State of South Carolina Archives: on Tax Reform
Brad Hutto:
Maintain current tax levels, except gas tax to improve roads
Indicate what state tax levels you support for the following general categories: Alcohol taxes?A: Maintain Status.
Q: Cigarette taxes?
A: Greatly Increase.
Q: Corporate taxes?
A: Maintain Status.
Q: Gas/Oil taxes?
A: Slightly Increase.
Q: Property taxes?
A: Maintain Status.
Q: Sales taxes?
A: Maintain Status.
Q: Income taxes (low-income families)?
A: Maintain Status.
Q: Income taxes (mid-income families)?
A: Maintain Status.
Q: Income taxes (high-income families)?
A: Maintain Status.
Hutto adds, "Any increase in the gas tax should be dedicated to improvement of infrastructure."
Source: S.C. Congressional Election 2012 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
Fred Thompson:
Tax cuts raise revenues; so much for the experts
Q: [to Giuliani]: You have been running ads that say reducing taxes actually will increase revenues. Experts say that tax cuts add to the deficit, they don't reduce it. Do you stand by your statement?GIULIANI: Well, the reality is that some tax cuts d
add to revenues. Other tax cuts don't add to revenues. It depends on the tax cut. If it is anti-competitive, you're actually going to get more revenues from that tax cut.
THOMPSON: I need to defend Rudy a little bit on his tax plan, because it looks an
awful lot like the one I put out a couple of months ago. The government never loses as much revenue as the experts say we're going to. With the ‘01 and ‘03 tax cuts in place, we received more revenue into the government in one day in April of this year
than ever before in the history of the country. So much for the experts, as far as that's concerned. It does stimulate growth and it's overall beneficial for the economy.
Source: 2008 GOP debate in S.C. sponsored by Fox News
Jan 10, 2008
Henry McMaster:
Our work will not be done unless I sign an income tax cut
This year marks the fourth year that I have proposed a 1% rate reduction over five years for all personal income tax brackets, starting with an immediate $177 million cut. A tax cut has the impact of a pay raise. Ladies and gentlemen, we
have almost one billion dollars in surplus recurring revenue available for this state budget. Our State's booming economy will likely create more. Our work will not be done this session unless I am able to sign an income tax cut into law.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the S.C. legislature
Jan 19, 2022
James Emerson Smith:
Eliminate inheritance tax, property tax, and vehicle tax
Smith indicates support of the following principles concerning taxation.- Greatly Increase Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status on Corporate taxes
- Maintain Status on Income taxes
- Eliminate Inheritance taxes
-
Eliminate Property taxes
- Eliminate Vehicle taxes
Q: Should Internet sales be taxed?
A: No.
Q: Do you support a revenue-dependent income tax reduction in South Carolina?
A: No.
Source: VoteSmart S.C. 2004 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2004
Joyce Dickerson:
Fight for America's declining middle class
Joyce will fight for America's declining middle class. She is dedicated to helping secure the jobs of the everyday citizen, paving a way to a more positive financial outlook.
Joyce is also an advocate of seniors and veterans, making sure they receive the benefits that they have earned.Joyce understands the necessity of reducing our nation's debt for a more sustainable America.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, JoyceDickersonSC.com
Oct 9, 2014
Nikki Haley:
Flatten individual income tax from six brackets to three
Tax reform is critical to our state--every conversation we have with CEOs at some point drifts to our tax structure. Our budget includes almost $140 million in tax cuts for the people and businesses of South Carolina. These cuts will flatten the
individual income tax from six brackets to three, reduce taxes for the citizens of our state by almost 80 million dollars, and phase out the corporate income tax over a four year period, injecting much needed dollars back into our businesses
and giving us an unbelievable economic development tool. The tax relief we ultimately adopt must be broad-based, offering relief to as many South Carolinians as possible. And these tax cuts should mean lower rates--not more credits, exemptions, and
loopholes that only benefit a chosen few. Together, I believe we can agree to a set of tax cuts that make South Carolina more competitive and send more dollars back where they belong--in the pockets of the people and businesses of our state.
Source: 2012 S.C. State of the State Address
Jan 18, 2012
Ralph Norman:
Cut taxes and eliminate regulations that kill job-creation
Ralph's Plan: President Trump is trying to clean up Washington and end the reign of lawyers and lobbyists by having a business-like approach to government. We need to cut taxes, empower entrepreneurs and eliminate regulations that kill job-creation.
