Does South Carolina tax Social Security? Retirement income rules
South Carolina is fairly tax-friendly for retirees. On a typical retirement income it ranks #25 of 51 for the lowest state income tax.
Assumptions behind this comparison
The ranking uses a full-year resident, single filer age 67, with $30,000 Social Security, $20,000 private defined-benefit pension, $20,000 traditional IRA withdrawals under 2026 rules. It models a general private pension and traditional IRA withdrawals. Public or military pension exceptions, early-distribution penalties and itemized deductions require separate checking. Maryland and Indiana estimates include an approximate statewide-average county income tax; other local income taxes are not modeled. A state with no income tax differs from a state that exempts only specified retirement income.
The joint table uses two spouses age 67, with each income category split equally between them. Personal exclusions follow each spouse's own eligible income; some states instead allow a joint cap. The calculator initially assigns household income to you and lets you enter your spouse's actual age and share. Read the source instructions for your pension type.
The rules in South Carolina
- Social Security: Social Security and Railroad Retirement benefits are fully exempt from South Carolina income tax.
- Pensions: At 65 and older, each person can deduct up to $10,000 of retirement income; under 65, up to $3,000. The same limit covers 401(k) and IRA withdrawals. At 65 and older there is also a $15,000 deduction against any income, reduced by the retirement and military deductions claimed. Military and Reserve or National Guard retirement pay is fully exempt, and other government pensions use the same $3,000 or $10,000 deduction.
- 401(k), 403(b) and IRA withdrawals: 401(k) and IRA withdrawals share the retirement deduction with pensions: $10,000 at 65 and older, $3,000 under 65. The $15,000 age-65 deduction can shelter more, less any retirement deduction claimed.
- At 65 and older: From 2026 South Carolina doesn't use the federal standard deduction, so neither the extra federal amount at 65 nor the federal senior deduction applies; the $15,000 age 65 deduction does.
Calculate your South Carolina retirement taxes
State income tax in South Carolina: $320 a year
In South Carolina, qualifying employer-plan withdrawals can receive the pension exclusion while traditional IRA withdrawals do not. Keep each account in its own field when changing state; the calculator applies the state-specific treatment.
The employer-plan field supports federally taxable private 401(k) / 403(b) retirement distributions owned by someone aged 60 or older. Earlier distributions and Hawaii, Mississippi or Pennsylvania employer-plan scenarios are not calculated; funding or plan retirement eligibility needs a separate check. Enter each amount once; do not include completed rollovers, Roth payments or special public/military plans.
Older shared links did not identify employer-plan withdrawals separately. Pension and IRA amounts have been left unchanged. If an old amount includes 401(k) or 403(b) withdrawals, move that portion into the employer-plan field before comparing states; the tool cannot infer the original account type.
Household totals include taxable private pensions and traditional retirement withdrawals. Other ordinary income means taxable interest and ordinary dividends; capital gains, qualified dividends, tax-exempt interest, wages, Roth distributions and special public or military pension rules need a separate calculation. Disability and survivor eligibility are not assessed by this tool. Age bands represent the listed ages for the full year; midyear eligibility and birth-date exceptions need checking.
Local income taxes are not modeled here, except the approximate statewide-average county rates included when you select Maryland or Indiana.
In South Carolina you'd pay about $320 in state income tax and $4,336 in federal income tax on $70,000 of retirement income, keeping $65,344 (6.7% total).
South Carolina ranks #25 of 51 for the lowest state tax on this income. 19 states charge no state income tax on this income.
What retirees pay in South Carolina
| Retirement income | State tax (single) | State tax (married) | Federal tax (single) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $24,000 Social Security, $12,000 traditional IRA withdrawals | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| $30,000 Social Security, $20,000 private defined-benefit pension, $20,000 traditional IRA withdrawals | $320 | $0 | $4,336 |
| $40,000 Social Security, $40,000 private defined-benefit pension, $50,000 traditional IRA withdrawals, $10,000 other income | $3,463 | $1,885 | $19,812 |
Age 67, 2026 rules including the federal senior deduction. For the joint column, income is the household total, both spouses are 67, and each owns 50% of every income category. State estimates apply South Carolina's main exclusions and may differ for income-tested credits.
Lower-tax states for the age-67 example
The amounts below use the fixed example above. Comparison links carry the last valid household entered in the calculator, including each spouse's income and age; the destination recalculates that household. Finish correcting invalid entries before using a comparison.
Moving to South Carolina in retirement?
Compare the tax on your Social Security, pension and 401(k)/IRA income, and typical living costs, with the state you'd leave. These are the states most households moving to South Carolina come from (IRS migration data, 2022–2023).
- North Carolina to South Carolina
- Florida to South Carolina
- Georgia to South Carolina
- New York to South Carolina
- Virginia to South Carolina
- Pennsylvania to South Carolina
Frequently asked questions
Does South Carolina tax Social Security?
Not taxed. Social Security and Railroad Retirement benefits are fully exempt from South Carolina income tax.
Does South Carolina tax pensions?
Partly taxed. At 65 and older, each person can deduct up to $10,000 of retirement income; under 65, up to $3,000. The same limit covers 401(k) and IRA withdrawals. At 65 and older there is also a $15,000 deduction against any income, reduced by the retirement and military deductions claimed. Military and Reserve or National Guard retirement pay is fully exempt, and other government pensions use the same $3,000 or $10,000 deduction.
Does South Carolina tax 401(k) and IRA withdrawals?
Partly taxed. 401(k) and IRA withdrawals share the retirement deduction with pensions: $10,000 at 65 and older, $3,000 under 65. The $15,000 age-65 deduction can shelter more, less any retirement deduction claimed.
Is South Carolina a good state to retire for taxes?
For a single retiree with $30,000 Social Security, $20,000 private defined-benefit pension, $20,000 traditional IRA withdrawals, South Carolina charges about $320 in state income tax, ranking #25 of 51 (lowest tax first).
Related
Sources: dor.sc.gov, dor.sc.gov (2), dor.sc.gov (3). Rules reviewed .