South Carolina penny rounding law

With no South Carolina rule for store sales, the calculator applies the nearest-nickel method used by most state laws and the federal bill, or rounding in the customer’s favor. Choose another state to compare.

South Carolina law and bills

H.4617 (Reps. Taylor and Clyburn) would have added § 34-31-30, requiring a merchant that “cannot make exact change” to round up or down to the nearest nickel. It was prefiled December 16, 2025 and referred to the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee on January 13, 2026, with no further action. The 2026 session of the 126th General Assembly has ended, so the bill is dead.

What South Carolina agencies say

The Department of Revenue’s Information Letter #26-6, “End of Penny Production (Sales and Use Tax)” (January 22, 2026), says retailers may round cash totals up, down or to the nearest nickel, and that the Department does not endorse any method. Tax is due on gross proceeds before rounding. Its example: on a $138.74 total, the retailer remits $7.85 of tax whether it collects $138.75 or $138.70. The letter notes that state law does not address penny-elimination rounding, and like all information letters it has no precedential value.

Can a South Carolina store round cash totals?

Yes, as store policy. The Post and Courier reported in November 2025 that South Carolina businesses were “forced to make up their own rules,” and they still are. Harris Teeter rounds in the customer’s favor and Publix uses nearest-nickel rounding. The South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act bars deceptive practices, so post the policy.

Federal law

There is no federal rounding rule in force either. The Common Cents Act (H.R. 10167) passed Congress on September 28, 2026, but as of October 31, 2026 we found no record of it being signed. If enacted, it would let sellers in South Carolina round cash totals symmetrically to the nearest 5¢ without requiring anyone to round, keep pennies legal tender, and protect sellers that follow its method from conflicting state or local rules. Federal status of the penny.

Your options as a customer

• Pay by card, debit, EBT or app. Those payments are charged the exact amount; rounding only ever touches cash.
• Pay with exact change. Pennies are still legal tender (31 U.S.C. § 5103). The Federal Reserve notes, though, that no federal law makes a private business accept cash or coins. We found no South Carolina law that changes that, so a store sets its own payment policy. Federal Reserve FAQ.
• Check the receipt. It should show the exact total and a separate rounding line, so you can see which way it went.
• Report a problem. If a store rounds every cash total up without telling customers, contact the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs. See also is it legal for a store to round up?

Sales tax

South Carolina’s state sales tax rate is 6%, and counties add local taxes. Unprepared food is exempt from the state 6% but local taxes may apply. Remit tax on the price before rounding, as Information Letter #26-6 directs. More on sales tax and cash rounding.

SNAP, EBT and card payments

SNAP and WIC benefits are paid electronically, so the EBT part of any purchase in South Carolina is always charged to the exact cent. Federal rules require stores to treat SNAP shoppers the same as other customers, so a store that rounds the cash part of a split payment should use the same rule for everyone. SNAP/EBT, cards and refunds.

Stores and local news in South Carolina

The Post and Courier (November 20, 2025) described South Carolina restaurants and shops each choosing their own approach during the holiday shopping season, from rounding down to asking for exact change.

Rules in neighboring states

Shopping across the line? Rounding rules change at the border.

Checked against the sources below as of October 31, 2026. Compare every state in the state-by-state tracker.