Tax Refund Calculator · South Carolina

South Carolina Tax Refund Calculator 2026

Most South Carolina filers get two refunds — federal and state. Estimate both for 2026 from your income and withholding, with federal credits built in.

Data verified November 10, 2026 against official sources (see below).

Filing Status

Annual Gross Income

Federal Tax Withheld (W-2 box 2)

South Carolina Tax Withheld (W-2 box 17)

Children Under 17

Federal

+$1,880

Liability $5,620 · credits $0

South Carolina

+$361

Estimated liability $1,639

Combined

+$2,241

Estimated refund

Worked example: $65,000 income, one child, in South Carolina

A single filer in South Carolina earning $65,000 with $7,500 of federal withholding and $2,000 of state withholding and one child under 17 is looking at roughly +$4,080 federal and +$361 from South Carolina — +$4,441 combined. The Child Tax Credit ($$2,200 non-refundable plus up to $0 refundable) does most of the work at this income.

Worked example breakdown, single filer, $65,000 income, one child, 2026
Layer	Estimated liability	Withheld + refundable credits	Refund / (owed)
Federal	$3,420	$7,500	+$4,080
South Carolina	$1,639	$2,000	+$361
Combined			+$4,441

South Carolina refund notes

South Carolina taxes income at progressive rates with a $15,000 standard deduction for single filers. State credits (like a state EITC match) are not modeled, so the state number here is conservative — if anything it understates your refund.

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Sources and how we calculate

Published by Financial Calculator. Editorial policy. Publisher attribution, not a claim of professional review.

South Carolina figures come from the state's published 2026 tax data (rolling verification recorded in our data files). State refundable credits are not modeled.

Figures last checked on November 10, 2026. Read our calculation methodology for data sources and update schedule.

How We Calculate & Keep This Accurate

Federal: gross income minus the standard deduction, walked through the 2026 brackets, then the Child Tax Credit (with its phaseout), the refundable Additional Child Tax Credit and an EITC estimate. Refund = withholding + refundable credits − liability. State: the same income run through South Carolina's 2026 brackets after the state standard deduction; refund = state withholding − state liability. State credits are not modeled.

Published by Financial Calculator. Editorial policy. No named professional review is implied.

Primary Sources

Data & Freshness

Figures reflect 2026 tax-year data.

Last updated November 10, 2026 · Maintained by the Financial Calculator editorial team.

Read our calculation methodology.

South Carolina tax refund FAQs

Common questions about 2026 refunds for South Carolina residents.

How do I estimate my 2026 refund in South Carolina?

Add up the federal tax withheld from your pay (W-2 box 2) and your South Carolina withholding (box 17), then subtract your actual tax. This calculator does both layers: federal brackets with the Child Tax Credit and EITC, plus South Carolina's state tax at its 2026 rates.

Does South Carolina have a state income tax refund?

Yes. If your employer withheld more South Carolina tax than you owe for 2026, the state refunds the difference when you file your South Carolina return.

Why is my refund smaller than last year?

Refunds shrink when withholding drops closer to your real liability, when income rises into higher brackets, or when credits phase out (the Child Tax Credit starts phasing out at $200,000 single / $400,000 joint). A smaller refund is not necessarily more tax — it can mean you kept more of each paycheck.

Is this calculator exact?

It is an estimate for a W-2 wage earner using the 2026 standard deduction. Itemized deductions, pre-tax contributions, state credits, and local taxes change the real number — use it to see the direction and rough size of your refund, then file with exact forms.