Moving from South Carolina
About 135,000 people left South Carolina for other states in 2023, and about 203,700 moved in.
- The last state tax return comes with a choice.
- You can file as a nonresident for the part of the year you lived elsewhere, or as a full-year resident, whichever costs less.
- The car steps have a set order.
- Update your insurer, register the car in your new state, return the South Carolina plate, and only then cancel the South Carolina policy.
- This page covers every South Carolina-origin route we track.
South Carolina at a Glance
Taxes
Climate
Humid subtropical with hot, humid summers and mild winters.
Cost of Living
Why People Move from South Carolina
Most people who leave South Carolina stay in the Southeast.
- In 2023 North Carolina took about 31,400, Georgia about 16,600, Florida about 14,100, Virginia about 11,900, and Texas about 8,100.
- The North Carolina route runs both ways, with about 28,100 moving the other direction.
- Georgia and Florida are close to even as well.
The Northeast is mostly a one-way trade into South Carolina.
- Pennsylvania sent about 13,400 people and took back about 2,800.
- New York sent about 12,200 and took about 3,200.
- New Jersey sent about 9,800 and took about 2,600.
Popular Routes Moving from South Carolina
Before You Leave South Carolina
File a part-year return, or choose to file as a resident
In the year you move, you can file as a nonresident or as a full-year resident. As a nonresident, file the SC1040 with Schedule NR. You pay tax only on income earned while a resident and South Carolina-source income. Enter your dates of residency at the top of Schedule NR. Choose the method that costs you less.
Source: SCDOR, 2025 SC1040 InstructionsUpdate your insurer first, then return your plate
Update your insurance company first. Return your South Carolina plate after you register the car in your new state. Mail it with Form 452 to SCDMV Plate Turn-In, PO Box 1498, Blythewood, SC 29016-0024. You can also take it to any SCDMV branch, or decommission it online.
Source: SCDMV, License Plate ReturnDo not cancel the insurance while the plate is active
Insurers tell SCDMV when you cancel a policy. If the plate is still active, SCDMV can suspend your license, plate, and registration. You may pay up to $400 to reinstate them. Turn in the plate before you cancel the insurance.
Source: SCDMV, Facts About Driving UninsuredTell the county assessor if you keep a home here
The 4% assessment ratio is only for your legal residence. If the home stops being your legal residence, notify the county assessor within six months. If you do not, the penalty equals the tax paid plus interest.
Source: S.C. Code 12-43-220(c)Expect withholding if you sell South Carolina property later
A buyer must withhold state income tax when a nonresident sells South Carolina real property. With an affidavit stating the gain, the buyer withholds on the gain. Without one, the buyer withholds on the full amount realized. Gain excluded under the federal home sale exclusion is not subject to withholding.
Source: S.C. Code 12-8-580South Carolina DMV & Registration
Update your insurance company first, then register the car in your new state.
- After that, return the South Carolina plate.
- Mail it with the License Plate Surrender form (Form 452) to SCDMV, or take it to any SCDMV branch.
- You can also decommission an active plate online.
- Do not cancel the South Carolina policy while the plate is still active.
- Your insurer reports the cancellation to SCDMV, and getting a suspended license and registration back can cost up to $400.
- Your South Carolina driver's license goes to your new state when it issues you a license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I file a South Carolina part-year resident tax return?
You file for the year you move, and you choose how.
- As a nonresident, file the SC1040 with Schedule NR.
- South Carolina then taxes only the income you earned while a resident, plus income from South Carolina sources, and your deductions are prorated.
- Enter your dates of residency at the top of Schedule NR.
- As a full-year resident, file the SC1040, report all your income, and claim a credit for tax paid to the other state on income both states taxed.
- Pick whichever costs less.
- The choice exists only for the year you move.
Do I have to return my South Carolina license plate?
Yes, once the car is registered in your new state.
- Mail the plate with the License Plate Surrender form (Form 452) to SCDMV Plate Turn-In, PO Box 1498, Blythewood, SC 29016-0024.
- You can also take it to any SCDMV branch, or decommission an active plate online.
- An expired plate does not need to be decommissioned.
When can I cancel my South Carolina car insurance?
After you turn in the plate.
- Insurers tell SCDMV when a policy is cancelled.
- If the plate is still active, SCDMV sends a letter, and your insurer has 20 business days to verify coverage.
- If it cannot, SCDMV suspends your license, plate, and registration.
- Reinstating them can cost up to $400.
- Turning in the plate before you cancel the policy avoids the penalty.
What do I do with my South Carolina driver's license?
Turn it in to your new state when that state issues your new license.
- The new state notifies SCDMV, and SCDMV cancels your South Carolina license.
Will South Carolina withhold tax if I sell my house after I move?
Usually, yes.
- When a nonresident sells South Carolina real property, the buyer must withhold state income tax at the maximum individual rate.
- If you give the buyer an affidavit stating your gain, the withholding is on the gain.
- Without one, it is on the full amount realized.
- Gain you exclude under the federal home sale exclusion (IRC Section 121) is not subject to this withholding.
Where do people move when they leave South Carolina?
Using Census ACS 2023 state-to-state flows: North Carolina (about 31,400), Georgia (about 16,600), Florida (about 14,100), Virginia (about 11,900), Texas (about 8,100), and California (about 5,300).
- North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida each sent back a similar number.
- The big source states to the north did not: Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey each sent South Carolina between three and five times as many people as they received.