South Carolina Paycheck Calculator 2026
Calculate your South Carolina take-home pay instantly. Enter your salary or hourly wage and see net pay after federal income tax, South Carolina state tax (1.99%–5.21%), Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%) — all calculated privately in your browser.
South Carolina Payroll Tax Overview
South Carolina uses a graduated state income tax system that, from tax year 2026 (H.4216), has just two rates: 1.99% on the first $30,000 of taxable income and 5.21% above, so your effective state tax rate will be well below the 5.21% top rate. Workers in South Carolina pay state income tax on top of federal income tax (10%–37%), Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%).
The 2026 federal income tax brackets for single filers: 10% on the first $12,400; 12% to $50,400; 22% to $105,700; 24% to $201,775; 32% to $256,225; 35% to $640,600; 37% above. Pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance, HSA) reduce your taxable income before both federal and state taxes are applied.
This calculator starts from federal AGI (gross pay minus pre-tax deductions), subtracts the SC Income Adjusted Deduction ($15,000 single / $22,500 head of household / $30,000 married filing jointly, phased out between $40,000 and $95,000 of AGI for single filers and $80,000 to $190,000 for joint filers), then applies 1.99% up to $30,000 and 5.21% above.
Federal vs South Carolina Tax Burden
For a South Carolina single filer earning $60,000 annually, estimated federal income tax is roughly $5,020 (8.4% effective rate), plus South Carolina state income tax of approximately $1,662 (2.8% effective: a $9,550 partly phased-out SCIAD leaves $50,450 taxable), Social Security $3,720, and Medicare $870. Estimated annual take-home: around $48,728.
States with graduated income tax rates like South Carolina apply higher rates only to income above each threshold — similar to how federal tax brackets work. Your effective state tax rate will be lower than the top 5.21% marginal rate unless nearly all your income falls in the top bracket.
To reduce your South Carolina paycheck tax burden, maximize pre-tax deductions: 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026), HSA contributions (up to $4,400 for self-only coverage in 2026), and employer-sponsored health insurance premiums all lower both federal and state taxable income.
How to Use This South Carolina Paycheck Calculator
Enter your pay period (weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly, or annual), then input either your annual gross salary or your hourly rate and average hours per week. Select your federal filing status — single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household — as this determines your federal tax brackets and standard deduction.
If you have pre-tax deductions such as a 401(k) contribution, health insurance premium, or HSA contribution, enter the total per-period dollar amount. These reduce your taxable income before federal and state taxes are calculated. The calculator will show federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), South Carolina state income tax (1.99%–5.21%), your total deductions, and your net take-home pay — both per period and annualized.
Results are estimates based on standard assumptions and 2026 tax rates. Actual withholding may differ based on your W-4 elections, additional withholding, local taxes (in some cities), or retirement plan contribution limits. For precise payroll calculations, consult your payroll provider or a tax professional.
SC Deductions Most Paycheck Estimators Miss
South Carolina has three subtractions that reduce your state taxable income before the 1.99% and 5.21% rates apply — most out-of-state calculators ignore them, which is why a real SC return often comes out lower than a generic paycheck estimate. Per the SC Department of Revenue individual income tax page: (1) Retirement Income Deduction — up to $10,000 for filers under 65, $15,000 for age 65+, applied to pension and IRA/401(k) distributions before the bracket calculation. (2) Age 65 Deduction — additional $15,000 subtraction ($30,000 MFJ if both 65+) on all income sources. (3) Military Retirement Deduction — 100% exemption of qualifying military retirement pay per Act 143 (2022). If you or your spouse qualifies for any of these, your effective SC rate on the marginal dollar can be roughly 1.5–3.0 points lower than the calculator shows — file the SC1040 with the SC1040 Schedule NR subtractions to capture them.
SC vs Neighbouring States — Border-Move Math
If you're deciding between SC and its neighbours for tax reasons, the paycheck-only view is misleading. On $60,000 single-filer income: NC flat 3.99% for 2026 ≈ $1,885 after the NC standard deduction (vs about $1,662 in SC above); GA flat-rate income tax, higher than SC at this income (see GA paycheck); TN 0% (see TN paycheck); FL 0% (see FL paycheck). Property tax swings this heavily the other way — SC has one of the nation's lowest effective property-tax rates (0.53% vs NC 0.72%, GA 0.85%). At $60K single, a Charleston-to-Charlotte move now adds about $220/year in state income tax on top of ~$1,200/year more property tax on a $350K home. Model both before you commit.
South Carolina Tax Rate Cut Timeline — H.4216 and the 2026 Two-Rate System
South Carolina rebuilt its income tax for 2026, and many paycheck calculators have not caught up. The top rate fell from 7% to 6.5% for 2022, 6.4% for 2023, 6.2% for 2024 and 6% for 2025. Then H.4216, signed March 30, 2026, replaced the 0% / 3% / 6% schedule from tax year 2026 with two rates — 1.99% up to $30,000 and 5.21% above — and replaced the federal standard and itemized deductions with the SC Income Adjusted Deduction (SCIAD), which phases out as income rises. Per the SC Department of Revenue, a further top-rate cut is triggered when the Board of Economic Advisors projects individual income tax collections to grow at least 5%, with each cut capped at $200 million of revenue and announced by February 15. This calculator uses the 2026 rates and SCIAD; recheck each January for any trigger-driven cut.
Updated 2026-10-06. Source: SC DoR + H.4216 (2026).
