United States · Deed Recording Fee
South Carolina calls it a deed recording fee rather than a transfer tax: $1.85 per $500 (0.37%) of the price, normally paid by the seller, with some counties adding a small surcharge. On a $350,000 home the fee is about $1,295. The state is deliberately tax-light on transfers — the bigger local story is the annual property tax, which is assessed on a fraction of market value with steep owner-occupied discounts, keeping effective rates low for primary residents.
Preset rates are indicative reference values only. Confirm current rates and any reliefs with your local tax authority.
Jurisdiction comparison at $350,000.00
South Carolina pays $1,295.00 (0.37%) vs South Carolina at $1,295.00 (0.37%).
Deed recording fee of $1.85 per $500 (0.37%), usually paid by the seller, plus a small county surcharge in some counties. Bands below are the standard residential buyer schedule used by the calculator.
| Property value | Rate |
|---|---|
| All values | Flat 0.37% of the full value |
Indicative figures compiled August 2026 — official source: South Carolina Department of Revenue. Rates are typically indexed or revised each financial year.
A USD 350,000.00 purchase in South Carolina attracts about USD 1,295.00 in deed recording fee at the standard indicative rates — an effective rate of 0.37%. Recording fees run $50–100; attorney closings are common. That makes the all-in cash requirement USD 351,295.00 before you factor in any deposit, legal work, or moving costs. Adjust the price in the calculator to model your own number.
Deed recording fee of $1.85 per $500 (0.37%), usually paid by the seller, plus a small county surcharge in some counties. Rates change with legislation and vary by buyer circumstances, so treat these as planning figures and confirm the current rate with South Carolina Department of Revenue before you commit.
At the indicative rates above, a USD 350,000.00 property attracts about USD 1,295.00 in deed recording fee — an effective rate of 0.37%. Recording fees run $50–100; attorney closings are common.. The calculator above lets you change the price and see the result instantly.
There is no general first-time buyer exemption in South Carolina at the standard indicative rates. Deed recording fee 0.37%, seller-paid by convention. Check current eligibility rules with South Carolina Department of Revenue.
The buyer pays the tax in essentially every case in this market. It is payable in full before or at settlement and cannot normally be added to a mortgage, so it must be part of your cash budget alongside the deposit.
How we calculate: the calculator applies the official band schedule marginally — each rate applies only to the slice of the price inside its band, exactly as the revenue authority does. Worked examples are computed with the same function.
Last reviewed: . Learn more about Nirmal Lashkari and LashkariProperties.
Disclaimer: deed recording fee rates change with legislation and vary by buyer circumstances. These are indicative planning figures, not tax advice — confirm every number with South Carolina Department of Revenue or a qualified local professional.
