Gov. Henry McMaster and S.C. Department of Employment of Workforce Executive Director Dan Ellzey

Announce Record Cuts to Unemployment Insurance Tax Rates

2020 tax rates will be 34 percent lower than 2019, and the UI Trust Fund is now solvent.

Governor Henry McMaster was joined by S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director Dan Ellzey and South Carolina business leaders today to announce that the South Carolina 2020 unemployment insurance tax rates for businesses will be an average of 34 percent lower than 2019. Additionally, the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund is now at a level sufficient to withstand a recession that is the equivalent of the average of the last three recessions.

The solvency of the trust fund means the elimination of all solvency surcharges, the first time since 2003, including those to repay the 2008-2011 federal loan as well as the five-year rebuild of the state’s trust fund which was depleted during the Great Recession.

“Balancing the requirement to maintain a fiscal safety net while cutting business taxes each year shows that South Carolina is dedicated to making it appealing for companies to do business here so they will continue to create jobs and invest in South Carolinians by expanding opportunities,” said Gov. Henry McMaster. “The 2020 savings are a direct result of the growing economy and the support of the business community.”

During the Great Recession, South Carolina needed to borrow nearly $1 billion from the federal government in order to provide unemployment benefits. The agency, however, was able to pay off the loan early saving businesses $12 million. After the loan was paid off in 2015, the Legislature approved a regulation that required the agency to rebuild the trust fund within five years to a level that will cover the potential benefit needs without borrowing from the federal government. The agency has now completed that effort.

“Our agency’s mission is to bolster employment throughout the state, and more South Carolinians are now working than ever before with an unemployment rate that is the lowest in recorded history. The best news for these good times is that the trust fund is now prepared to withstand a recession,” said Ellzey. “It is imperative to the state’s ability to support individuals in the case of an economic downturn that we have a strong trust fund, and we are glad to have the resources ready should the citizens of South Carolina need these funds.”

All liable South Carolina businesses receive a tax rate based on their usage of the system. Tax rate notices will be mailed to more than 120,000 businesses Friday, November 8, but are currently available in an employer’s State Unemployment Insurance Tax System (SUITS) account. View a guide showing how to access this rate (PDF).

A business which qualifies for tax rate class 12, with 100 employees who paid wages of at least $14,000 per year per worker would pay nearly $4,500 less in unemployment taxes in 2020 than they paid in 2019. The tax rate is a formula based on projected benefit costs for the year and the amount that was required to rebuild the trust fund balance by 2020. New businesses qualify for tax rate class 12.

“With more than 2.31 million South Carolinians working and the unemployment rate at 2.9 percent, these cuts are a welcomed incentive for businesses wanting to expand in this vibrant economy,” said Ellzey. “We are here to assist them with their workforce, particularly in rural areas where individuals may need training, skill assessments, transportation and other services to succeed in long-term, dedicated employment.”

Click here to view the 2020 tax rate chart.

About DEW

The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) is putting South Carolinians to work. The agency invests in building a pipeline of quality workers, matches workers with jobs, and is a bridge for individuals who find themselves out of work for no fault of their own. This promotes financial stability and economic prosperity for employers, individuals and communities. DEW is dedicated to advancing South Carolina through services that meet the needs of the state’s businesses, jobseekers and those looking to advance their careers.