Typical commuter
12,000 mi · 25 MPG · 480 gal
$138.00
+ $88.80 federal
All states
Jan. 1 2026Rank #30
Jan. 1 2026Rank #30South Carolina Gas Tax 2026
28¢/gal excise + 0.75¢/gal fees = 28.75¢/gal state (47.25¢/gal with federal).
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
28.75¢/gal
State total
47.25¢/gal
Combined
$138.00
Annual state tax
#30
National rank
South Carolina gasoline tax breakdown
Excise tax
28¢/gal
Other fees
0.75¢/gal
State total
28.75¢/gal
Combined w/ federal
47.25¢/gal
South Carolina's 28.75¢/gal state total ranks #30 nationally and is below the 33.25¢/gal US average. Federal tax adds 18.5¢/gal everywhere.
Estimated annual gasoline tax in South Carolina
State tax only (federal shown separately). Gallons = miles ÷ MPG.
Higher mileage
15,000 mi · 25 MPG · 600 gal
$172.50
+ $111.00 federal
30 MPG vehicle
12,000 mi · 30 MPG · 400 gal
$115.00
+ $74.00 federal
20 MPG vehicle
12,000 mi · 20 MPG · 600 gal
$172.50
+ $111.00 federal
Default headline: $138.00 state tax at 12,000 miles and 25 MPG (480 gallons).
Key takeaways — South Carolina gas tax
- South Carolina total state gasoline tax is 28.75¢/gal (28¢/gal excise + 0.75¢/gal other fees) in 2026.
- Combined with federal 18.5¢/gal, the tax component is about 47.25¢/gal per gallon.
- National rank #30 (#1 = highest). That is 4.5¢/gal below the 33.25¢/gal US average state tax.
- At 12,000 miles and 25 MPG, state tax is about $138.00 and combined federal+state about $226.80.
- Bordering jurisdictions range from 34.05¢/gal to 41.25¢/gal in state tax.
- Local fuel taxes and (in CA/OR/WA) LCFS or cap-and-trade costs may raise what you actually pay at the pump.
South Carolina vs neighboring states
Total state gasoline tax for jurisdictions that share a border with South Carolina. South Carolina is 28.75¢/gal (rank #30).
| State | State total | vs SC | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 28.75¢/gal | — | This page |
 North Carolina | 41.25¢/gal | +12.5¢/gal | vs SC |
 Georgia | 34.05¢/gal | +5.3¢/gal | vs SC |
*Annual state tax at 12,000 miles and 25 MPG. Federal tax excluded from the delta column.
South Carolina tax on a typical fill-up
Tax dollars already included in the pump price at 28.75¢/gal state + federal.
10-gallon fill-up
$2.88
state · $4.73 w/ federal
15-gallon fill-up
$4.31
state · $7.09 w/ federal
20-gallon fill-up
$5.75
state · $9.45 w/ federal
How to read this page
South Carolina gas tax overview (2026)
South Carolina charges a total statewide gasoline tax of 28.75¢/gal as of January 1, 2026, per Tax Foundation Table 22. That breaks down to 28¢/gal in excise and 0.75¢/gal in other per-gallon fees.
Add the federal 18.5¢/gal for a combined tax component of 47.25¢/gal. Wholesale crude, refining, and station margins still make up most of the retail price.
Rank #30 places South Carolina 4.5¢/gal below the 33.25¢/gal average across all 51 jurisdictions in this dataset.
What drivers in South Carolina pay over a year
Using 12,000 miles at 25 MPG (480 gallons), state gasoline tax alone is about $138.00. Federal tax on the same gallons is about $88.80.
A 15-gallon fill-up carries roughly $4.31 in state tax ($7.09 including federal)—before any local add-ons.
If you often cross into North Carolina, Georgia, compare those rates before assuming South Carolina is always the cheapest fill.
Planning fuel costs in South Carolina
Track miles and MPG for a realistic gallons estimate; tax scales directly with gallons purchased.
Diesel, aviation gasoline, and dyed fuel follow different federal and often different state schedules.
For tax-deductible business miles, use the IRS standard mileage rate or actual expenses—gas tax is already embedded in fuel cost and is not a separate personal income-tax line.
Who this South Carolina gas tax page helps
Useful if…
- •Residents of South Carolina estimating how much of each fill-up is tax.
- •Commuters weighing South Carolina against a neighboring state’s pump taxes.
- •Small fleets budgeting annual fuel tax at known mileage.
- •Movers comparing offer packages that include a car commute.
Use official tools if…
- •You need an official refund, bonded fuel, or IFTA filing.
- •Your city adds a local fuel tax not in the statewide table.
- •You primarily buy diesel or alternative fuels.
- •You need a live retail price forecast rather than statutory rates.
South Carolina gas tax checklist
Quick steps before treating the statewide average as your exact pump tax.
- 1Confirm South Carolina's 28.75¢/gal state total and rank #30.
- 2Add federal 18.5¢/gal for a 47.25¢/gal combined tax component.
- 3Estimate annual cost with your miles ÷ MPG × rate.
- 4Ask whether local fuel taxes apply at your usual stations.
- 5Compare South Carolina with a peer or neighbor before relocating for fuel savings alone.
- 6Recheck rates after mid-year reindexes if your state adjusts for inflation.
States with similar gasoline tax rates
| State | State total | Rank | Annual tax |
|---|---|---|---|
 Colorado | 29.18¢/gal | #29 | $140.06 |
 Massachusetts | 27.56¢/gal | #31 | $132.29 |
 Missouri | 29.99¢/gal | #28 | $143.95 |
 Iowa | 30¢/gal | #27 | $144.00 |
 South Dakota | 30¢/gal | #26 | $144.00 |
 Tennessee | 27.4¢/gal | #32 | $131.52 |
Compare South Carolina with another state
Compare any two states
State gasoline tax rates with annual driving-cost estimates.
South Carolina gasoline tax FAQs
South Carolina's total state gasoline tax is 28.75¢/gal in 2026: 28¢/gal excise plus 0.75¢/gal in other per-gallon fees.
47.25¢/gal per gallon (28.75¢/gal state + 18.5¢/gal federal).
At 12,000 miles and 25 MPG (480 gallons), state tax is about $138.00 and federal tax about $88.80, for $226.80 combined.
South Carolina ranks #30 by total state gasoline tax among the 50 states, where #1 is the highest rate. Equal totals may share a rank or receive consecutive ranks in the Tax Foundation table.
This table excludes county and municipal fuel taxes. Some cities or counties add separate per-gallon levies not reflected in the statewide total.
Federal diesel tax is 24.5¢/gal. South Carolina may use a different diesel excise or fee schedule than the gasoline total shown here.
South Carolina's 28.75¢/gal is below the 33.25¢/gal average across all jurisdictions in this dataset.
Rates are statewide totals as of January 1, 2026 from Tax Foundation Table 22. Local fuel taxes, diesel-specific schedules, and implied environmental program costs (notably in CA, OR, and WA) may not be fully captured.
About $4.31 in state tax and $7.09 including federal 18.5¢/gal—already in the pump price.
Nearby state totals: North Carolina 41.25¢/gal (+12.5¢/gal vs SC); Georgia 34.05¢/gal (+5.3¢/gal vs SC). Open a compare page for annual dollar gaps.
Many states periodically adjust excise rates; this page reflects Tax Foundation’s January 1, 2026 snapshot. Confirm the current statute or revenue department notice for the latest cents-per-gallon figure.
Personal commuting fuel is generally not deductible. Business or self-employed drivers usually claim the standard mileage rate or actual fuel expenses (which already include gas tax), not a separate state gas-tax credit.