South Carolina charges 0-6.4% state income tax. Use the w-4 withholding calculator pre-loaded with South Carolina rates.
Open W-4 Withholding Calculator →Getting your W-4 right in South Carolina is important because you need to coordinate federal withholding with South Carolina's graduated (0-6.4%) state withholding. If your W-4 is set too conservatively, you lend the government an interest-free loan; too aggressively, and you face an underpayment penalty. This calculator helps you dial in the right federal withholding amount given your South Carolina state tax situation.
South Carolina uses a graduated income tax with brackets ranging from 0-6.4%. Lower income is taxed at lower rates, with the 6.4% top rate applying only to income in the highest bracket. This progressive structure means your effective state tax rate is always lower than the top marginal rate. South Carolina does not have local income taxes, so the state graduated rate is the total state-level income tax burden.
The table below shows what you actually keep at five salary levels in South Carolina, accounting for federal tax, FICA, and South Carolina's graduated (0-6.4%) state tax.
See how South Carolina compares to other South states. Each link takes you to the w-4 withholding calculator landing page for that state.
For a comprehensive breakdown of South Carolina’s tax structure, salary comparisons, cost-of-living analysis, and more, visit the full South Carolina take-home pay page.