South Carolina paycheck taxes at a glance
South Carolina has income tax from 1.99% to 5.21%. Every paycheck also has federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) withheld. This calculator uses 2026 South Carolina rules and 2026 federal brackets.
| Income tax | Progressive, 2 brackets (1.99%–5.21%) |
| Standard deduction | $15,000 single, phased out between $40,000 and $95,000 of income · $30,000 married, phased out between $80,000 and $190,000 of income |
| Personal exemption | $0 single · $0 married |
| 401(k) contributions | Excluded from state taxable wages |
| Local income taxes | None — No local income taxes in South Carolina. |
| State payroll deductions | None |
The calculator applies the main South Carolina rates, deductions, exemptions and credits above. Dependent credits, itemized deductions and special rules for very high incomes are not included.
South Carolina income tax brackets (2026)
Rates apply to South Carolina taxable income, after deductions and exemptions.
| Single | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|
| $0 – $29,999: 1.99% | $0 – $29,999: 1.99% |
| $30,000+: 5.21% | $30,000+: 5.21% |
Take-home pay examples in South Carolina
Single filer, standard deduction, no 401(k), paid bi-weekly.
| Salary | Take-home / year | / month | / paycheck | State & local tax | Total tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $33,822 | $2,819 | $1,301 | $498 | 15.4% |
| $60,000 | $48,727 | $4,061 | $1,874 | $1,663 | 18.8% |
| $80,000 | $62,121 | $5,177 | $2,389 | $2,989 | 22.3% |
| $100,000 | $74,936 | $6,245 | $2,882 | $4,244 | 25.1% |
| $150,000 | $106,942 | $8,912 | $4,113 | $6,849 | 28.7% |
Full breakdown by salary: $30,000 · $40,000 · $50,000 · $60,000 · $70,000 · $80,000 · $90,000 · $100,000 · $120,000 · $150,000
Good to know
- Act 110 of 2026 replaced South Carolina's three income tax brackets with two (1.99% and 5.21%) starting with tax year 2026.
- From 2026, South Carolina taxable income starts from federal AGI and uses a new SC Income Adjusted Deduction of up to $15,000 (single) or $30,000 (joint) that phases out as AGI rises.
- Unprepared food is exempt from the 6% state sales tax, but local sales taxes can still apply to it.
Also see the South Carolina sales tax calculator.
Sources
Paycheck calculators for other states
Frequently asked questions
What is the South Carolina income tax rate for 2026?
South Carolina has a progressive income tax with 2 brackets for single filers, from 1.99% to 5.21% for 2026.
How much is $60,000 a year after taxes in South Carolina?
A single filer earning $60,000 takes home about $48,727 a year ($4,061 a month) in South Carolina, after federal income tax ($5,020), Social Security and Medicare ($4,590) and South Carolina income tax ($1,663), using 2026 rules and the standard deduction.
Are 401(k) contributions taxed in South Carolina?
No. Traditional 401(k) contributions lower both your federal and South Carolina taxable income. They are still subject to Social Security and Medicare.