South Carolina · tax year 2026
South Carolina paycheck calculator
South Carolina taxes income at 1.99% up to $30,000 and 5.21% above, after a new state deduction that shrinks as income rises. On $85,000 a year, a single person here takes home about $65,307, or $2,511.82 every two weeks.
Estimated take-home pay · 2026
Biweekly pay · Single · South Carolina
$2,511.82 per paycheck
from $3,269.23 before taxes · 26 paychecks a year
Where each dollar goes
- Take-home pay76.8%$65,307
- Federal income tax11.6%$9,870
- Social Security and Medicare7.6%$6,503
- State taxes3.9%$3,320
Line by line
Per paycheckPer yearPay
Taxes
Federal income tax$379.62$9,870
2026 brackets after the $16,100 standard deduction, worked out for the year and spread over your paychecks. IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32
Social Security$202.69$5,270
6.2% of wages up to $184,500. Traditional 401(k) contributions do not reduce it. SSA wage base · 2026
Medicare$47.40$1,233
1.45% of wages, with no cap. IRS Pub. 15 · 2026
South Carolina income tax$127.70$3,320
South Carolina taxes income at 1.99% up to $30,000 and 5.21% above, after a new state deduction that shrinks as income rises. South Carolina · 2026
Tap a line to see how it was worked out. Each paycheck is the year's figure divided by 26 and rounded to the cent.
Show the math
Federal income tax for the year
| Wages | $85,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Standard deduction | −$16,100.00 |
| Taxable income | $68,900.00 |
| Tax from the 2026 brackets | $9,870.00 |
| Federal income tax | $9,870.00 |
South Carolina income tax for the year
| Wages taxed by the state | $85,000.00 |
|---|---|
| South Carolina income adjusted deduction | −$2,730.00 |
| Taxable income | $82,270.00 |
| Tax from the rate schedule | $3,320.27 |
| South Carolina income tax | $3,320.27 |
Sources for these figures
- IRS newsroom, tax year 2026 inflation adjustments (Rev. Proc. 2025-32)
- Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (PDF)
- Tax Foundation, 2026 federal income tax brackets
- IRS Publication 15-T, Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- IRS, 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026, IRA limit increases to $7,500
- SSA, Contribution and benefit base
- IRS Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide
- IRS, Questions and answers for the Additional Medicare Tax
- South Carolina Department of Revenue, Information Letter 26-20 (Act 110 of 2026)
- South Carolina Department of Revenue, 2026 withholding formula (WH-1603F)
What if
Estimate for tax year 2026. Your real paycheck depends on your W-4, your benefits and your employer's payroll system. This is education, not tax, payroll or financial advice.
Take-home pay in South Carolina by salary
| Salary | Federal income tax | Social Security and Medicare | State income tax | Take-home a year | A month | Every 2 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,420 | $2,295 | $299 | $25,987 | $2,166 | $999.48 |
| $40,000 | $2,620 | $3,060 | $498 | $33,823 | $2,819 | $1,300.87 |
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $999 | $41,356 | $3,446 | $1,590.62 |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $4,590 | $1,662 | $48,728 | $4,061 | $1,874.13 |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $2,657 | $58,935 | $4,911 | $2,266.75 |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $4,244 | $74,936 | $6,245 | $2,882.15 |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $6,849 | $106,942 | $8,912 | $4,113.16 |
| $200,000 | $36,734 | $14,339 | $9,454 | $139,473 | $11,623 | $5,364.34 |
$30,000 in South Carolina $40,000 in South Carolina $50,000 in South Carolina $60,000 in South Carolina $70,000 in South Carolina $75,000 in South Carolina $80,000 in South Carolina $90,000 in South Carolina $100,000 in South Carolina $120,000 in South Carolina $150,000 in South Carolina $200,000 in South Carolina
South Carolina income tax in 2026
South Carolina taxes income at 1.99% up to $30,000 and 5.21% above, after a new state deduction that shrinks as income rises.
Act 110 of 2026 rewrote the South Carolina income tax for tax years beginning in 2026. The tax now starts from federal adjusted gross income, not federal taxable income, so the federal standard deduction and the federal tips and overtime deductions no longer apply. In their place is the South Carolina Income Adjusted Deduction: $15,000 (single), $22,500 (head of household) or $30,000 (joint), reduced in proportion as income rises above $40,000 / $60,000 / $80,000 and gone at $95,000 / $142,500 / $190,000. The Department of Revenue's withholding tables had not yet been updated for the new law when this was checked, so 2026 paychecks may be withheld under the older 0% / 3% / 6% formula and differ from this figure. The dependent exemption is not addressed in the Department's letter and is not included.
- 401(k): traditional contributions come out before South Carolina income tax, as they do for federal tax.
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | 1.99% |
| Over $30,000 | 5.21% |
Other paycheck deductions in South Carolina
South Carolina takes no other state payroll deductions from employees. Apart from state income tax, the only deductions required by law are Social Security and Medicare.
City and county income taxes in South Carolina
South Carolina has no city or county income tax in this calculator. If you pay one that is not listed, you can enter its percentage in the calculator under “W-4 and other details”.
How South Carolina compares
On $85,000 a year, South Carolina ranks 27 of 51 for take-home pay among the states and D.C. (1 keeps the most). City and county taxes are not counted in this comparison.
South Carolina paycheck questions
How much is $60,000 a year after taxes in South Carolina?
About $48,728 a year, or $4,061 a month, for a single person with no other deductions. That is after $5,020 in federal income tax, $4,590 for Social Security and Medicare, $1,662 in South Carolina income tax.
How much is $100,000 a year after taxes in South Carolina?
About $74,936 a year, or $6,245 a month, for a single person with no other deductions. That is after $13,170 in federal income tax, $7,650 for Social Security and Medicare, $4,244 in South Carolina income tax.
What is the South Carolina income tax rate for 2026?
South Carolina taxes income at 1.99% up to $30,000 and 5.21% above, after a new state deduction that shrinks as income rises.
Does South Carolina tax 401(k) contributions?
No. Traditional 401(k) contributions come out of your pay before South Carolina income tax, just as they do for federal income tax. Social Security and Medicare are still charged on them.
Are there city or county income taxes in South Carolina?
Not in this calculator. If your city or county charges one, you can enter the percentage yourself.
Sources
- South Carolina Department of Revenue, Information Letter 26-20 (Act 110 of 2026)
- South Carolina Department of Revenue, 2026 withholding formula (WH-1603F)
- IRS newsroom, tax year 2026 inflation adjustments (Rev. Proc. 2025-32)
- Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (PDF)
- SSA, Contribution and benefit base
South Carolina figures last checked on October 11, 2026. Latest update: Rewritten for Act 110 of 2026: 1.99% and 5.21% rates and the new income-adjusted deduction replace the 0% / 3% / 6% schedule. If something looks wrong, tell us.