Free South Carolina Tax Calculator

South Carolina runs a three-bracket progressive tax with a striking bottom rung: 0% on your first $3,640 of taxable income — yes, the first bracket rate is literally zero. The middle bracket runs 3% to $18,230, and the top rate is 6% for 2026 (the final step of a multi-year cut from 7%).

A $73,000 single salary: taxable income after deductions is $56,900. The 0% bracket costs nothing, the 3% bracket adds about $438, and the remaining $38,670 at 6% costs about $2,320 — roughly $2,758 total, a 3.8% effective rate.

South Carolina is a genuine retiree destination, and the tax code shows it: Social Security is fully exempt, and residents 65+ can deduct up to $10,000 of ANY retirement income type (pension, 401(k), IRA, annuity). Under 65, the exclusion is $3,000. Military retirement is fully exempt at every age. That 6.4% top rate is what working earners pay — retirees face a much gentler schedule.

Property tax averages 0.88% — below average — while combined sales tax runs 7.59%. South Carolina has no estate or inheritance tax, which rounds out its appeal for retirees and high-net-worth households.

Filing in South Carolina: the resident return is Form SC1040, sent to the South Carolina Department of Revenue by April 15. The state offers free e-file, and the retirement exclusions are claimed on the SC1040 itself.