S.C. Code Ann. § 12-36-1310 – Imposition of tax; rate; applicability; credit for tax paid in another state

(A) A use tax is imposed on the storage, use, or other consumption in this State of tangible personal property purchased at retail for storage, use, or other consumption in this State, at the rate of five percent of the sales price of the property, regardless of whether the retailer is or is not engaged in business in this State.
(B) The use tax imposed by this article also applies to the:
1. (1) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the business of providing or furnishing a laundering, dry cleaning, dyeing, or pressing service, but does not apply to the gross proceeds derived from coin operated laundromats and dry cleaning machines;
2. (2) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the sale of electricity;
3. (3)
  1. (a) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the charges for the ways or means for the transmission of the voice or messages, including the charges for use of equipment furnished by the seller or supplier of the ways or means for the transmission of the voice or messages. Gross proceeds from the sale of prepaid wireless calling arrangements subject to tax at retail pursuant to item (5) of this subsection are not subject to tax pursuant to this item. Effective for bills rendered after August 1, 2002, charges for mobile telecommunications services subject to the tax under this item must be sourced in accordance with the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act as provided in Title 4 of the United States Code. The term "charges for mobile telecommunications services" is defined for purposes of this section the same as it is defined in the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act. All definitions and provisions of the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act as provided in Title 4 of the United States Code are adopted. Telecommunications services are sourced in accordance with Section 12-36-1920.
  2. (b)
    1. (i) For purposes of this item, a "bundled transaction" means a transaction consisting of distinct and identifiable properties or services, which are sold for one nonitemized price but which are treated differently for tax purposes.
    2. (ii) For bills rendered on or after January 1, 2004, that include telecommunications services in a bundled transaction, if the nonitemized price is attributable to properties or services that are taxable and nontaxable, the portion of the price attributable to any nontaxable property or service is subject to tax unless the provider can reasonably identify that portion from its books and records kept in the regular course of business for purposes other than sales taxes;
4. (4) fair market value of tangible personal property brought into this State, by the manufacturer thereof, for storage, use, or consumption in this State by the manufacturer.
5. (5) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the sale or recharge at retail for prepaid wireless calling arrangements.
  1. (a) "Prepaid wireless calling arrangements" means communication services that:
    1. (i) are used exclusively to purchase wireless telecommunications;
    2. (ii) are purchased in advance;
    3. (iii) allow the purchaser to originate telephone calls by using an access number, authorization code, or other means entered manually or electronically; and
    4. (iv) are sold in units or dollars which decline with use in a known amount.
  2. (b) All charges for prepaid wireless calling arrangements must be sourced to the:
    1. (i) location in this State where the over-the-counter sale took place;
    2. (ii) shipping address if the sale did not take place at the seller's location and an item is shipped; or
    3. (iii) either the billing address or location associated with the mobile telephone number if the sale did not take place at the seller's location and no item is shipped.
6. (6) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the sale or renewal of warranty, maintenance, or similar service contracts for tangible personal property, whether or not such contracts are purchased in conjunction with the sale of tangible personal property.
(C) When a taxpayer is liable for the use tax imposed by this section on tangible personal property purchased in another state, upon which a sales or use tax was due and paid in the other state, the amount of the sales or use tax due and paid in the other state is allowed as a credit against the use tax due this State, upon proof that the sales or use tax was due and paid in the other state. If the amount of the sales or use tax paid in the other state is less than the amount of use tax imposed by this article, the user shall pay the difference to the department.