2026 tax year · take-home pay
South Carolina Paycheck Calculator (2026)
South Carolina restructured its income tax for 2026 under H.4216, replacing the old six-bracket system with just two rates: 1.99% on the first $30,000 of taxable income and 5.21% on everything above that. The top rate was previously 6%, so many South Carolina earners will see a lower tax bill. An $8,350 standard deduction applies before either rate kicks in.
Your paycheck breakdown
Estimated take-home pay
$1,640.54
per paycheck · $42,654.04/yr · 18.0% withheld
- Gross pay
- $2,000.00
- − Federal income tax
- $156.15
- − Social Security
- $124.00
- − Medicare
- $29.00
- − SC state income tax
- $50.31
- Net take-home
- $1,640.54
Estimate for tax year 2026. Withholding depends on your W-4 and employer; your actual paycheck may differ. Not tax advice.
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What to do with your take-home
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How South Carolina withholding works
South Carolina's two-rate structure under H.4216
H.4216 collapsed South Carolina's six progressive brackets into two clean rates for 2026: 1.99% on the first $30,000 of taxable income and 5.21% on income above that. The $8,350 standard deduction (single) reduces taxable income before either rate applies. Workers earning below roughly $38,000 gross pay (accounting for the deduction and pre-tax items) may stay in the 1.99% bracket entirely.
How the new rates compare to prior law
Under the old system, South Carolina's top rate was 6.00%. The new 5.21% ceiling reduces the top rate meaningfully, and the wide 1.99% bracket on the first $30,000 of taxable income represents a significant cut for middle earners as well. The simplification also makes withholding easier to verify: two rates instead of six.
Rates & brackets
South Carolina's 2026 income tax rates
South Carolina taxes income in graduated brackets. Only the income inside each band is taxed at that band's rate. Here is the 2026 schedule for a single filer:
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $30,000 | 1.99% |
| $30,000 and up | 5.21% |
Standard deduction applied: $8,350 (single), $16,700 (married filing jointly). Brackets apply to income after this deduction.
Source: primary 2026 tax data, verified . See our methodology for full sources.
Worked examples
Estimated take-home at common salaries in South Carolina
Rough figures for a single filer over a full tax year, with no pre-tax deductions, a starting point before you run your own numbers above.
| Gross | Federal income tax | FICA | SC state tax | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $2,620 | $3,060 | $683 | $33,637 |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $4,590 | $1,725 | $48,665 |
| $85,000 | $9,870 | $6,503 | $3,027 | $65,600 |
| $120,000 | $17,570 | $9,180 | $4,851 | $88,399 |
Estimates for the 2026 tax year, single filer, computed from published federal and South Carolina tax tables. Rounded to the nearest dollar. Your actual pay depends on your W-4, pre-tax deductions, and employer payroll. Not tax advice.
Common questions
South Carolina Paycheck Calculator: common questions
- What is South Carolina's income tax rate for 2026?
- Under H.4216, South Carolina uses two rates for 2026: 1.99% on the first $30,000 of taxable income and 5.21% above that, with an $8,350 standard deduction (single). The old top rate was 6%.
- What lines hit a South Carolina paycheck?
- FICA takes Social Security at 6.2% and Medicare at 1.45%; on top of that come federal income tax and South Carolina income tax at 1.99% (up to $30k taxable) and 5.21% above that, after the $8,350 standard deduction.
- Does South Carolina have local income taxes?
- No. South Carolina municipalities do not levy a local income or wage tax. State and federal are the only income-tax lines.
Other state calculators
Estimates for tax year 2026, based on published federal and state tax tables. Not tax advice. Page last updated .