South Carolina Take-Home Pay Calculator
Estimate your South Carolina paycheck using SC's 2025 state tax brackets, plus federal income tax and FICA — with a note on the major bracket overhaul arriving in 2026.
What comes out of a South Carolina paycheck
South Carolina is a "piggyback" state — its income tax starts from your federal taxable income (after the federal standard deduction) rather than building its own separate deduction. For 2025, that base is taxed at three rates: 0% up to $3,560, 3% up to $17,830, and 6% above that — the top rate having just been cut from 6.2%.
SC-taxable income (federal taxable income, no separate SC deduction): $61,000. SC tax on $61,000 (0%/3%/6% brackets) ≈ $3,018.
Federal tax on the same $61,000 ≈ $8,334 · SC state tax ≈ $3,018 · Social Security $4,960 · Medicare $1,160.
Annual take-home ≈ $58,528 → about $2,251 per biweekly paycheck (73.2% of gross).
A major bracket overhaul is coming in 2026
South Carolina's income tax structure is about to change more than almost any other state's. Act 110 (H.4216), signed March 30, 2026, consolidates the current three-bracket system into just two brackets starting with the 2026 tax year: 1.99% on income below $30,000, and 5.21% (minus a fixed dollar offset) above that. The law also replaces South Carolina's federal-conformity deduction with a new state-specific "SCIAD" deduction and caps the state's earned income tax credit. This calculator uses 2025 figures — 2026 South Carolina paychecks will look meaningfully different once the new structure phases in.
Common mistakes when estimating South Carolina take-home pay
- Using 2026's new two-bracket structure for a 2025 estimate. The reform doesn't take effect until the 2026 tax year.
- Assuming SC has its own standard deduction. It piggybacks on federal taxable income for 2025 rather than applying a separate SC-specific deduction.
- Expecting a local city income tax. No South Carolina city or county levies one.
Frequently asked questions
What are South Carolina's state income tax rates?
For 2025: 0% up to $3,560, 3% up to $17,830, and 6% above that — the top rate was cut from 6.2%.
Is South Carolina changing its tax brackets in 2026?
Yes — Act 110 consolidates to two brackets (1.99% and 5.21%) starting with the 2026 tax year, along with a new state-specific deduction.
Do South Carolina's brackets differ by filing status?
No — the same thresholds apply to every filing status.
Does South Carolina have local city income tax?
No — no SC city or county levies a separate income tax on wages.
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Note: Simplified estimate using 2025 state and federal figures; excludes credits and benefit specifics, and does not reflect the two-bracket structure beginning in the 2026 tax year. Not tax advice. Figures: 2025 South Carolina and federal tax year. Last reviewed: September 2026.