Americans for Tax Reform applauds Attorney General Alan Wilson (R-S.C.), who is campaigning to be the next Governor of South Carolina, for signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. In signing the gubernatorial Taxpayer Protection Pledge, Alan Wilson has made a commitment to South Carolina taxpayers that, if elected Governor next year, he will oppose and veto legislation that would result in a net tax increase.
“I congratulate General Wilson for making this principled commitment to South Carolina taxpayers,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. “The last time there was a crowded field running for governor back in 2008, every Republican signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. That will likely be the case once again, which is great news for South Carolina taxpayers, but I applaud General Wilson for being the first to do so.”
This past spring, South Carolina lawmakers passed a new state budget that accelerates the income tax rate reduction enacted in 2022, which will bring the top rate down to 6% at the beginning of 2026. The South Carolina House went a step further, passing legislation to further reduce and flatten the state’s two income tax rates, moving to a 1.99% flat rate over the next five years. The South Carolina Senate will take up that legislation in January.
“The next Governor of South Carolina will have the advantage of having legislative leadership to work with who is interested in reforming the state tax code in a way that significantly reduces, and possibly even phases out entirely, the top marginal income tax rate,” Norquist added. “I applaud General Wilson for being the first in the race to make this important commitment in writing to South Carolina taxpayers and I encourage the other candidates in the race to join him.”