SC has no tax on Social Security income, offers a $15,000 retirement income deduction for residents 65 and older, and charges no estate or inheritance tax. The new income tax rate under H 4216 is 5.21% on income over $30,000 — down from 6.2%. Property taxes use a 4% assessment ratio for primary residences versus 6% for second homes, but you have to file a separate application to get it. Miss the deadline and you'll pay significantly more. Flood insurance is a major variable — two homes a mile apart can differ by $5,000 or more per year depending on their FEMA zone designation.

You can keep your current advisor — but ask them how familiar they are with SC's 4% property tax exemption, the 529 unlimited deduction, the retirement income deduction structure, and the SCIAD. If those don't ring a bell, you may be leaving money on the table. A local fee-only planner who works with Charleston newcomers regularly will know the filings, the deadlines, and the local financial landscape in a way that a national firm or out-of-state advisor typically won't.

It depends on the scope. Some planners charge a flat fee for a focused engagement like a first-year relocation plan. Others charge a percentage of assets under management for ongoing planning and investment management. We're fee-only, which means you pay us directly — no commissions, no product sales, no hidden charges. We agree on the fee in writing before any work begins. The first call is free, 20 minutes, and no obligation.

It's worth evaluating. South Carolina offers an unlimited state tax deduction on 529 contributions to Future Scholar — including rollovers. At a 5.21% top rate, rolling $50,000 from an old state's plan could save you over $2,600 in SC taxes in the year you make the move. But check whether your former state will claw back any tax benefits you previously received before you roll. We help clients model this decision as part of their relocation plan.

The most critical is the January 15 deadline to file for the 4% legal residence property tax rate with your county assessor. Miss it and you'll pay the 6% rate for the full year. Beyond that: you have 90 days to get your SC driver's license, you should update state withholding with your employer immediately, and if you're filing part-year returns in two states, the timing of income events like bonuses, RSU vesting, and deferred compensation matters significantly.

Before, if possible. The highest-value window is 60 to 90 days before your move. That gives us time to review your income timing, coordinate with your CPA on part-year state filings, evaluate your current investment and retirement plan structure for SC, and make sure you're set up to capture every benefit from day one. If you've already moved, we can still help — there are filings and decisions in the first year that are time-sensitive.

Four things cost newcomers the most in year one: missing the 4% property tax filing deadline, getting the timing wrong on income like bonuses or RSUs before you've established SC residency, buying a home without pricing flood insurance first, and keeping a financial plan built for your old state's tax rules. SC rewards newcomers who plan ahead — but only if you know what to file, when to file it, and what changes in your first 90 days.