South Carolina Take-Home Pay Ready-Reckoner — 2026 Salaries
Sanity-check your South Carolina paycheck calculator output against this take-home ready-reckoner for a single filer, no dependents, standard deduction, 401(k) 0%, biweekly pay, 2026 rates. $40,000 gross → ~$33,820 net (85%); $60,000 → ~$48,730 (81%); $80,000 → ~$62,120 (78%); $100,000 → ~$74,940 (75%); $150,000 → ~$106,940 (71%); $200,000 → ~$139,470 (70%). The SC Income Adjusted Deduction ($15,000 single) shrinks between $40,000 and $95,000 of AGI, so above $95,000 every dollar of SC taxable income above $30,000 is taxed at 5.21%. Per the SC Department of Revenue individual income tax page, 2026 SC rates are 1.99% and 5.21% (top) under H.4216.
Paycheck Calculator South Carolina: SC-W4 Setup and Common Withholding Mistakes
The paycheck calculator south carolina assumes your employer is withholding correctly, but per the SC DoR Form SC-W4 (2026), about 1 in 4 SC workers over-withhold because they never updated their state W-4 after a life change (marriage, new child, second job). SC-W4 differs from federal W-4 in two ways: (1) it uses allowances based on SC dependent exemptions, not the federal "credit" system; (2) it does NOT accept extra flat-dollar withholding — only whole allowance numbers. If your annual SC refund exceeds $500, you're claiming too few allowances and losing ~$40/month to the state interest-free. Recalculate with this tool at your actual gross, compare to your last pay stub, and file a new SC-W4 with HR if the gap is >5%. Workers who had no SC tax liability last year and expect none this year can claim exempt status on the SC-W4 — common for part-time and student workers. Updated 2026-07-28.
Last updated 2026-07-28. Sources: South Carolina Department of Revenue, IRS Tax Withholding Estimator, IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 federal brackets).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does South Carolina have state income tax?
Yes, South Carolina has a graduated state income tax. For 2026, H.4216 (signed March 30, 2026) sets two rates: 1.99% on taxable income up to $30,000 and 5.21% above, down from a 6% top rate in 2025.
What is the South Carolina state income tax rate?
South Carolina's top state income tax rate is 5.21% for 2026. The first $30,000 of SC taxable income is taxed at 1.99% and only the amount above $30,000 at 5.21%.
How is take-home pay calculated in South Carolina?
Take-home pay in South Carolina is your gross pay minus federal income tax (10%–37%), Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), state income tax (1.99%–5.21%), and any pre-tax deductions like 401(k) or health insurance.
What payroll taxes apply in South Carolina?
Employees in South Carolina pay federal income tax, FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%), South Carolina state income tax at up to 5.21% (2026). Employers match Social Security and Medicare.
Does South Carolina have SDI or disability tax?
South Carolina does not have a state SDI or disability insurance payroll tax deduction.
How does SC's Retirement Income Deduction affect my paycheck estimate?
It doesn't affect wage withholding — the deduction is claimed on your annual SC1040 return, not on your paycheck. But it reduces the SC state tax you owe at year-end by up to $10,000 (under 65) or $15,000 (65+) of pension/IRA/401(k) income. Practical impact: if you're 65+ with $30,000 of qualifying retirement income and $30,000 of wages, this calculator's SC number is materially overstated; expect a state refund at filing.
Is military retirement pay taxed in South Carolina in 2026?
No. Per SC Act 143 (2022), 100% of qualifying military retirement pay is exempt from SC state income tax for veterans and surviving spouses. This is separate from the general Retirement Income Deduction and stacks with it — active military pay while stationed in SC is also subject to SC's non-resident rules if legal residence remains outside SC. See dor.sc.gov for the SC1040 Schedule NR subtractions.
What is the take-home pay on $60,000 in South Carolina in 2026?
A single filer earning $60,000 in South Carolina takes home roughly $48,730 net per year in 2026 — about 81% of gross. That breaks down to federal income tax (~$5,020), Social Security (6.2% = $3,720), Medicare (1.45% = $870), and SC state income tax at effective ~2.8% (~$1,662). Compared to Tennessee, which has no state income tax, SC leaves you about $1,660 less per year at this income, but SC's property tax is roughly 30% lower than TN's.
Where does the South Carolina top rate start in 2026?
At $30,000 of SC taxable income. Under H.4216, tax year 2026 has two rates: 1.99% on the first $30,000 and 5.21% above. SC taxable income now starts from federal AGI, and the federal standard deduction is replaced by the SC Income Adjusted Deduction (SCIAD): $15,000 single, $22,500 head of household, $30,000 married filing jointly, phased out as federal AGI rises from $40,000 to $95,000 for single filers. At $60K single the effective SC rate is about 2.8%. See dor.sc.gov for the 2026 worksheets.
Will the South Carolina top tax rate keep falling after 2026?
Possibly. H.4216 cut the top rate to 5.21% for 2026 (from 6% in 2025) and adds a trigger: if the Board of Economic Advisors projects individual income tax collections to grow 5% or more over the prior year, the top rate is reduced further, with each reduction limited to $200 million of revenue. The BEA sets any new rate by February 15 each year, so check the SC Department of Revenue each year before adjusting your withholding.
How does South Carolina tax remote workers earning wages from out-of-state employers?
SC taxes full-year residents on 100% of worldwide W-2 wages regardless of the employer's location, at the 2026 rates of 1.99% and 5.21%. If you physically travel to work in another state (say, a Charlotte NC office for one week), that state may claim nonresident withholding on those specific days, and SC then credits the tax paid to the other state under Schedule NR of Form SC1040. Fully-remote SC residents working for California, New York, or Washington employers pay only SC tax (plus federal + FICA) — no state-tax withholding by the employer state unless you physically enter it. Configure your employer withholding to SC-only via Form W-4 supplemented by SC Form WH-1605 if the employer's payroll defaults to their home state.