Retirement tax questions
TurboTax will exempt your military retirement.
- After you enter your 1099-R, you will see a screen “Where is your distribution from?”
- Select Military retirement distribution.
- In South Carolina, you will see a screen for “Military Retirement Income.”
- Select YES to Did you receive eligible military retirement income in 2022?, then Continue.
- On “Enter Military Retirement Income” you should see the taxable amount from the federal section. If you do not, you can adjust this number.
Governor Henry McMaster (R-S.C.) signed the Workforce Enhancement and Military Recognition Act in 2022, which exempts all military retirement pay that is included in South Carolina taxable income from the state's Income Tax, no matter the taxpayer's age.
The new exemption is effective for tax year 2022, meaning retirees can claim it next year when they fill out their Income Tax return for this year. This deduction also can be claimed by a surviving spouse receiving military retirement income from their deceased spouse.
Other Income Tax exclusions:
- Any federal tax-exempt pension or compensation provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Combat pay and certain benefits not included in federal taxable income
- Retirement income paid by the U.S. government for service in the Reserves or National Guard
- Income received for service in the National Guard or the Reserves for customary annual training, weekend drills, and other inactive duty training is generally exempt
- Service pay for non-resident military personnel on active duty in South Carolina who are legal residents of other states
Additional details and examples related to these deductions and other general retirement and age-65 Income Tax deductions are found in Revenue Ruling 21-13.
