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South Carolina Income Tax Rate History

South Carolina's top marginal income tax rate fell from 7.00% in 2021 to 5.21% in 2026, a cut of 1.79%. The rate moved 4 times in 6 years.

6 sourced years, 2 of them from South Carolina's own revenue department and the rest from Tax Foundation's dated annual editions. Nothing is interpolated. How the two differ.

2021 top rate
7.00%
2026 top rate
5.21%
Net change
−1.79%
2021–2026
Changes
4
4 cut, 0 raised

South Carolina against the national median

South Carolina top marginal income tax rate, 2021–2026
South CarolinaNational median
0.0%4.0%8.0%202120222023202420252026South Carolina 5.21%National median 5.21%

One marker per sourced year. Lines join the points to show direction; no value between markers is implied.

Year by year

South Carolina top marginal individual income tax rate for each year from 2021 to 2026, with the basis and source for each
YearTop rateStructureChangeBasisSource
20217.00%graduatedAs of 1 JanuaryTax Foundationprov.
20227.00%graduatedAs of 1 JanuaryTax Foundationprov.
20236.50%graduated−0.50%As of 1 JanuaryTax Foundationprov.
20246.40%graduated−0.10%As of 1 JanuaryTax Foundationprov.
20256.00%graduated−0.40%Enacted for the yearSouth Carolina Department of Revenue
20265.21%graduated−0.79%Enacted for the yearSouth Carolina Department of Revenue

2025: Tax Foundation's 2025 edition shows 6.2% as of 1 January 2025. The figure published here is the rate enacted for the tax year, from the state's own source; the two differ where a rate changed after 1 January or where a scheduled cut was still contingent when that edition went to press.

2026: Tax Foundation's 2026 edition shows 6% as of 1 January 2026. The figure published here is the rate enacted for the tax year, from the state's own source; the two differ where a rate changed after 1 January or where a scheduled cut was still contingent when that edition went to press.

Every change

What this page does not tell you

This is the top marginal rate, not anyone's bill. Only the rate is carried back; South Carolina's brackets, standard deduction and exemptions for years before 2025 are not in this dataset. A cut in the top rate can sit alongside a higher bill for most filers.

Only the top marginal rate is carried back. Brackets, deductions and exemptions for years before 2025 are not in this dataset.

Years before 2025 are Tax Foundation's 1 January snapshot; 2025 and 2026 are the rate enacted for the whole year, from the state's own source. Where the two disagree the record carries both figures.

South Carolina's current rates and brackets · Every state's history · How we verify this data · Disclaimer