, how your bill is figured, where the money goes, and — most useful
of all — how to check whether you are overpaying and how to pay less.
South Carolina Property Tax at a Glance
| Effective tax rate | 0.49% |
| Median annual bill | $1,251 |
| Median home value | $259,000 |
| Rank among states | #46 of 50 highest |
| vs. U.S. average | $3,020 below the U.S. average ($4,271) |
| Reassessed | South Carolina counties reappraise real property on a regular cycle set by state law — generally every few years — and value can also be updated when a property is sold or improved. Check your county assessor’s office for its current reassessment schedule. |
Rate & bill: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 5-year (effective rate B25090/B25082 – the Tax Foundation method; median bill B25103; value B25077).
| South Carolina Property Tax | Figure |
|---|---|
| Effective property tax rate | 0.49% |
| Median annual property tax bill | $1,251 |
| Median home value | $259,000 |
| Rank (highest to lowest) | #46 of 50 states |
| U.S. average bill | $4,271 |
In This South Carolina Guide:
What Is the South Carolina Property Tax Rate?
The South Carolina property tax rate is not one flat number — it is the combined result of your county, city, township, and school-district rates, applied to your home’s assessed value. Across South Carolina, homeowners pay about 0.49% of their home’s value on average, or around $1,251 a year on a typical $259,000 home. That puts South Carolina near the bottom nationally — ranked #46 of 50 states from highest
to lowest.
Two homes worth the same amount can still owe very different bills depending on the town and school district, so treat the statewide figure as a starting point, not your exact bill.
If your bill went up, start by reading your assessment notice closely — confirm the market value looks reasonable for your home and that it’s correctly listed as your legal residence, since the classification alone makes a real difference. Many homeowners find they simply hadn’t claimed an exemption they qualify for, so it’s worth checking the Homestead and veteran exemptions with your county auditor. If the assessor’s value still seems
too high, you generally have the right to appeal through your county assessor’s office — look at your notice for the current window and steps.
Think your South Carolina bill is too high? Check in two minutes.
How South Carolina Property Tax Is Calculated
Your South Carolina property tax starts with an assessed value set by County assessors value real property (your home and land) in each of South Carolina’s 46 counties. The county auditor then applies the classification and calculates the bill, and the county treasurer collects it.. The county assessor sets your property’s fair market value, and then an assessment ratio fixed by state law is applied to that value to get
the “assessed value” your tax is figured on — owner-occupied homes are treated differently from second homes and other property.
Look on your assessment notice for both the market value and the assessed value, and check that the classification (such as legal residence) is correct. That assessed value is then multiplied by the combined local tax rate to produce your bill. In South Carolina, property is generally reassessed South Carolina counties reappraise real property on a regular cycle set by state law — generally every few years — and value
can also be updated when a property is sold or improved.
Check your county assessor’s office for its current reassessment schedule.. The single most important number to check is your assessed value: if it is higher than what your home would sell for, your bill is too high — and that is exactly what an appeal fixes.
The actual rates in South Carolina are set by The tax rate (called “millage”) is set locally, not by the state — county councils, cities and towns, school districts, and special purpose districts each set the millage that funds their own budgets, and these are added together on your bill.. That is why your neighbor one town over can pay a different bill on an identical house.
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Where Your South Carolina Property Tax Money Goes
South Carolina property taxes mostly stay local and fund public schools, county and municipal services, and things like roads, libraries, police, and fire protection. The largest share in most areas goes to public education. For most South Carolina homeowners, the school-district share is the biggest single piece of the bill, which is why property taxes tend to be highest where schools rely most on local funding.
One South Carolina note: South Carolina limits how much a reassessment can raise a property’s value within a set number of years, and it uses a “roll-back” millage in reassessment years so a countywide reappraisal isn’t meant to be an automatic across-the-board tax increase. The state also shifted much of the school operating tax off owner-occupied homes years ago, which is why primary residences are treated more favorably than other
property — check your assessment notice for how your home is classified.
How South Carolina Property Tax Compares
The U.S. average property tax bill is about $4,271 a year. The typical South Carolina bill of $1,251 is $3,020 below that. Remember that a low rate does not always mean a low bill — a state with cheap rates but expensive homes can still cost you more than South Carolina. The dollar bill and your own assessment matter more than the headline rate.
How to Lower Your South Carolina Property Tax
You cannot change the South Carolina property tax rate, but you have two real levers on your own bill. First, claim every exemption you qualify for. South Carolina offers property tax breaks that can lower your bill, including a Homestead Exemption for homeowners who are 65 or older, totally and permanently disabled, or legally blind, plus exemptions for qualifying veterans with a service-connected disability and certain surviving spouses. You may
qualify for more than one — check with your county auditor or apply through the SCDOR’s MyDORWAY portal to see what you’re eligible for.
(Do not assume amounts here; see the data box above or check your notice.) Second, appeal your assessment if your home is valued higher than it would sell for — studies suggest a large share of homes are over-assessed, and appeals often succeed.
Don’t want to appeal your South Carolina taxes yourself? A property tax appeal service can file everything for you and usually only charges if it wins — typically a share of what it saves you. It is one option; you can also appeal on your own for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the South Carolina property tax rate?
The average effective South Carolina property tax rate is about 0.49% of a home’s value, based on U.S. Census data. On the typical South Carolina home that works out to roughly $1,251 a year. Your own bill depends on your county, city, and school district, plus any exemptions you claim — see the data box above.
Why is my South Carolina property tax so high?
Property tax in South Carolina is driven mostly by your local rates (especially school levies) and by your home’s assessed value. If your assessment is higher than what your home would actually sell for, you may be overpaying — that is the most common reason a bill is too high, and it is something you can appeal.
How can I lower my South Carolina property tax?
Two things help most in South Carolina: make sure you are claiming every exemption you qualify for (homestead, senior, veteran, or disability), and appeal your assessment if your home is over-valued. Both can lower your bill, and both are free to do yourself.
South Carolina Property Tax Sources & Data
- South Carolina Department of Revenue (property tax): https://dor.sc.gov/property
- Tax Foundation — Property Taxes by State & County: taxfoundation.org
- U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey): census.gov/acs
- Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (property tax data): lincolninst.edu
South Carolina property tax rates and typical bills on this page come from U.S. Census (American Community Survey) data as
published by the Tax Foundation, and were last checked in July 2026. Rates and bills change each year and vary by county
— confirm your own figures with your county assessor before you rely on them.
More Property Tax Guides
- Property Tax Rates by State
- Property Tax by County
- Are You Overpaying? Over-Assessment Checker
- Property Tax Exemption Finder
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Know Property Tax is an independent educational resource. It is not a government agency, not a county assessor, and not a tax-appeal service. Property tax rates, bills, exemptions, and deadlines change over time and vary by county and property. Confirm anything that affects your taxes with your county assessor or a licensed professional before you act.