South Carolina · 2026 contributions
South Carolina 529 tax deduction calculator.
See what a Future Scholar 529 contribution saves on your South Carolina return, and how the prior-year deadline works.
Yes. South Carolina taxpayers can deduct 100% of their contributions to a Future Scholar 529 account on their state return, whether they own the account or are giving to someone else's. The plan says you can also claim a contribution for the prior year until the tax filing deadline.
The amounts come from the Future Scholar plan site, read November 2, 2026. Enter your contribution and your state tax rate to see the deduction and the tax saved.
Your numbers
Result
How this is calculated
The Future Scholar tax-benefits page says South Carolina taxpayers can deduct 100% of their contributions to a Future Scholar account on their state income tax return, whether they are the account owner or make a gift contribution to someone else's Future Scholar account. It calls this one of the best tax deductions of any 529 plan.
On timing, the plan says South Carolina is one of a few states offering prior-year deductions: you can deduct Future Scholar contributions on your South Carolina return for the prior year all the way until the tax filing deadline. So a contribution made in early 2027 can be applied to 2026 if you have not yet filed, and you choose the year but should claim it only once.
Because the plan page states no dollar limit, the calculator treats the whole contribution as deductible and multiplies it by the state rate you enter. We do not guess your rate; it depends on your taxable income, so take it from your SC1040.
Worked example
$10,000 contribution at a 6% marginal rate. The full $10,000 is deductible, so the state tax saved is $600.
$2,500 gift to a grandchild's account. The giver can deduct the full $2,500 on their own return; they do not need to own the account.
$4,000 contributed in February 2027, before filing. It can be applied to the 2026 return, or to 2027, but not both.
Limits of this estimate
We read the Future Scholar plan site, not a South Carolina Department of Revenue page. The plan page states no annual dollar cap, but it is marketing copy, not the statute, so check the SC1040 instructions on limits, on withdrawals that are not for qualified expenses, and on rollovers from other plans. The tax saved is only the South Carolina income tax effect; there is no federal deduction for 529 contributions.
Who should check first
If you contribute to a plan from another state, or you moved into or out of South Carolina during the year, the deduction may not apply the way the plan page describes. The page speaks only about Future Scholar accounts.
Sources
Primary sources opened and checked on November 2, 2026. Figures are for tax year 2026 unless a source says otherwise.
Frequently asked questions
Does South Carolina have a 529 tax deduction?
Yes. The Future Scholar plan says South Carolina taxpayers can deduct 100% of their contributions to a Future Scholar account.
Is there a South Carolina 529 deduction limit?
The plan page states a 100% deduction and gives no dollar cap. Confirm any limit in the SC1040 instructions.
Can I deduct a gift to someone else's account?
Yes. The plan says the deduction applies whether you are the account owner or make a gift contribution to someone else's Future Scholar account.
What is the South Carolina 529 contribution deadline?
The plan says you can deduct contributions on your South Carolina return for the prior year until the tax filing deadline, so there is no December 31 cutoff for the prior year.
Can I claim the same contribution twice?
No. You choose which year to apply it to and should claim it only once.
Is the deduction federal?
No. It is a state deduction. Federal law gives no deduction for 529 contributions; the federal benefit is tax-free growth on qualified withdrawals.
Not tax advice
This page is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Tax rules change and your facts may differ. Confirm anything that matters with your state tax agency, your 529 plan or a tax professional before you act. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.