Casual Excise Tax is due when the title or other proof of ownership is issued for a boat, boat motor, or airplane that is required to be registered, titled, or licensed. It applies to the last sale before the application for the title.
SCDOR does not provide or issue receipts. We recommend that you pay the Casual Excise Tax directly to the SC Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), or file electronically on MyDORWAY if you require proof of payment.
The tax rate is 5% of the fair market value of the airplane, motor, or boat purchased.
Fair market value is defined as:
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the total purchase price (price agreed upon by the buyer and seller) minus any trade-in allowance of the boat, motor, or airplane; or
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its value listed in a national publication (NADA) adopted by the SCDOR.
Casual Excise Tax on sales of boats, motors, or airplanes may not exceed the $500 Maximum Tax.
Any item subject to the $500
Maximum Tax is taxed at a state rate of 5% and is not subject to any local tax administered by the SCDOR. However, any transaction not subject to the Maximum Tax is taxed at a state rate of 6% and is subject to any local tax administed by the SCDOR.
Learn more about this tax in South Carolina Code Section
12-36-1710(A).
