How many allowances should I claim in South Carolina?
On South Carolina's SC W-4, a single filer with no dependents usually claims 2 and a married couple 3, plus one for each dependent. Each allowance takes $5,000 a year off the wages South Carolina withholding is figured on. On a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks, one allowance more than that raises each paycheck by about $11.54. Claiming fewer means more withheld now and a bigger refund later.
How to count your allowances on the SC W-4
The SC W-4 worksheet gives 1 allowance for yourself, 1 if married filing jointly, 1 if head of household, 1 if you have one job (or your spouse doesn't work), and 1 for each dependent. Dependents under 6 count a second time. Each allowance takes $5,000 a year off the wages withholding is figured on.
Claiming zero allowances also removes the standard deduction from the South Carolina formula, so 0 withholds more than 1. Your filing status on the form does not change the math.
South Carolina withholding by number of allowances
Single filer earning $60,000 a year, paid every two weeks, federal W-4 with no adjustments. The highlighted row is the usual count for a single filer with no dependents.
| Allowances | South Carolina tax withheld | Take-home pay |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $113.23 | $1,824.85 |
| 1 | $87.84 | $1,850.23 |
| 2 | $76.30 | $1,861.77 |
| 3 | $64.77 | $1,873.31 |
| 4 | $53.23 | $1,884.85 |
| 5 | $41.69 | $1,896.39 |
| 6 | $30.15 | $1,907.93 |
Married couple on one $100,000 income, paid every two weeks:
| Allowances | South Carolina tax withheld | Take-home pay |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $205.53 | $3,052.54 |
| 1 | $176.69 | $3,081.39 |
| 2 | $165.15 | $3,092.93 |
| 3 | $153.61 | $3,104.47 |
| 4 | $142.07 | $3,116.00 |
| 5 | $130.53 | $3,127.54 |
| 6 | $119.00 | $3,139.08 |
Should you claim more or fewer?
Allowances only change how much is withheld during the year. Your actual South Carolina tax is settled on your state return. Claim more than you qualify for and you may owe at tax time. Claim fewer and you get the difference back as a refund. If you would rather keep the count simple, most forms also let you ask for an extra dollar amount from each paycheck.
The federal Form W-4 dropped allowances in 2020, so your federal and South Carolina forms work differently. See how many allowances to claim and how to fill out a W-4. To see your own numbers, open the South Carolina paycheck calculator and set the allowances under the state form step.
Sources
SCDOR, Form SC W-4 (2026) and SCDOR, WH-1603F withholding formula (2026). Withholding figures come from the same 2026 formulas the calculator uses; see how we calculate.