South Carolina paycheck calculator 2026
South Carolina withholds income tax at 0%, 3% and 6% using the 2026 WH-1603F formula.
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Federal tax on a bonus paid on its own check is a flat 22% (37% above $1M of bonuses in the year). Your W-4 doesn't change it.
Per paycheck. Calculating from gross pay → other amounts
No state income tax on wages here.
More W-4, deductions and employer settings
- Standard deduction $16,100 single, $32,200 married jointly, $24,150 head of household
- Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500 · Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% over $200,000)
- FUTA 0.6% on the first $7,000 · bonus withholding 22%
- 401(k) limit $24,500 ($32,500 at 50+, $35,750 at 60–63)
Paycheck breakdown
Employer taxes (on top of gross pay)
Where the employer's money goes
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South Carolina payroll taxes and rules for 2026
South Carolina withholds income tax at 0%, 3% and 6% using the 2026 WH-1603F formula. Each SC W-4 allowance is worth $5,000, and claiming at least one allowance also allows a standard deduction of 10% of wages, up to $7,500. There are no employee-paid state payroll programs and no local income tax.
- Income tax
- 0% to $3,640, 3% to $18,230, 6% above (withholding formula) · Employee form: Form SC W-4
- An employee with zero allowances gets neither the $5,000 allowance amount nor the standard deduction.
- A single employee with one job and no dependents usually claims 2 allowances on the SC W-4 worksheet.
- Filing status does not change the withholding formula.
- Traditional 401(k) deferrals and Section 125 deductions are not South Carolina wages.
- Employer taxes
- State Unemployment Insurance (SUI): 1.06% for new employers, on the first $14,000 of wages (2026) Every rate includes the 0.06% Departmental Administrative Contingency Assessment. Experienced employers pay 0.06% to 5.46%. The 2026 solvency surcharge is 0%.
- Local taxes
- South Carolina has no local income tax on wages.
- Bonuses
- The WH-1603F has no separate bonus rate. Add the bonus to regular wages for the period and withhold on the total.
- Minimum wage 2026
- $7.25/hour South Carolina has no state minimum wage law, so the federal rate applies.
- Pay frequency
- South Carolina law does not set a pay frequency. Employers must tell employees in writing at hiring when and how often they will be paid, and give 7 days' written notice of a change.
- Final paycheck
- Within 48 hours or by the next regular payday, whichever comes first, but no later than 30 days. Same rule whether the employee quit or was fired.
- New-hire reporting
- Within 20 days of the hire date.
- Reciprocity
- None published. South Carolina Department of Revenue withholding guidance lists no reciprocity agreements with other states.
Checked against official sources on October 5, 2026:
Take-home pay in South Carolina by salary
| Salary | Federal tax | FICA | South Carolina taxes | Take-home / year | Per paycheck | Employer cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $2,620 | $3,060 | $904 | $33,416 | $1,285 | $43,250 |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $4,590 | $1,984 | $48,406 | $1,862 | $64,780 |
| $80,000 | $8,770 | $6,120 | $3,094 | $62,016 | $2,385 | $86,310 |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $4,294 | $74,886 | $2,880 | $107,840 |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $7,294 | $106,497 | $4,096 | $161,665 |
Single filer, paid every two weeks, 2026 W-4 with no adjustments, default South Carolina withholding settings, no 401(k) or benefits, new-employer unemployment rate. South Carolina taxes include state income tax and employee-paid state programs; local taxes are not included unless the default setting includes them.
How the federal part works, step by step: the 2026 paycheck guide · Rhode Island · South Dakota
South Carolina paycheck questions
Why does an employee with 0 allowances owe so much more South Carolina tax?
With 0 allowances the formula also drops the standard deduction (10% of wages, up to $7,500). Claiming even one allowance turns it on.
Is the 0.06% administrative assessment extra on top of the SUI rate?
It is a separate component, but South Carolina's published rates already include it. A new employer's 1.06% is 1.00% base plus 0.06%.
How should a bonus be withheld in South Carolina?
South Carolina has no flat supplemental rate. Add the bonus to the period's regular wages and run the formula on the total.
How much is $60,000 a year after taxes in South Carolina?
About $48,406 a year, or $1,862 every two weeks, for a single filer with no other W-4 adjustments in 2026. Federal income tax is $5,020, Social Security and Medicare $4,590, and South Carolina taxes and payroll deductions $1,984.
What does a $60,000 employee cost an employer in South Carolina?
$64,780 a year before benefits: the salary plus the 7.65% FICA match, federal unemployment (FUTA) and South Carolina unemployment insurance at the new-employer rate of 1.06% on the first $14,000.
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