TakeHomePay4 states changed their income tax for 2026 — here's what it means for your paycheck
South Carolina threw out its entire tax structure and started over. Georgia, West Virginia, and Utah cut rates. Every number below is computed from the enacted laws — and the calculators on this site already use the new figures.
The short version: on a $75,000 single salary, the 2026 changes save about $686 in South Carolina, $276 in Georgia, $139 in West Virginia, and $38 in Utah versus the old tables. All four changes apply to income earned in 2026.
1. South Carolina: a whole new tax system (H.4216)
This is the big one. South Carolina didn't just trim a rate — it replaced its old three-bracket system (0%, 3%, 6%) with two rates: 1.99% on taxable income up to $30,000 and 5.21% on everything above that. Governor McMaster signed it on April 15, 2026, and it covers the full 2026 tax year.
There's a second change that matters just as much: South Carolina walked away from the federal standard deduction entirely. Instead it created its own SC Income Adjusted Deduction — $15,000 for single filers, $22,500 for heads of household, $30,000 for joint filers — which shrinks as income rises and disappears for high earners. The phaseout starts at $40,000 of income for single filers, so at $75,000 the deduction is already down to $5,460. Our calculator models that slide — it's why the table below shows $69,540 of taxable income instead of $60,000.
| $75,000 single filer | Old law | New law (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| State taxable income | $66,650 | $69,540 |
| SC state tax | $3,343 | $2,657 |
| You keep (after all taxes) | $58,249 | $58,935 |
The state also wired in automatic future cuts: the 5.21% rate steps down in years when revenue grows enough. A flat tax of zero is the stated end goal, but that's a political promise, not current law — we only model what's enacted.
2. Georgia: flat rate drops below 5% (HB 463)
Georgia's flat rate falls from 5.19% to 4.99% for 2026 — three years ahead of the old phase-down schedule. Signed as the Georgia Economic Growth and Tax Relief Act of 2026, it also bumps the standard deduction: $12,000 → $15,000 single, $24,000 → $30,000 joint. Both pieces hit your paycheck, because a bigger deduction means less income gets taxed at all.
| $75,000 single filer | Old (5.19%) | New (4.99%) |
|---|---|---|
| GA state tax | $3,270 | $2,994 |
| Take-home pay | $58,322 | $58,598 |
3. West Virginia: 5% off every bracket (SB 392)
West Virginia took a simpler route: a straight 5% relative cut to all five rates, retroactive to January 1, 2026. The new schedule is 2.11% / 2.81% / 3.16% / 4.22% / 4.58% (previously 2.22% / 2.96% / 3.33% / 4.44% / 4.82%), with the same $10k/$25k/$40k/$60k thresholds.
| $75,000 single filer | Old rates | New rates |
|---|---|---|
| WV state tax | $2,777 | $2,638 |
| Take-home pay | $58,815 | $58,955 |
4. Utah: sixth straight annual cut (S.B. 60)
Utah keeps its streak alive: the flat rate drops from 4.5% to 4.45% for 2026, signed March 2026 and retroactive to January 1. It's the smallest change on this list — about $38 a year on $75,000 — but it's the sixth cut in six years, down from 4.95% in 2018.
| $75,000 single filer | 4.5% | 4.45% |
|---|---|---|
| UT state tax | $3,375 | $3,338 |
| Take-home pay | $58,217 | $58,255 |
What didn't change
A few things worth knowing so you don't go hunting for changes that aren't there:
- Federal 2026 figures are settled. The brackets, standard deductions ($16,100 single / $32,200 joint / $24,150 head of household), and the $184,500 Social Security wage base on this site are the IRS and SSA published amounts. Nothing moved.
- 2027 federal numbers aren't out yet. The IRS usually announces the next year's inflation adjustments in October or November. As of October 1, 2026, there is no official announcement, and we don't publish projections as fact — outside estimates put the increase around 3%, but that's all they are: estimates.
- Virginia's rumored 7% bracket died. A 2025 bill (HB 1754) would have added a 7% rate above $600,000, but it never made it out of committee. Virginia's 2026 rates are unchanged at 2%–5.75%.
- Rhode Island's millionaire surtax starts in 2027, not 2026 — it'll matter for next year's tables, not this year's paychecks.
Try the updated numbers yourself
Every calculator on this site now uses the new 2026 figures. Run your own salary through the take-home pay calculator, check your state page (South Carolina, Georgia, West Virginia, Utah), or line all 50 states up in the Salary Showdown.
Sources
- South Carolina H.4216 — Governor's office bill-signing announcement, April 15, 2026: governor.sc.gov
- Georgia HB 463 / 2026 withholding guide — Georgia Department of Revenue (via Bloomberg Tax), 2026
- West Virginia SB 392 — W. Va. Code §11-21-4j, 2026 regular session
- Utah S.B. 60 (enrolled) — Utah Legislature, March 2026
- Federal 2026 figures — IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32; Social Security wage base — SSA announcement for 2026
All figures are estimates for illustration only — not tax advice. State calculations use each state's standard deduction and rate schedule; they exclude local taxes, credits, and phaseouts unless noted. Tax laws change; verify against your state department of revenue before filing.
Frequently asked questions
Which states changed their income tax for 2026?
Four states made material changes for tax year 2026: South Carolina replaced its 0%/3%/6% brackets with a 1.99%/5.21% two-rate system plus a new state deduction; Georgia cut its flat rate from 5.19% to 4.99% and raised its standard deduction; West Virginia cut all five rates by 5% across the board; and Utah trimmed its flat rate from 4.5% to 4.45%.
How much less tax will I pay in South Carolina in 2026?
On a $75,000 single salary, estimated South Carolina state tax falls from about $3,343 under the old tables to about $2,657 under the new H.4216 rates — roughly $686 less, with the new SC Income Adjusted Deduction phaseout already reflected.
Are these 2026 changes already in effect?
Yes. All four apply to income earned in calendar year 2026 (the return you file in 2027). Utah's and West Virginia's cuts were made retroactive to January 1, 2026.
Did federal taxes change for 2026?
The federal figures on this site are the IRS and SSA published amounts and are unchanged. The IRS 2027 inflation adjustments had not been officially announced as of October 1, 2026, so no 2027 projections are used here.