Updated October 2026
Myrtle Beach military retirement is a real option worth a close look. South Carolina does not tax military retirement pay, the Grand Strand has a large VA clinic and a Vet Center, and the area keeps its military history in plain view. Add the beach, state parks, and an airport with nonstop flights to dozens of cities, and it is easy to see why many veterans settle here after their last move.
Michael Sheehan, of the VeteranPCS partner team Michael & Alicia Sheehan, contributed the personal story in this guide. He is a retired service member and Myrtle Beach real estate agent who moved here with his wife and two daughters about three years ago. His story is clearly marked below. VeteranPCS checked the tax rules, benefits, and facility details against state and VA sources.
The Short Answer: Why Military Retirees Choose Myrtle Beach
- South Carolina lets residents deduct all qualifying military retirement income from state income tax, with no age limit.
- Veterans the VA rates as totally and permanently disabled from a service-connected condition may qualify for a full property tax exemption on their home.
- The Myrtle Beach VA Clinic offers primary care, mental health care, and specialty care close to home.
- Veteran groups, Military Appreciation Days each May, and Warbird Park keep service visible in daily life.
- Beaches, state parks, golf, shows, and restaurants mean visiting family always has something to do.
South Carolina Military Retirement Tax Rules
Michael's advice for anyone comparing places to retire is to look past home prices and at the long-term money picture. State taxes are a big part of that.
Military retirement pay is fully deductible
According to South Carolina Department of Revenue Revenue Ruling 22-11, starting with tax year 2022, South Carolina residents may deduct all military retirement income that is included in their state taxable income. There is no minimum age. The deduction covers retirement pay from active duty and from the National Guard or Reserve components.
A few details matter:
- The deduction applies to income from a qualified military retirement plan. Civilian federal pensions do not count under this rule.
- A surviving spouse who receives military retirement income from a deceased spouse can use the deduction the same way the service member could.
- This is a state rule only. Federal income tax still applies to retirement pay.
- You get the deduction as a South Carolina resident, so where you claim legal residence matters.
If you also work after retiring, wages are taxed like anyone else's. Talk with a tax professional about your full situation before you decide.
Property tax exemption for disabled veterans
South Carolina also offers a strong property tax break, but it is not for every veteran. Per the South Carolina Department of Revenue guide to veteran property tax exemptions, it is for veterans the VA has rated totally and permanently disabled from a service-connected condition. "Service-connected" means the VA found the condition is linked to your military service.
If you qualify, the exemption can cover:
- Your home and up to five acres of land, when it is your legal residence.
- Up to two private passenger vehicles owned or leased by you, or jointly with a spouse who lives with you.
Surviving spouses may keep a home and vehicle exemption if they meet the state's rules. You can apply online through the state's MyDORWAY portal or by mailing form PT-401-I. You will need your VA disability letter, your recorded deed, and proof of legal residence from the county assessor.
Retirees who do not meet that standard may still benefit from South Carolina's separate homestead exemption for residents who are 65 or older, totally disabled, or legally blind. Our South Carolina veteran property tax exemptions guide covers both programs and how they differ.
Thinking about buying on the Grand Strand? Talk with Michael & Alicia Sheehan, a VeteranPCS partner team that understands military retirement moves.
VA Health Care and Veteran Support on the Grand Strand
Myrtle Beach VA Clinic
The Myrtle Beach VA Clinic is at 1800 Airpark Drive. It is part of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System, which is based in Charleston. The VA lists primary care, mental health care, geriatrics, lab work, and imaging services, including MRI and CT.
When the clinic opened in April 2021, the VA said the 84,000-square-foot building added specialty care such as cardiology, physical therapy, audiology, and optometry. It also brought prosthetics and MRI services to the Myrtle Beach area for the first time.
Myrtle Beach Vet Center
The Myrtle Beach Vet Center at 1101 Johnson Avenue offers free, confidential counseling in a non-medical setting. Services include individual, group, couples, and family counseling, along with help during the move to civilian life. Eligibility depends on factors such as combat service or military sexual trauma, but you do not need to be enrolled in VA health care or have a disability rating to use it. Family members of eligible veterans can get help too.
Veteran organizations
Michael is a member of DAV Carroll E. Prosser Chapter 30 in Myrtle Beach. DAV stands for Disabled American Veterans. The chapter holds claims service sessions to help veterans with VA benefit claims. In his words, he has "seen firsthand the role organizations like DAV can play in connecting veterans with resources and with one another."
VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) posts are active across the area too, including VFW Post 10420 in Murrells Inlet. Check each group's site for current meeting times.
If you have a VA disability rating, it can also help when you buy. The VA waives the VA loan funding fee for veterans who receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability. Our guide to using VA disability income to qualify for a mortgage explains how lenders count that income.
Military History You Can See and Visit
Military Appreciation Days each May
Myrtle Beach holds Military Appreciation Days around Memorial Day weekend. The City of Myrtle Beach lists a parade at The Market Common, the Jack Platt Veterans' March and Battlefield Cross Ceremony on Ocean Boulevard, and a Memorial Day remembrance ceremony. The 2026 schedule, as published by Tourism Works for the Grand Strand, also included a Vietnam memorial dedication at Warbird Park. Dates and locations change each year, so check the city's calendar in the spring.
The Market Common and Warbird Park
The Market Common shopping and residential district sits on land that was once Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. According to Warbird Park, the base was home to the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing and was deactivated in March 1993. The park now displays former military aircraft, including an A-10, and memorials to World War II, Korea, POWs, 9/11, and Purple Heart recipients. Admission is free from sunrise to sunset.
