South Carolina Gas Tax
What South Carolina and the federal government charge per gallon of gasoline, from U.S. Energy Information Administration data as of July 2026.
What makes up South Carolina’s 47.1¢
| South Carolina state excise tax | 28.0¢ |
| Other South Carolina taxes & fees sales/use taxes, inspection and environmental fees | 0.8¢ |
| Total South Carolina state tax | 28.7¢ |
| Federal excise + LUST fee 18.3¢ excise + 0.1¢ LUST, unchanged since 1993 | 18.4¢ |
| Combined state + federal | 47.1¢ |
Inspection Fee: $0.0025/gal; Environmental Impact Fee: $0.0050/gal.
How much of a gallon in South Carolina is tax
South Carolina gasoline currently averages $3.85 a gallon. Against that, the 47.1¢ of combined state and federal tax is about 12.2% of what a driver pays — with local taxes, where they apply, on top.
Tax rate from EIA as of July 2026; pump price is the current EIA weekly average. The two are published on different schedules, so the share moves as prices move even when the tax does not.
South Carolina vs. the other 50 states
South Carolina’s state gas tax of 28.7¢ is 5.0¢ below the 33.8¢ average across 50 states and D.C. — the 31st-highest, or equivalently the 21st-lowest.
South Carolina gas tax, answered
- What is the gas tax in South Carolina?
- South Carolina charges 28.7¢ per gallon in state gasoline taxes — 28.0¢ of state excise tax plus 0.8¢ in other state taxes and fees. Adding the 18.4¢ federal tax brings the total to 47.1¢ per gallon, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data as of July 2026. These are state and federal taxes only and exclude county and local taxes.
- How does South Carolina's gas tax compare to other states?
- South Carolina's state gasoline tax of 28.7¢ per gallon ranks 31st-highest of the 50 states and D.C. that EIA lists, against an average of 33.8¢. The highest is California at 73.6¢ and the lowest is Alaska at 8.9¢.
- What is the federal gas tax in South Carolina?
- The federal gasoline tax is 18.4¢ per gallon in South Carolina, the same as in every other state — 18.3¢ of excise tax plus a 0.1¢ Leaking Underground Storage Tank fee. It has been unchanged since 1993.
- How much of the price of gas in South Carolina is tax?
- With South Carolina gasoline averaging $3.85 per gallon, the 47.1¢ of combined state and federal tax is about 12.2% of the pump price. Local taxes, where they apply, are on top of that.
- Does South Carolina charge local gas taxes too?
- Yes — EIA flags South Carolina as a state where local option taxes are allowed, so some counties and cities add their own tax on top of the 28.7¢ state rate. EIA's table covers state taxes of general application and excludes county and local taxes, so a driver in some South Carolina cities pays more than the figure shown here.
Related to South Carolina gas tax
Tax rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Federal and state motor fuels taxes”, edition July 2026 (revised August 2026) (as of July 2026), published on EIA’s Petroleum Marketing Monthly page and reissued each January and July. EIA lists taxes “of general application … exclusive of county and local taxes”; rates are for gasoline.