South Dakota sales tax at a glance
| State base rate | 4.2% |
| Average combined rate | ~6.4% (state + county + city + districts) |
| National rank | 32 of 51 by average combined rate (all-state average 6.61%) |
| Groceries | Taxed at full rate |
| Major cities | Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Brookings, Watertown |
Worked examples — what you actually pay in South Dakota
Using the average combined rate of 6.4% (your exact city rate may be higher or lower):
| Purchase | Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $25 | $1.60 | $26.60 |
| $100 | $6.40 | $106.40 |
| $500 | $32.00 | $532.00 |
| $1,000 | $64.00 | $1064.00 |
| $10,000 | $640.00 | $10640.00 |
Sales tax rates
Chart: DailyFinance.tools · Rates are reviewed averages from our state tax dataset — your exact local rate may differ.
How South Dakota compares with other states
The states closest to South Dakota on average combined rate, plus the national extremes — all rates are average combined (state + local):
| State | Average combined rate | Tax on $1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota (this page) | 6.4% | $64.00 |
| West Virginia | 6.5% | $65.00 |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | $63.50 |
| Pennsylvania | 6.34% | $63.40 |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | $62.50 |
| Louisiana — highest in the US | 9.56% | $95.60 |
| Oregon — lowest in the US | 0% | $0.00 |
What this means in South Dakota
South Dakota's average combined rate of 6.4% sits close to the all-state average of 6.61% (rank 32 of 51). Sales tax here is neither a reason to cross a border nor a penalty for staying — on a $10,000 purchase the tax is about $640, within $21 of what the average state would charge. Local variation inside South Dakota matters more than the state figure: city and district layers move the rate more than the state ranking does.
South Dakota taxes groceries at the full rate — one of the few states that do. A $150 weekly food shop at the average combined rate of 6.4% carries about $9.6 of tax a week, roughly $499.2 a year, before any credits the state offers residents on their income tax return. Households comparing states on cost of living should count this: it is a recurring charge, not a one-off.
How to calculate South Dakota sales tax (3 steps)
- Find your combined rate. Start with the 4.2% state rate, then add your county, city and any special-district rates for the exact purchase location.
- Multiply. Tax = taxable price × (combined rate ÷ 100). Shipping and discounts change the taxable base in some cases — discounts usually reduce it, delivery charges vary.
- Add (or extract). Total = price + tax. Working backwards from a tax-inclusive price: pre-tax price = total ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100). Our calculator does both directions instantly.
Groceries and exemptions in South Dakota
Groceries are taxed at the full sales tax rate. South Dakota taxes groceries at the full rate. Prescription medicines are exempt in almost every state; clothing, services and digital goods follow state-specific rules, so check the South Dakota Department of Revenue for category detail before assuming an item is tax-free.
Selling into South Dakota? Read this
If you sell online and ship to South Dakota, economic nexus rules generally require you to collect tax once your South Dakota sales pass the state's threshold (commonly $100,000). You collect at the rate for the buyer's delivery address — which is why combined-rate accuracy matters more than the state base rate. The full calculator lets you test any rate, extract tax from totals, and model VAT for international sales.