The sales tax rate in Myrtle Beach, SC is 9% on most retail purchases, including clothing, electronics, and general merchandise.1South Carolina Department of Revenue. Sales and Use Tax Index That total combines South Carolina’s 6% state sales tax with three separate 1% local taxes approved by Horry County voters. Restaurant meals and hotel stays carry additional fees that push the rate higher on those transactions.
What Makes Up the 9%
South Carolina’s statewide sales tax is 6%, and it applies the same way in Myrtle Beach as it does anywhere else in the state.1South Carolina Department of Revenue. Sales and Use Tax Index The other 3% comes from three voter-approved local taxes, each adding a penny on the dollar:
- A 1% Education Capital Improvement Tax that funds school construction and technology for Horry County schools. It took effect in March 2024.2South Carolina Department of Revenue. Local Sales Taxes
- A 1% Transportation Tax that pays for roadwork under Horry County’s RIDE program. The current version took effect in May 2025.2South Carolina Department of Revenue. Local Sales Taxes
- A 1% Tourism Development Fee that funds tourism marketing and provides property tax relief for permanent residents.3City of Myrtle Beach. Why the Sales Tax on a Meal is 11.5% in Myrtle Beach
Retailers collect the full 9% at the register and send it to the South Carolina Department of Revenue, which routes the local share back to Horry County.
Restaurant Meals Are Taxed at 11.5%
Eat at a restaurant inside Myrtle Beach city limits and the total tax on your check is 11.5%, not 9%.3City of Myrtle Beach. Why the Sales Tax on a Meal is 11.5% in Myrtle Beach The extra 2.5% is a combined city and county hospitality fee on prepared food and beverages.4Horry County Treasurer. Hospitality Fee It applies to any establishment selling prepared food for immediate consumption, from sit-down restaurants to fast-food counters to beachfront bars.
Outside the city limits but still in Horry County, the hospitality structure shifts, with unincorporated areas paying the 2.5% to the county alone.
Hotels and Short-Term Rentals
Overnight lodging carries the heaviest tax load. The state alone imposes 7% on accommodations, built from a 4% education funding tax, a 1% additional tax, and a 2% accommodations tax that flows back to local governments.5South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 12, Chapter 36 – Section 12-36-2630 On top of that 7%, hotels and vacation rentals in Myrtle Beach owe the same local sales taxes that apply to retail goods, plus local accommodations taxes and the hospitality fee on lodging.
South Carolina law lets municipalities impose a local accommodations tax of up to 3% on transient lodging, with counties able to add up to 1.5% inside city limits without the city’s consent.6South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 6, Chapter 1 – Local Accommodations Tax, Section 6-1-520 Stack it all together and the total tax on a Myrtle Beach hotel night can reach the mid-teens as a percentage of the nightly rate. Whether the property sits inside or outside city limits changes the exact total.
Groceries and Prescriptions
Unprepared food you take home to cook is exempt from South Carolina’s 6% state sales tax. The exemption covers items eligible for USDA food assistance benefits and sold for home consumption.7South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 12-36-2120 – Exemptions from Sales Tax The distinction between prepared and unprepared matters at the grocery store: a rotisserie chicken from the deli is taxable; raw chicken from the meat case is not.
The state exemption doesn’t automatically carry over to local taxes, but in Horry County both the Education Capital Improvement Tax and the Transportation Tax also exempt unprepared food.2South Carolina Department of Revenue. Local Sales Taxes Most grocery purchases in Myrtle Beach end up with little or no sales tax, though the Tourism Development Fee may still apply depending on its ordinance.
Prescription medications dispensed by a pharmacist are fully exempt from both state and local sales taxes. The exemption also covers certain prosthetic devices and medical supplies tied to ongoing health conditions.8South Carolina Department of Revenue. SC Revenue Ruling 11-3 – Medicines, Prosthetic Devices, Diabetic Supplies and Other Medical Supplies
Tax-Free Weekend in August
South Carolina holds a sales tax holiday every August, running 72 hours from 12:01 a.m. the first Friday through midnight Sunday. In 2026 that falls on August 7 through 9. During the holiday the 6% state tax and applicable local taxes are waived on qualifying items.9South Carolina Business One Stop. South Carolina Tax Free Weekend
Four categories qualify:
- Clothing and footwear, including uniforms, swimwear, and athletic shoes
- School supplies used for classroom assignments, including calculators, headphones, and musical instruments
- Computers, printers, and software; accessories like monitors and keyboards qualify only when sold as a package with a computer
- Bed and bath items, including sheets, pillows, towels, bedspreads, and shower curtains
At 9%, the savings add up quickly. A $1,000 laptop bought during the holiday costs $90 less than the same laptop bought on Monday.10South Carolina Department of Revenue. Tax Free Weekend
Reduced Rate for Shoppers 85 and Older
Residents who are 85 or older pay a 5% state sales tax rate instead of 6% on tangible personal property purchased for their own use.11South Carolina Department of Revenue. Purchases by Individuals 85 Years of Age and Older That covers clothing, appliances, electronics, furniture, and household supplies. On lodging, the state portion drops from 7% to 6% on the base rental charge.
You have to ask for the discount at the register and show proof of age. The reduction applies only to the state portion, so Horry County’s three local 1% levies still apply in full. Gifts and business purchases don’t qualify.
Use Tax on Online and Out-of-State Purchases
If you buy something online or out of state and bring it back to Myrtle Beach without paying sales tax (or paying a lower rate than South Carolina’s), you owe use tax on the difference. The use tax rate matches the combined sales tax rate, so Myrtle Beach residents owe 9% minus whatever another state collected.12South Carolina Department of Revenue. Use Tax Most major online retailers already collect South Carolina tax at checkout, but catalog orders, smaller sellers, and private-party purchases can still trigger the obligation.