NFIB State Director Ben Homeyer says an overwhelming majority of the small business advocacy organization’s South Carolina members support business personal property tax relief, according to results from the 2026 NFIB South Carolina State Member Ballot.

Ninety-six percent of participating members supported exempting the first $10,000 of business personal property from taxation and allowing small businesses to fully depreciate assets.

“Small business owners are sending a very clear message,” Homeyer said. “They want real tax relief that lowers costs, cuts paperwork, and makes it easier to invest back into their businesses.”

The ballot results come as lawmakers consider House Bill 5006, known as the State of South Carolina Small Business Tax Cut of 2026. The legislation would exempt the first $10,000 of net depreciated value of business personal property owned by a small business and eliminate filing requirements for businesses below that threshold.

“This is exactly the kind of common-sense reform small business owners are asking for,” Homeyer said. “House Bill 5006 reflects the priorities our members spelled out directly through the ballot.”

NFIB’s public policy positions are based solely on member input, with the state member ballot serving as a critical part of that process. Each member receives one vote, regardless of the size of their business, and those votes guide NFIB’s advocacy in the General Assembly.

In addition to business personal property tax relief, South Carolina NFIB members weighed in on several other key issues affecting small businesses:

• Stopping lawsuit abuse: More than 92% of members supported expanding civil liability protections to limit joint liability and modify damage awards to reduce insurance and legal costs.
• Regulatory reform: Eighty-two percent supported increasing oversight of state agency rulemaking, reducing existing regulations, and limiting the adoption of new regulations.

“When you look at these results together, it’s clear small business owners want fewer obstacles and more certainty,” Homeyer said. “Lawmakers should use this ballot as a guide for policies that truly support Main Street businesses.”