What is South Carolina's state per capita income figure for tax-incentive purposes (per SC IL #22-5)?

Plain-English summary

South Carolina's most recent state per capita personal income figure is $52,074, per SC Information Letter #22-5 (March 24, 2022). This letter reports the state figure; county figures are published separately (generally in November).

These figures matter because several South Carolina tax incentives condition eligibility or amount on the jobs paying wages that meet a multiple of the state or county per capita personal income — including the job tax credit (§ 12-6-3360), the computer-equipment sales/use tax exemption for technology-intensive facilities (§ 12-36-2120(65)), and the personal property corporate headquarters credit (§ 12-6-3410). The data comes from the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. State figures are generally published in March and September.

State figure

• State of South Carolina: $52,074

What this means for you

Businesses testing wage-based incentives

When an incentive uses a state per capita income test, use this state figure ($52,074). For county-based incentives, use the specific county figure from the Department's separate county per-capita letter.

Timing

This is the state figure available in early 2022. The Department republishes updated figures when it receives new data (state figures generally in March and September), so verify you are using the figure that applies to your incentive year.

Common questions

Q: Does this letter include county figures?
A: No. It reports only the state per capita income figure ($52,074). County figures are issued in a separate information letter, generally in November.

Q: Where do these numbers come from?
A: From the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. The Department republishes them periodically, so confirm the current figure for your incentive year.

Source

• Landing page: https://dor.sc.gov/advisory-opinion-search
• Original PDF: https://dor.sc.gov/sites/dor/files/policies/IL22-5.pdf

Original ruling text

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
300A Outlet Pointe Blvd., Columbia, South Carolina 29210
P.O. Box 125, Columbia, South Carolina 29214-0575

SC INFORMATION LETTER #22-5
SUBJECT:

Per Capita Income Figures for State of South Carolina

DATE:

March 24, 2022

SUPERSEDES: All previous documents and any oral directives in conflict herewith.
AUTHORITY:

S.C. Code Ann. Section 12-4-320 (2014)
S.C. Code Ann. Section 1-23-10(4) (2005)
SC Revenue Procedure #09-3

SCOPE:

An Information Letter is a written statement issued to the public to
announce general information useful in complying with the laws
administered by the Department. An Information Letter has no
precedential value.

A number of South Carolina income, sales and use, and property tax incentives require jobs
associated with the incentive to meet certain state or county per capita personal income
requirements to determine qualification for, or the amount of, the particular incentive (e.g.
the job tax credit under Code Section 12-6-3360, the sales and use tax exemption for
computer equipment for technology intensive facilities under Code Section 12-36-2120(65),
and the personal property corporate headquarters credit under Code Section 12-6-3410).
Generally, the state figures are published in March and September. The county per capita
income figures are generally published in November. In order to aid taxpayers in determining
whether the per capita income requirements of an incentive have been met, the Department
publishes both the State and county per capita income amounts each year when it receives
the figures from the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. The most recently
available State per capita income figure is:
State of South Carolina

1

$52,074