Why I Am Running for Congress: During my time at the State House, I have represented my constituents as a principled conservative. The S.C. Club for Growth, the state's leading conservative watchdog, agrees. Earlier this year, they presented me with
the Taxpayer Hero Award and a perfect score on their legislative scorecard. I will fight to put our federal government's fiscal house in order, pass an amendment to the Constitution requiring balanced budgets, introduce term limits legislation, and
repeal President Obama's misguided one-size-fits-all government-run health care plan. Today, I am asking for your vote because I want the chance to help create more jobs, more wealth and more opportunity for us all.
Source: 2017 S.C. House campaign website, ElectRalphNorman.com
May 16, 2017
Ron Paul:
Spending money doesn't stimulate economy; reduced taxes do
Q: Do you support a government program to stimulate the economy?A: Well, a government program is too vague. What kind of a government program? If it's appropriating money and trying to stimulate that way and spend more money, no, that would be the
wrong thing to do. But a government program of a reduced tax burden, yes, that would be. I believe we're in a recession. Over-stimulation in an economy by artificially low interest rates by the Federal Reserve is the source of the recession.
Source: 2008 GOP debate in S.C. sponsored by Fox News
Jan 10, 2008
Rudy Giuliani:
Cutting anti-competitive taxes raises more revenue
Q: You have been running ads that say reducing taxes actually will increase revenues. But the bipartisan Congressional Budget Office, as well as other experts, all say that tax cuts add to the deficit, they don't reduce it. Do you stand by your statement
A: Well, the reality is that some tax cuts do add to revenues. Other tax cuts don't add to revenues. It depends on the tax cut. And tax cutting has been part of the Bush program, the Reagan program, the Kennedy program, and it always led to significan
increase in economic activity. If you cut something like the corporate tax at 35%, you bring it down to 30%, you will get more revenues from that cut, because our corporate tax is the second highest in the world. If you cut some other tax, you might
not get those kinds of revenues. So, the question is: What tax are you cutting? Is it anti-competitive? If it is anti-competitive, you're actually going to get more revenues from that tax cut.
Source: 2008 GOP debate in S.C. sponsored by Fox News
Jan 10, 2008
Thomas Ravenel:
Cut wage taxes, death taxes, & corporate taxes
Lower taxes and less government interference in the marketplace--essential components of true capitalism--improve the quality of life for every sector of American society. It is only through the free exchange of ideas and capital that our economy will
truly prosper.I support a complete overhaul of our current tax policy. Today, the government taxes Americans at every turn. We're taxed on our wages, when we make purchases with what's left of those wages, when we make gains on after-tax dollars,
and even when we die.
We must also cut corporate taxes. The US has the highest corporate tax rate in the world at 40%. This places us at a severe disadvantage when competing globally. Additionally, instead of having a territorial tax system like most
developed nations, the US has a world-wide tax system. This means our government taxes companies headquartered in the US if they earned income in other countries--even though those companies already paid taxes where the income was originally generated.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com
Sep 1, 2014
Henry McMaster:
We passed the largest income tax cut in state history
Until recently, South Carolina had the highest personal income tax rate in the southeast and the 12th highest in the nation. No more. Last year, we worked together to pass the largest income tax cut in state history. This made South Carolina even more
competitive with other states for new jobs and capital investment. A tax cut has the impact of a pay raise, letting people keep and spend more of their hard-earned money, which itself is a catalyst for even more economic growth and prosperity.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the S.C. legislature
Jan 25, 2023
Henry McMaster:
$2000 income tax credit for police & other first responders
To keep South Carolinians safe, we must maintain a robust law enforcement presence - and properly "fund the police." I am proposing a $2,000 state income tax credit for every active-duty law enforcement officer, firefighter, first responder, and
emergency medical technician. This nonrefundable tax credit will provide a total of $38.4 million in income tax relief for those who put their lives on the line each day to protect and serve our people.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the S.C. legislature
Jan 25, 2023
Henry McMaster:
Cut until we eliminate the personal income tax altogether
This year, I am proposing that we cut the state's personal income tax rate again, from 6.2% to 6%--allowing taxpayers to keep an additional $193.5 million of their hard-earned money instead of sending it to state government.
However, we should not stop at 6%. We should keep cutting as much and as fast as we can until we can eliminate the personal income tax altogether. Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, this is what the people want.
Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the S.C. legislature
Jan 29, 2025
Jermaine Johnson:
Shift tax burden away from lower 70%
It is time to reduce the tax burden on our working class. Some Republicans want to see all income tax disappear. Do not be fooled. In South Carolina, 40% of the lowest earning families do not pay income tax at all. Getting rid of income tax completely
would primarily benefit the wealthiest individuals. Jermaine's plan is to increase the amount of families who are not paying income tax to 70%. Unlike other plans which would give more tax breaks to the wealthiest individuals.
Source: 2026 S.C. Gubernatorial campaign website JohnsonForSC.com
Jan 6, 2026
Page last updated: Mar 14, 2026