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South Carolina Paycheck Calculator (2026)

Estimate your South Carolina take-home pay after federal tax, FICA, and South Carolina state income tax.

How this calculator works

Like our other paycheck calculators, this estimates federal tax and FICA the same way regardless of state. On top of that, it applies South Carolina’s own state income tax formula: a Personal Allowance and a Standard Deduction (both tied to the number of allowances on your South Carolina W-4, not the federal standard deduction), followed by a 0%/3%/6% bracket schedule that is identical for single and joint filers. South Carolina has no state disability insurance tax and no local income tax, so state income tax is the only state-level line on the breakdown below.

The formula

(federal tax, FICA, and net-pay assembly are identical to the Texas calculator)

allowances        = 2 (single) or 3 (married filing jointly)
                   [this calculator's default assumption for one job, no dependents]

personalAllowance = allowances x $5,000

standardDeduction = min(10% x wagesAfterPretax, $7,500), or $0 if allowances = 0

scTaxable   = max(0, wagesAfterPretax − personalAllowance − standardDeduction)
scIncomeTax = 2026 SC bracket schedule applied to scTaxable
            (0% to $3,640 / 3% to $18,230 / 6% above $18,230,
             same brackets for every filing status)

stateTax    = scIncomeTax

Worked example

A single filer earning $60,000/year, paid biweekly, with no 401(k) or extra deductions:

  • FICA: $4,590.00/year (same as any state)
  • Federal tax: $5,020.00/year (same as any state)
  • South Carolina allowances (single default): 2, so Personal Allowance = 2 × $5,000 = $10,000.00
  • South Carolina Standard Deduction: 10% × $60,000 = $6,000.00 (under the $7,500 cap)
  • South Carolina taxable income: $60,000 − $10,000 − $6,000 = $44,000.00
  • South Carolina income tax: 3% × $14,590 + 6% × $25,770 = $437.70 + $1,546.20 = $1,983.90/year
  • Net pay: $60,000 − $4,590 − $5,020 − $1,983.90 = $48,406.10/year, or $1,861.77 per biweekly paycheck

We separately verified this calculator’s South Carolina tax formula against the South Carolina Department of Revenue’s own official worked example, printed directly on Form WH-1603F: for $750/week wages (a $39,000 annual salary) and 3 allowances, the form computes a Personal Allowance of $15,000, a Standard Deduction of $3,900, taxable income of $20,100, and a total tax of $549.90 for the year. Every one of these figures was reproduced exactly by this calculator’s formula, and 3 allowances is exactly this calculator’s own default assumption for a married filing jointly taxpayer, so running that same $39,000 salary through this calculator with “married filing jointly” selected reproduces the state’s own official example precisely.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What are South Carolina's 2026 income tax brackets?

Three brackets: 0% on the first $3,640 of taxable income, 3% from $3,640 to $18,230, and 6% above $18,230. Unlike many states, South Carolina uses the exact same brackets for single and joint filers. This calculator uses those brackets applied after a South Carolina-specific Personal Allowance and Standard Deduction, not the federal standard deduction.

Why did South Carolina's top tax rate keep dropping every year?

South Carolina's 2022 tax reform cut the top rate from 7% to 6.5% and set up automatic yearly cuts toward a 6% floor, contingent on the state's general fund growing enough. The rate stepped down each year (6.5% in 2022, 6.4% in 2023, 6.2% in 2024) and reached its 6% floor in 2025, where it remains for 2026.

Does South Carolina have a state disability insurance or paid family leave tax on my paycheck?

No. South Carolina has no mandatory State Disability Insurance or Paid Family Leave payroll tax, unlike California, New Jersey, New York, and a handful of other states. South Carolina's own official withholding formula lists only one tax line: state income tax.

Does my city or county add its own income tax in South Carolina?

No. South Carolina has no local or municipal income taxes anywhere in the state. Some counties add local option sales taxes, but none add a tax on wages, so your paycheck is only reduced by federal tax, FICA, and the state income tax shown here.

What is the "Personal Allowance" and "Standard Deduction" this calculator assumes for South Carolina withholding?

South Carolina's withholding formula deducts a $5,000 Personal Allowance per allowance claimed on your SC W-4, plus a Standard Deduction of 10% of wages (capped at $7,500) if you claim any allowances. Since this calculator doesn't collect your SC W-4 details, it assumes 2 allowances if single and 3 if married filing jointly, the typical result for one job and no dependents.

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