South Carolina Personal Income Tax Laws

Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed February 22, 2018

Most, but not all states collect personal income tax, which considers an individual's salary or any other forms of income. Some states require higher earners (those in the higher "tax brackets") to pay a higher percentage of their income, while others have a so-called "flat tax" that applies to all taxpayers. Those that don't collect income tax often make up for it in other ways, including sales and business taxes. The revenue raised from personal income tax is used to fund education and other state initiatives. South Carolina employs a progressive tax rate.

Overview of Personal Income Tax in South Carolina

South Carolina's progressive tax rate means lower earners are taxed at a much lower rate than high earners. For instance, taxable income between $2,910 and $5,820 is taxed at 3 percent, while income above $14,550 is taxed at 7 percent. Individual personal income tax rates never exceed 7 percent in South Carolina. The limits are doubled for married couples filing joint returns. The tax rate for corporations in South Carolina is 5 percent.

The following table includes a breakdown of South Carolina's personal income tax rates and other relevant information. See FindLaw's Tax Law section for more articles.

Code Section	12-6-510, et seq.
Who is Required to File	Individuals, estates, and trusts; Partnerships are not subject to tax; Part-year and nonresidents are subject to special tax
Rate	First $2,910, 2.5%; Next $2,910, 3%; Next $2,910, 4%; Next $2,910, 5%; Next $2,910, 6%; Over $14,550, 7%
Federal Income Tax Deductible	No
Federal Income Used as Basis	Yes

Note: State laws are constantly changing, usually through legislation, ballot initiatives, or appellate court decisions. Make sure you contact a South Carolina tax attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

Filing Your Income Tax Returns in South Carolina

Anyone earning taxable income in South Carolina must file a tax return, even if they are exempt from paying federal income taxes. State tax returns must be filed by April 15 (or whenever the federal tax deadline is), but you may file for an extension to October 15. You can file your taxes by printing out the necessary forms and filling them out according to the instructions provided, or you can file electronically free of charge.

Research the Law

South Carolina Law
Official State Codes - Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and DC.