SC → FL Tax Savings

How Much Would You Save: South Carolina vs Florida Taxes

South Carolina taxes income up to 5.2%. Florida charges 0%. Compare the two side by side and see your potential savings.

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Source: South Carolina Department of Revenue

South Carolina vs Florida: Tax Comparison

See how South Carolina's tax structure compares to Florida across every major tax category.

Tax Category	South Carolina	Florida
State Income Tax	Up to 5.2%	0%
Capital Gains Tax	Yes	No
State Estate Tax	No	No
Homestead Exemption	Limited	Unlimited

Your Potential Tax Savings

Estimated annual state income tax savings when moving from South Carolina to Florida, computed from South Carolina's income tax brackets for a single filer.

Annual Income

$100,000

You Could Save

$3,463/yr

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Annual Income

$150,000

You Could Save

$6,068/yr

≈ $60,680 over a decade

Annual Income

$250,000

You Could Save

$11,278/yr

Annual Income

$500,000

You Could Save

$24,303/yr

Florida residents pay 0% state income tax. The figures above run each income through South Carolina's 2026 individual income tax brackets for a single filer, after the state's standard deduction and before credits (California figures use the latest published 2025-indexed brackets). They cover state income tax only; local income taxes, filing status, and state-specific deductions can change your number. For a personalized projection, book a free consultation.Rate source: Tax Foundation 2026 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, with statutory 2026 overrides where post-publication legislation applies (Georgia HB 463, Kentucky HB 1, Ohio HB 96, Maryland BRFA 2025, North Carolina continuing decline, plus phasedowns in MS, NE, ID, MT, SC, IN, OK, UT per state DOR).

Key Tax Facts: South Carolina

What you need to know about South Carolina's tax environment before making your move.

South Carolina cut its top income tax rate to 5.21% for tax year 2026 under H.4216 (signed March 30, 2026), down from 6.2% in 2025, and replaced the old graduated brackets with 1.99% on the first $30,000 of taxable income and 5.21% above it.

South Carolina taxes capital gains as income but has long offered a 44% deduction on net long-term gains.

South Carolina does not tax Social Security benefits.

South Carolina has relatively low property taxes with a 4% assessment ratio for primary residences.

South Carolina Is Cutting Its Income Tax, but Florida Is Already at Zero

South Carolina made the most aggressive income tax change of any state in this comparison. House Bill 4216, signed by Governor McMaster on March 30, 2026, cut the top marginal rate to 5.21% for tax year 2026, down from 6.2% the year before, and restructured the system into two brackets: 1.99% on income under $30,000 and 5.21% on income of $30,000 and above, less a $966 offset, calculated from federal adjusted gross income. The South Carolina Department of Revenue confirms the change takes effect with the 2026 tax year, on returns due April 15, 2027. The law also sets revenue triggers that ratchet the top rate down further in future years if the Board of Economic Advisors projects revenue growth of 5% or more, with a stated goal of eventually reaching a single low flat rate.

That is a genuinely taxpayer-friendly direction, but the key word is eventually. For tax year 2026, a South Carolina resident still pays real money. A single filer with $100,000 of income takes the new $15,000 state deduction, leaving $85,000 of South Carolina taxable income, and owes roughly $3,460 in state tax once the $966 offset is applied. A Florida resident earning the same $100,000 pays $0 today, not several years from now. Florida's zero rate is backed by Article VII, Section 5 of the Florida Constitution, so there is no glide path to wait out and no revenue trigger that has to be met.

South Carolina does get several things right. It does not tax Social Security benefits, and its property taxes are among the lowest in the country thanks to a 4% assessment ratio on primary residences. It has also long offered a deduction on net long-term capital gains. Florida matches the retirement-friendly profile with no income tax on any retirement income, no capital gains tax, and no estate tax, while adding an unlimited homestead exemption that South Carolina does not provide.

For residents who are mobile, retired, or running a location-independent business, the decision often comes down to timing. If you expect to relocate in the next several years anyway, moving your domicile to Florida now captures the full 0% benefit immediately rather than paying 5.21% while South Carolina works through its multi-year schedule.

As with any domicile change, documentation is what makes it defensible: a Florida residential address, a Declaration of Domicile, a Florida driver's license, and voter registration, plus staying under 183 days in South Carolina if you keep ties there. Our Florida domicile service handles the full process.

South Carolina vs Florida: Side by Side

See why thousands of South Carolina residents are making the move to Florida.

South Carolina charges up to 5.21% income tax in 2026; Florida charges 0%.

South Carolina taxes capital gains (with partial deduction); Florida has no capital gains tax.

Neither state has an estate tax, but Florida's homestead exemption offers stronger protections.

On $100,000 of income, a single filer moving from South Carolina to Florida saves roughly $3,460 a year at 2026 rates (after the new $15,000 state deduction and $966 offset).

How to Change Residency from South Carolina to Florida

Follow these five steps to legally establish your Florida domicile. Our service handles the documentation so you can focus on your life.

Establish a Florida Mailing Address

Set up a legitimate Florida residential address through our virtual mailbox service. Complete USPS Form 1583 with remote notarization so your mail is scanned and accessible from anywhere in the world.

File a Declaration of Domicile

File a Declaration of Domicile in your chosen Florida county. This legal document is the formal declaration of your intent to make Florida your permanent home and is a key piece of evidence in any audit.

Obtain a Florida Driver's License

Surrender your current state driver's license and obtain a Florida license. This is one of the strongest indicators of domicile that state tax authorities evaluate.

Update Voter Registration & Vehicle Titles

Register to vote in Florida and re-title your vehicles with a Florida address. Update your bank accounts, investment accounts, and professional licenses to reflect your new domicile.

Sever Ties with Your Former State

Systematically sever domicile ties with your previous state. Cancel memberships, close local bank accounts, update estate documents, and keep detailed records. This protects you during potential audits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will I save by moving from South Carolina to Florida?

South Carolina has a top income tax rate of 5.2%. Florida has 0% income tax. A single filer earning $150,000 could save approximately $6,068 per year, and one earning $250,000 approximately $11,278 per year (2026 rate schedules, after South Carolina's standard deduction, state income tax only, before credits). Actual savings depend on your filing status and total income.

Does South Carolina have an exit tax if I move to Florida?

South Carolina does not have a formal "exit tax." However, South Carolina may still attempt to tax you if they believe you have not properly changed your domicile. Properly documenting your Florida domicile — driver's license, voter registration, Declaration of Domicile — is critical to avoid disputes.

How long does it take to change residency from South Carolina to Florida?

The process can be completed in as little as 2-4 weeks once you have a Florida address. Key steps include filing a Declaration of Domicile, obtaining a Florida driver's license, and updating voter registration. Our service guides you through every step.

Will I still owe South Carolina taxes after I move to Florida?

You may owe South Carolina taxes on income earned while you were a resident, and on any South Carolina-source income after you leave (such as rental income from property in South Carolina). Once you properly establish Florida domicile, your non-South Carolina-source income is no longer subject to South Carolina tax.

Do I need to physically live in Florida to be a resident?

Florida does not have a minimum physical presence requirement to establish domicile. You need to demonstrate intent to make Florida your permanent home through actions like filing a Declaration of Domicile, obtaining a Florida driver's license, and registering to vote. Many expats, remote workers, and digital nomads maintain Florida residency while traveling.