How South Carolina taxes bonuses
South Carolina has no flat rate for bonuses. Employers add the bonus to a regular paycheck and withhold South Carolina tax with the normal tables, so the state amount depends on your regular pay.
Federal withholding is the same in every state. Most employers take a flat 22% of the bonus (37% on supplemental pay over $1,000,000 in a year). Social Security takes 6.2% up to the yearly wage base and Medicare 1.45%. If your employer adds the bonus to a regular $2,500 paycheck instead, the aggregate method withholds about $1,150.54 of federal tax on a $5,000 bonus, against $1,100.00 with the flat rate.
Take-home pay on a bonus in South Carolina
What is withheld from bonuses of different sizes, with the federal flat rate, for a single filer who has not yet reached the Social Security wage base this year.
| Bonus | Federal income tax | Social Security and Medicare | South Carolina taxes | Take-home bonus | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $220.00 | $76.50 | $57.69 | $645.81 | 64.6% |
| $2,500 | $550.00 | $191.25 | $147.69 | $1,611.06 | 64.4% |
| $5,000 | $1,100.00 | $382.50 | $297.69 | $3,219.81 | 64.4% |
| $10,000 | $2,200.00 | $765.00 | $597.69 | $6,437.31 | 64.4% |
| $25,000 | $5,500.00 | $1,912.50 | $1,497.69 | $16,089.81 | 64.4% |
| $50,000 | $11,000.00 | $3,825.00 | $2,997.69 | $32,177.31 | 64.4% |
Why South Carolina bonus withholding depends on your pay
Because South Carolina runs a bonus through its regular withholding tables, the same $5,000 bonus can have more state tax taken out when your regular paycheck is bigger. Biweekly pay, single filer:
| Regular paycheck | South Carolina tax on a $5,000 bonus | Share of the bonus |
|---|---|---|
| $1,500 ($39,000 a year) | $291.69 | 5.83% |
| $2,500 ($65,000 a year) | $297.69 | 5.95% |
| $4,000 ($104,000 a year) | $300.00 | 6% |
| $6,000 ($156,000 a year) | $300.00 | 6% |
South Carolina bonus taxes compared with nearby states
The same $5,000 bonus, flat federal rate, in each state that borders South Carolina. Of these, North Carolina leaves the most of the bonus in your pocket.
| State | State bonus withholding | State taxes on the bonus | Take-home bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | Regular tables | $297.69 | $3,219.81 |
| Georgia bonus tax calculator | 4.99% flat | $249.50 | $3,268.00 |
| North Carolina bonus tax calculator | 4.09% flat | $204.50 | $3,313.00 |
More South Carolina pay calculators
For your regular take-home pay, use the South Carolina paycheck calculator. To see a bonus next to your regular paycheck, try the bonus paycheck calculator. Employers paying a bonus can use the bonus payroll calculator or the South Carolina payroll calculator. The bonus tax calculator page compares every state.
Sources
Federal figures follow IRS Publication 15. South Carolina bonus withholding comes from the state's own guidance: dor.sc.gov, dor.sc.gov, dor.sc.gov. See how we calculate for the withholding method.